FOR FOLDS, 88 KEYS BEATS SIX STRINGS; PIANO MAN'S UNUSUAL TRIO LEANS ON WIT.

Byline: Fred Shuster Daily News Music Writer

With song titles like ``One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces'' and ``Battle of Who Could Care Less,'' singer-pianist Ben Folds obviously likes to drop a pinch of humor into his material.

``I try and put as much of my conversational self into the songs as possible,'' Folds said. ``I mean, I've laughed at funerals before. I'm the type of person who makes a joke in the middle of a tough breakup. It's important to retain a sense of humor and keep one's composure in the middle of something else. It comes naturally to me.''

After a self-titled debut album that received international attention, the Ben Folds Five - it's really a trio - is back with ``Whatever and Ever Amen'' (550 Music), a fine collection that's garnered national radio airplay since its March 18 release.

The opening track, ``One Angry Dwarf,'' is built on a stomping piano riff that brings to mind Elton John in his ``Honky Cat'' heyday. The Chapel Hill, N.C., trio's music is clever, literate, piano-based pop that recalls Joe Jackson and Billy Joel.

``After the first album was released, the major labels started gathering around,'' Folds, 30, said. ``Every gig we did, there were two or three label presidents wanting to take us to dinner. To tell you the truth, we just wanted to get on with it.''

Growing up in the South, Folds listened to John, Broadway scores and soul music while practicing his piano.

``I was way into Earth, Wind & Fire, Sam and Dave, Ike and Tina Turner, Otis Redding,'' Folds said. ``R&b was a big part of my upbringing.''

At one point many years ago, Folds played bass for an r&b crooner who allowed the pianist to open a few shows by playing his own songs.

``We knew we'd eventually be a trio,'' Folds said. ``The limitations spur our creativity. That's why I like the Who, where three musicians are all vying to be the lead instrument.''

Folds also spent time in Nashville pitching songs to country artists. ``Boxing,'' from the first Folds album, was offered to Billy Ray Cyrus and Garth Brooks, both of whom passed on the number.

The Ben Folds Five recently opened for Counting Crows at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, and the trio will return to the venue July 17 when the Horde '97 tour rolls into town.

The band - which also includes Robert Sledge (bass) and Darren Jessee (drums-vocals) - played its first gig the week Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain killed himself.

``It doesn't take much to be witty in pop music,'' Folds said. ``I mean, you can read three or four articles in the paper everyday that are much more witty than anything in pop music.''

Songs like ``One Angry Dwarf'' have been dubbed ``revenge anthems.'' The tune deals with going back to everyone who hated you in high school and telling them to kiss off: ``If you really wanna see me/Check the papers and the TV/Look who's telling who what to do.''

Folds claims the songs are only partly autobiographical.

``It's not really me, it's a joke,'' he explained. ``It's like screenwriting. Most writers use characters, but they all come from the writer. I wasn't growing up and saying, `One day, I'll be famous and I can tell everyone to kiss my behind.' ''

Folds said his guitarless, acoustic piano-led trio has come in for some snobbism from indie-rock types who find the music too melodic and accessible.

``There's nothing dissonant about what we do,'' the bandleader said. ``But that's also the reason standoffish people say, `It's a little too likable; it must be thin and lacking in depth.' So, the accessibility is distracting. We've always faced that problem. It might take a normal band two or three years to catch on. We caught on, on a superficial level, much earlier.''

Folds said he quickly realized what could be accomplished with just piano, electric bass and drums.

``The ugly bass sound next to the pretty piano was one of the first things we came across,'' he said. ``There's a natural tension between the two instruments. It was immediately interesting to us. Robert the bassist would kick into some gnarly pedals while I'm doing a Broadway show tune. It's like peanut butter and chocolate.''

As for the current rock scene, Folds is opinionated.

``I like Radiohead, but some bands from London are absolute junk,'' he declared. ``I have some respect for Oasis, not that I'd buy their albums, and Pulp is amazing. Over here, with the indie label bands, I think that's where most of the best music starts. Very rarely does a major label discover something from ground zero. They're good at picking something up from second gear.''

Folds is enjoying being on the road these days, especially since he's got roadies carting his Baldwin Model M stage piano from gig to gig along with a nice comfortable tour bus.

``Today, I rode my bike around Golden Gate Park,'' he said. ``It's great. I'm only recognized if I come within a couple blocks of a rock club or record store.''

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Photo: `We knew we'd eventually be a trio. The limitations spur our creativity. That's why I like the Who, where three musicians are all vying to be the lead instrument.'

Ben Folds center, with drummer Darren Jessee, left, and bassist Robert Sledge