In the world of music these days it's a relief to me that Barenaked Ladies have released another CD. I thank God for this band, a group that isn't continually singing about drinking, scoring or getting someone drunk so they can score. It's intelligent pop for those smart enough to appreciate it.
That being said, longtime fans of BNL will no doubt like this CD very much. It's been three years since Maroon, and 11 since Gordon, their debut CD, and it's apparent the Ladies have grown up. There's a lot less zaniness on this effort, but the energy usually reserved for BNL's wackier side has been focused into meaningful lyrics and the deepest, most colorful musicianship I've ever heard from this band. During a recent concert in Chicago, the band acknowledged that this was a "serious" CD, but their performance was full of the fun antics their live shows are known for.
"Another Postcard" first single released from this disc, is similar in style to "One Week." In typical BNL fashion it takes a potentially disturbing situation and makes it whimsical. Ed Robertson raps about the postcards he receives in the mail printed with chimpanzees dressed in all sorts of different clothing and doing different things; Steven Page sings the chorus. An odd choice for a song topic, but only BNL could make stalking by mail seem like an amusing problem. I like it, but I think the acoustic version at the end of the disc is even better than the radio single.
The CD deals with suicide, second chances, screwing up, temptation, confrontation, consumerism and love gone wrong. Sounds depressing, but remember: this is BNL. They have the ability to take these kinds of topics and write about them in an amusing, intelligent way. And if they comment on something, like the perks and pains of being famous, they are not going to whine about it. And they've been around long enough to lend credibility to "Celebrity," which explores the cult of fame.
"Next Time" is typical of the band's ability to take a topic like screwing up and actually make it pleasant to listen to. It's the most soothing song on the disc; dreamy, almost lullaby-like in its reassurance that life does indeed offer more than one chance to get things right. Or wrong.
Both Page and Robertson have their moments. On the bluegrass-sounding "For You," Robertson's early exposure to country music shows. It's probably some of his best vocal work ever. His clear, earnest voice is perfectly suited to country or rap, which never fails to amaze me. Page's vocals are tender on one song, dramatic the next. He particularly shines on "War On Drugs" which features one of the best lines on the entire CD, in my opinion: "The very fear that makes you want to die / is the same as what keeps you alive." It's one of the gloomier songs on the disc, but Page and Robertson can handle this kind of topic without being syrupy.
"Upside Down" one of my favorites, deals with temptation and choices. It bursts forth with a dramatic string opening, Page's powerful vocals, humorous accordion injections, Beach Boy-like harmonies and a guitar solo that could make the most comatose of party poopers want to dance.
And speaking of Brian Wilson and company, "Unfinished" is BNL at their best imitation of the Beach Boys. The song is one of the bounciest, poppiest tracks on the CD, second only to "Shopping" and reminiscent of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" in terms of beat and harmonies.
On "Shopping," Page seems to celebrate the joys of purchasing, but if you know anything about this group at all, there's more behind what the song appears to say. The last song on the CD before the three additional acoustic tracks ("Another Postcard," "Maybe Katie," and "Second Best") is "Have You Seen My Love?" A simple love song, Page and Robertson have created a work of art that suggests Paul McCartney at his lyrical best. Page's vocals are so velvety and seductive, I really don't care where his love disappeared to, because I'm more than ready to be his next one.
Throughout the CD, the music is like the best ice cream you've ever tasted with an assortment of decadent goodies sprinkled in. What are you going to bite into next? Cookie dough or bubble gum? Fudge or nuts? The fun is in not knowing what you are going to hear next, and that characteristic is probably attributable to Kevin Hearn, BNL's keyboardist. He plays a large part on this effort, sharing songwriting credits with Page and Robertson, and adding the musical Jimmies that make this disc such a pleasure to hear. There's a little bit of country, a little bit of rock n' roll, pop, and echoes of the 60s and the 70s, when radio was actually worth listening to. BNL renewed my faith in the music industry. I only wish there were more of their style of music out there, instead of the mass-produced "American Idol" parasites and bimbos that infest the industry today.BNL are the only major group out there that can turn this jaded chick into a blob of schoolgirl enthusiasm. And that is a feat in itself.
Copyright 2003 Ad Media Inc.