Clever humor mixed with the pain of heartbreak is Ben Folds' specialty, and he learned from the masters. He's pulled from the delicate ache and intimate, catchy melodies of Elliott Smith's “Say Yes,” but also copped from the jaunty hilarity of Harry Nilsson's brutally direct kiss-off “You're Breakin' My Heart.” And of course, multi-part piano rock like Elton John's “Burn Down the Mission” played a massive part in Folds' musical education.