Read Review of Maybe You Should Drive by Barenaked Ladies
Review Summary
About the Author
Maybe you shouldn't buy this album...
Oct 15 '01 (Updated Mar 01 '02)
Pros Five or so good songs...
Cons Sappy and cliche
The Bottom Line Definitely not a classic, and NOT for fans of real rock music.
Full Review
The Barenaked Ladies are both clothed and very unladylike. In fact, as most of you should know by now they are men. The Canadian quintet is also unapologetically funny. That combination could spell their death, instead over ten years since their debut EP Be My Yoko Ono the band is still going strong on the wings of a laugh.
Following the band’s debut EP, Barenaked Ladies released their major label debut. Gordon from 1992 found a large following among Canadians. That fervor spread thanks to 1994’s Maybe You Should Drive. 1996’s Born on a Pirate Ship found a more widespread audience thanks to an appearance at the Peach Pit After Dark (yes, I recall the name) on FOX’s Beverly Hills, 90210. 1997’s Rock Spectacle was actually a live compilation of hits and misses, but proved to be exceptionally popular among the radio crowd (of which I was a part during that time). Stunt, released in 1998, was also a commercial success. Most recently, 2000’s Maroon landed the band on the charts.
The Barenaked Ladies have made it their duty to entertain and to laugh along side their songs. During the band’s existence, they have in a way “sold out”…something that happens to all bands that hit it big. The five guys, Steven Page (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Ed Robertson (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, pedal steel, mandolin, mandola, banjo, bass drum); Andrew Creeggan (accordion, piano, hammered dulcimer, reed organ, keyboards, percussion, background vocals); Jim Creeggan (cello, bass, background vocals); and Tyler Stewart (drums), are obviously multi-talented musicians. Their appeal has led them to success in Canada, on college radio, on radio, and then finally on MTV.
Since Maybe You Should Drive is both an early album from the band and a perennial fan favorite, its also an appropriate album to examine more closely. Their sound wavers somewhere between pure pop and folky rock. However you look at it, you can’t help but laugh at the lyrics and the commentary. Music like this usually isn’t my cup o’ tea, but with the Barenaked Ladies leading the laughs, I can’t help but join in. This 1994 album was released by Reprise and produced by k.d. lang collaborator Ben Mink. It features twelve songs among which the most popular are ”Jane”, ”Alternative Girlfriend”, and ”Intermittently”.
”Jane” is a good track to start this opinion off with. First, because it’s a fan favorite and second because it’s also the first track of the album. It’s not overtly light-hearted. In fact, the entire feel of the song is less upbeat than most of the other BNL songs. That aside, I like it. It’s slow, tender, and actually quite appealing. The song tells the story of Jane, a beautiful girl who ”is desired by the people at the school and work…is tired, 'cause every man becomes a lovesick jerk.”
With a great pop feel and a catchy, building tempo and associated lyrics, ”Intermittently” is one of the better tracks of this album. It talks about love, loss, and return to the same love with the same person again. It’s funny, but executed in such a way that you may not realize the sense of humor initially…unless you’ve got a copy of the words sitting in front of you. Here’s one of the better examples of this:
She's a lot like you but she don't look like you
Okay, she's not you
But she'll do fine
The track ”These Apples” has a great tune. I like the up and down vocals and music. The subject is simple, in fact it really is about apples and love for that matter. It’s light and delicious. The song may be a bit too upbeat for some people, but it’s just refreshing…especially as it progresses with the addition of a banjo. This is a must-listen song.
”You Will Be Waiting” actually begins sounding very much like a folk-rock song ala Simon and Garfunkle. That comparison is very appropriate considering the vocal and musical talents shown by the Ladies on this track and others on this album. This is another one of those lovesick mushy songs with a tender, soft, melodic sound driven by an acoustic guitar, piano, and vocal harmonies.
So far as live songs go, ”A” is a fan favorite. It’s also one of the funniest ones on this entire album thanks to an ode to Sesame Street mainstay Cookie Monster. The song rhymes the letter ‘a’ to every topic and word imaginable. The song is fast, funky (yes, funky) and fun. There’s really no specific point to the song, except to entertain. Check it out:
A is for algebra, I learned it in school
A is what Fonzie said, 'cause he was very cool
Elevator music is the best description of ”Everything Old is New Again”. The melody actually reminds me of the theme from the children’s show Reading Rainbow. It’s just too sickly sweet to appeal to me. Although, to the right person this song could prove perfect. The tempo is slow, but builds with the horns and strings to something faster at the chorus. Eh. Not my favorite.
”Alternative Girlfriend” is still great to hear on the radio. Although, the only place I hear it is on college radio. That aside, skip the last track in favorite of this one! The guitar is heavier than all of the other tracks on the album. The drums are also a bit more attractive to rock and rollers like myself. The song is actually a character outline of a young woman who is stereotypically alternative. She has a second hand futon, doesn’t care about much, is in an all-girl band, and has some vinyl records. The whole point of the track is that she’s bad at being a cliché.
Short and sweet are both words that describe ”Am I The Only One?”. As with the majority of the songs on this album, the subject matter revolves around love. The lyrics ask whether Am I the only one who loves when you leave Your hair down in front of your eyes? Many people enjoy this song, but I think it’s pitiful and sad. I wish that the Ladies would talk about something else (I think that’s why ”A” is a welcomed track).
”Little Tiny Song” is short. It’s also strange. Oh, and there are only four lines to it. Not good, not bad. Just unlike everything else, and funny as hell. See:
Hey I'm a cow, I'm curious
Hey watch me now, I'm furious
Hey I'm a cow, I'm full of hate
Hey watch me now, I'm on your plate
As one of the most upbeat and funniest tracks on this album, ”Life, In a Nutshell” is also one of the best in my opinion. It’s got a great catch, and is pretty easy to sing along to. Again, the subject matter is love (something that manages to get old by this time in the album). But as an individual track, this is a must listen. I hope you don’t wade through the rest of this album to get to this point. My favorite part of this track is the chorus. It’s great, fun, fast, and lighthearted.
”The Wrong Man Was Convicted” doesn’t appeal to be in the least. It’s too slow, the subject is boring, and the finished product is completely lacking is substance and goal. One word. Skip.
The beginning to ”Great Provider” actually reminds me a bit of songs from the Talking Heads. Of course, that’s not a comparison because I enjoy most of the Heads songs about ten times more than this one. Don’t even skip this one…it doesn’t deserve to be played any further than the first chord.
As has become obvious, this album is great when it’s good and horrible when it’s bad. There’s no middle ground. If you moderately enjoy the Ladies, get this one if only for ”Life, In a Nutshell” and ”Alternative Girlfriend” among a few others. I wish I didn’t have to say this, but I think that the Ladies are overrated. They are talented and have created a few really catchy and fun tracks. But, the majority of the band’s music is slow and sappy (as seen on this album).
If you’re looking for one album from the Barenaked Ladies, buy Rock Spectacle. It’s fun and funny and great at parties. This album just has too many raw spots and lacks any real luster. I give it and average 3/5 stars. It’s nothing special. I won’t recommend you buy it, rather I’ll tell you to go and buy Rock Spectacle instead.
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