While this site is dedicated to the live concert, I couldn't resist the opportunity totake Steve up on his offer of previewing the long-awaited newest Barenaked Ladies CD, Stunt. Take note of the availability of the Limited Edition with two bonus tracks! Out in stores July 7.
By Steve Rosenberg, Atlanta
Although their last studio album edged them ever closer to mainstream acceptance and their subsequent live record sold a million copies, Barenaked Ladies has still barely skirted the level of success they're due. That's likely to change in the very near future, however, with the July 7 release of their latest record, "Stunt." While the single "One Week" is being well-received, it's just the tip of the iceberg-the rest of the album is easily their strongest material since their debut "Gordon."
Longtime fans will breathe a sigh of relief that the Ladies haven't abandoned their uncanny ability to weave subversive, sarcastic, inspired lyrics among the pop hooks they've mastered. In fact, they've taken both their musicianship and songwriting to a new level. What's different is the introduction of a tightly focused production that has resulted in a cohesive, complete finished product. That having been said, what's most impressive is that they seem to be having more fun than ever.
The interplay of frontmen Ed Robertson and Steven Page is working like a charm (unlike the Keith Richards/Mick Jagger partnership, they write both the music and words for their own tunes independently). Each has come into his own as a songwriter, at once taking chances and exploring new musical territory while building on their established strengths. By the time the full band puts its spin on the tune, the evolution is impressive. Take, for instance, the second track, "It's All Been Done." What started out as a straight forward rock tune they introduced at live shows during the fall and winter, has been transformed into an "Abbey Road"-era Beatles sound, complete with rich harmonies, colorful instrumentation and a soaring distorted guitar.
As usual, the band expresses a willingness to delve into a wide variety of sounds, such as the Latin beats that perfectly complement the heated sexual tension of teenage lovers on "In The Car." Robertson's "Never is Enough" is a bouncy tune about crappy after-school/college jobs that you won't be able to get out of your head. One of the trademarks of the band is that they always allow themselves at least one cut to run a little long and develop musically. As with the cut "Crazy" from "Gordon," the song "Call and Answer" shows what they can do with when they stray from their usual
three-minute milieu.
Of particular note on this record is the final track that provides a perfect bookend to the rap-like frenetic pace of the opening song "One Week." Written for Page's 2-year-old son, "When You Dream," is a ethereal lullaby- complete with Kevin Hearn's swirling organ riffs and windchimes-that recalls John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy." The song speculates on what's going through a toddler's mind just as he's drifting off to sleep: "Memories he'll ignore, he's forgotten all he's met before. When sleep sets in, history begins...Do you have Del Shannon's 'Runaway' playing on transistor radios?"
Time will tell what's in store for Barenaked Ladies. They should benefit from the exposure they'll get from appearing on the H.O.R.D.E. tour this summer and the fall solo tour that's still in the planning stages. Anyone who's seen them live will sing their praises so we'll see what happens. But then again, they've put out four very good albums to date and have yet become a household name. Expect things to be different this time around and for "Stunt" to be their breakthrough album.
Barenaked Sampler
"One Week" - "I'm hot like wasabe when I bust rhymes. Big like LeAnn Rimes, because I'm all about value."
"Light Up My Room" - "I lift you up over everything to light up my room." "Radio station plays in our teeth."
"I'll Be That Girl" - "If I were the sun, you'd be in shadow. If I had a gun, there'd be no tomorrow."
"Alcohol" - "Alcohol, my permanent accessory. Alcohol, my partytime necessity."
"In the Car" - "Once I had a dream I slept with her mom, which I thought was wrong."
"Never is Enough" - "I could go to Europe, travel with my friends. I could blow a thousand deutschmarks to get drunk with some Australians."
"Who Needs Sleep?" - "This guy's been awake since the second world war."
"Told You So" - "You had a problem with your newfound wealth. You brought it on yourself."
"Some Fantastic" - "Goodbye self-respect, I haven't had much of it since you left."
"When You Dream" - "Life just begun, sleeping new son. When you dream what do you dream about...jesus, quantum mechanics, angels that sing lullabies?"
To make the initial buying frenzy a little more frenzied, Reprise Records is releasing a limited edition (30,000 copies) of the CD that contains two bonus tracks.
Steve Rosenberg
Thanks, Steve for your contribution. Steve has other articles that can bereviewed at the 99Xpress link at www.99x.com.
On That Note, I'm outta here.....
Pre ReleaseReview of Stunt
