Are they the clown princes of pop, or warped, finely skilled indie-rock commentators who'll give your mind a solid workout? For those unfamiliar with the Ben Folds Five trio, the band opts for piano-based melodies, in-depth musical fruition and a strong dose of introspective lyrics that are as amusing as they are sincere. As on previous records, this trio-named-Five once again ravages the lyric-side with tales of inner-self conflict ("Don't Change Your Plans"), dumbfounding personal cognizance ("Hospital Song") and hopeless grasps for love lost ("Mess"). However, instead of having the guitarless format seem like schtick, Ben Folds Five confidently expands upon its piano-heavy tunes, adding such intricacies as cello, horns and violins into the mix and rounding out the songs into full-bodied compositions. The wonderful cross-pollination of archetypal "rock" instruments with their more classically-based relatives places Ben Folds Five into a musical context that combines the impending sound of a rock opera with the passion and inherent quirkiness of the indie-rock vein. Ben Folds' ivory tickling may make you anticipate an Elton John/Queen classic-rock rollercoaster ride, but rest assured -- ...Reinhold Messner is an album written with a 90’s mindset for 90’s aural consumption.