Barenaked Ladies Albums
Barenaked Ladies are on of the more pleasant mixes of rock n roll to come out of the 1990s. For a long time in High School (middle school??) they were my favorite band, as I had never heard rock music incorporate such silly humor in the songs in a catchy way like this. As time went on, I discovered their influences- especially XTC, which they share a lot of dynamics with including the lead singer (Partridge/ Page) who writes the majority of the songs, with the secondary songwriter (Moulding/ Ed Robertson)
The band made up of excellent players, with all members approaching virtuosos and Page being a classically trained tenor approaching opera singer levels. At some point they started incorporating a ‘rap’ element into some songs, for better or worse- it mostly works (“One Week” is a perfect example of it working in a charming way). They are a band that has assimilated a lot of what came before, picking and choosing here and there and finding their own unique sound along the way.
Band Members:
Steven Page (vocals, guitar, 1988-2009)
Ed Robertson (guitar, vocals)
Jim Creeggan (bass, vocals)
Tyler Stewart (drums, vocals)
Kevin Hearn (keyboard, vocals, accordion)
Biggest influences:
XTC, They Might be Giants, Phish, The Beach Boys, James Taylor, The Beatles, The Housemartins
Best Album:
Maroon
1992
Gordon - 73%
As their first album, Gordon has a naïve quality and a stripped down sound. It is music as comedy, like many before them from They Might Be Giants to Johnathan Richman, taking comical lyrics and situations and making catchy songs out of them. Barenaked ladies set themselves aside by two things: amazing folk rock vocal harmonies especially among the two lead singer/ songwriters Steven Page and Ed Robertson. Secondly, they are great at writing melodic ballads like the singer-songwriters of the 1960’s and 1970s (see the James Taylor tinged “Wrap Your Arms Around Me”, not my favorite). In their world, it’s sort of like the synth pop of the 1980’s never happened- there is not a hint of that in their sound. You get the opener, jazz tinged /pop vocal influenced “Hello City” which is kitschy but fun, but then you have “Enid” an amazing moving upbeat ballad sung by Page that introduces a confident and friendly sound. Continuing in that vein, we get the giddy “Grade 9” which feels like a song written by enthusiastic high school Freshman, the tribute / what are they even talking about “Brain Wilson” (lyric “lying in bed/ just like Brian Wilson did?”) and his Beach Boys classic sound, and “Be My Yoko Ono” a folk romp combining rock n roll history but fictionalizing it along the way.
“Box Set” is a song about well….collecting albums as a lifestyle. “If I had A Million Dollars” is a fantasy that is also the ultimate sing a long song here, a song sure to be a hit when played live. Unfortunately, about half the songs, mainly the ones I don’t mention are filler and at 15 songs Gordon is far too long, a defect of the times with the early 1990s musicians thought they had to try and fill out all 80 minutes of a CD. “The Flag” is an interesting attempt at a serious song by the band, showing off versatility, but it probably should have been the closer over the forgettable “Crazy”. Above all, “What a Good Boy” comes off as a killer ballad and best song on the album, unique to Stephen Page and really a reason why the Barenaked Ladies will have longevity going forward. Behind the silly jokes, there is a real talented songwriter and performer here.
Best Songs: What a Good Boy, Enid, Brian Wilson, If I Had A Million Dollars
1994
Maybe You Should Drive - 66%
On the sophomore album, BNL play on their strengths of writing amazing ballads and of course being very silly as well. “Intermittently” is the greatest song, with its punchy rock verses and drop down to lounge jazz for the chorus, it all totally works though; I’m not sure if it became as big of a concert staple as the others, but it SHOULD have because that song is truly great. The naming the hit single songs after womens name’s continues, with “Jane” being the obvious gorgeous (and leading) track. Some of the jazz influence staples continue (“Great Provider” is one example of staleness), as that is not the most exciting aspect of the group’s sound and it probably needs to go away completely. They can pull it off thanks to a killer rhythm section (Creeggan/Stewart), but it does not fit in with the pop music fitness on tunes such as “In A Nutshell” which is full of charm, and “Alternative Girlfriend” which fits in well with the more grunge sound of the mid-1990’s.
Ballads later on the album that are devoid of humor do not work as well, “You Will be Waiting” and “Am I the Only One” are the prime examples. The influences are well worn on their sleeves once again, like the ersatz Phish in “A” or the They Might be Giants homage in “Everything Old is New Again”, though the latter song I still enjoy somewhat. Only Ed Robertson’s “These Apples” carry the humor element the group is known for from the previous record, not a bad tune though not exactly one for the ages. Maybe You Should Drive is about half right on track with a slightly more robust sound, but even though it’s shorter in length it’s not even as consistent as Gordon was. Besides a couple of singles, the group needs to work on making a consistent record next time around- though I would not call this a sophomore slump since there are some great tunes pointing in the right direction.
Best Songs: Intermittently, Jane, Life in a Nutshell
1996
Born on a Pirate Ship - 80%
On their 3rd album, the BNL finally got their act together and make a good album that is compact and fulfilling all the way through. This album set the standard for things to come, and contains perhaps the best BNL song yet, “The Old Apartment”. It is a sly take on The Smithereens 80’s jingle “House That We Used to Live In” but with a more fun kind of spunky attitude that matches classic XTC and is an immediate power pop classic. Other winners include the pristine ballad “This is Where it Ends” which matches classic Paul McCartney for quality- though Page is a more nuanced singer; the brazenness of farming as a conversation in the obsessed “Straw Hat and Old Dirty Hank”; the tempo shifting and dynamic verses of “I Live with It Every Day”. “Call Me Calmly” incorporates string section and into Page’s fun and enrapturing lovelorn tale, structurally the song has a lot of fun with verses and choruses. “Stomach vs Heart” is a fun lyrical game amongst a super catchy background, saying overeating can be a solution for heartache.
In one of the most bizarre structures ever in a song, “Just a Toy” begins as a great, pounding rock n roll anthem (as only Steven Page can) but gets quieter and quieter with each verse, eventually being silent for almost a minute at the end. I’m not sure if that WORKS as an idea but it sure is a fascinating way to deconstruct rock n roll. BNL don’t enough credit for their inventive pop song writing. Sometimes songs are intriguing but just underdeveloped, like "Spider in My Room" or “Same Thing”. The last two songs could have been cut entirely, “In the Drink” and “Shoe Box”. Robertson shines on his more jokey songs, the strange words that spurt out awkward humor in “I Know” with the verse “I know why I like you/ it’s because of your haircut…and because I kicked you!” “Break Your Heart” is a soul churning ballad and vocal tour de force by Page, reaching another limit yet unknown for the band (his version of “Maybe I’m Amazed” by McCartney). The best album they have made yet, Born on a Pirate Ship is the must have for any BNL fan since the songs are great and unique to them, and Page’s singing is at its best and shows off his uncanny qualities.
Best songs: The Old Apartment, Just a Toy, This is Where It Ends, Call Me Calmly
1998
Stunt - 83%
The band reached maturity with their last record, but exploded into international fame with their 4th album Stunt. Based off the first hit song, which jumps right into things from the get go- “One Week” the two minute, rapid fire dual vocal attack that thrives on Robertson’s rapping that references everything from Kurasawa to Sailor Moon to Busta Rhymes to removing a lot of clothing. It’s a great song, again unique to them in a style they can finally call their own. Same is true for the follow up, Page’s amazing “It’s All Been Done” one of the catchiest songs ever made and cementing their trademark style once again. As a teenager, these two songs had quite the profound effect on me, as they were on constant rotation in my stereo. “Call and Answer” is the centerpiece of the record, definitely a step in maturity for Page and his amazing singing- a truly amazing rock ballad building to a haunting climax. “Some Fantastic” is a perfect songwriting dual performance by the two songwriters, almost a summation of the whole BNL career so far. “I’ll Be That Girl” and party song “Alcohol” are silly while being a lot of fun, not quite sure what the former song is about, but it is beautiful.
Robertson’s ballad’s are fully matured, “Light up My Room” is hopeful childhood tale and worthy of his idol, James Taylor. “Told You So” is another in the folk-rock tradition he has now sort of made his own, a genuine song about yearning and living life to its fullest. Though less melodic than Page, Robertson does match him on this album for the first time in songwriting quality and it’s a joy to behold- “Never is Enough” is a more upbeat romp with synthesizers, influenced a bit by Page himself by quoting “Life In a Nutshell” and the ‘never enough’ mantra. “Leave” could be a Nashville country song and in a good way not a forgettable one, “Who Needs Sleep” doesn’t work as well to me, ditto for Page’s closer “When you Dream” which is basically a sleeping aid. The album is marred a tad by this slight inconsistency, “In the Car” being the biggest offender, a song that should have been replaced by the ‘Bonus track’ now attached on the album- the song from the TV show King of the Hill soundtrack, the effervescent “Get In Line” which would have fit in very well on Stunt. Either way, this record is a step up and BNL are now a household name in The USA.
Best Songs: It’s All Been Done, Call and Answer, One Week, I’ll Be that Girl
2000
Maroon - 90%
“Record and play after years of endless rewind/ yesterday wasn’t half as tough as this time.”
Maroon is the best album by Barenaked Ladies, the masterpiece of their off-kilter style, a full-length proper album of great songs. Robertson only wrote two this time around (well sings on two) but both of them were bonified hits: “Pinch Me” another song talking about contradictions in humorous way, incorporating a backwards guitar solo as the ending in addition to its chorus of charming rapping with a nice radio friendly melody; lyric sample “I could walk, but I’ll just drive/ I could leave, but I’ll just stay.” The other is “Falling for the First Time”, a song that might be among Robertson’s most majestic, one that matures his style from being merely silly to quite profound; the bridge in the song is where it really takes flight, stating “anyone plain can be lovely/ anyone loved can be lost.” Steven Page opens the record with the spritely and charming “Too Little Too Late” which might be the band’s best album opening track, starting everything with that Power pop foundation, with hands claps and everything!
Page continues the trend of alternating songs with his partner, the brilliant charm folksiness in “Go Home” being the one with the best balance of wit and pathos, a song that feels like it has been around forever as soon as you hear it. “Never Do Anything”, is more mid-tempo and stately but the kind of song Page could probably writer in his sleep- where as “Conventioneers” ends the first side of the album on a dour note. The second half of the album belongs to Page though, much like Paul McCartney dominated the last side of Abbey Road. “Sell Sell Sell” marches along, the great drummer Tyler Stewart owning the percussion nuances, as Page tells the tale of America’s complacency throughout history; “The Humor of the Situation” harks back to 60’s charm with a dance-hall style; “Off the Hook” uses a rare synthesizer beat to spin an interesting ballad.
“Helicopters” sounds like Page is retiring or perhaps on his way to make a solo album (this could almost have been one really, songwriting wise) while “Baby Seat” might be the weakest song in this great string of tunes, but I still like it and that bridge is beautiful, mentioning obscure literary references such as Jack Keroac. “Tonight I Fall Asleep at the Wheel” is not the strongest album closer after all this, feeling a bit exhausted, however attached is the genuine hidden track “Hidden Sun” which fares much better. Maroon has mastered the polished style of the band, not afraid to branch into mainstream sounds but defying convention at every turn with either lyrics or elegant arrangements.
Best Songs: Too Little Too Late, Falling for the First Time, Go Home, Sell Sell Sell
*post 2000’s: The band’s discography gets more prolific after Maroon, filled with live album bootlegs, albums that tend to have one or two good songs surrounded by not as good material, and Steven Page’s eventual departure in the late 09’s. Robertson carried the band forward but kind of like when 10,000 Maniacs lost Natalie Merchant it just wasn’t the same. The theme song for Big Bang Theory TV show was probably the most significant things they have done.