It's been a while! I recently signed up to Dooyoo so I thought I would come and join in here to. My...
It's been a while! I recently signed up to Dooyoo so I thought I would come and join in here to. My reviews are on Dooyoo as well under the name kitschkitty.
Member since:05.02.2003
Reviews:103
Members who trust:40
Never one to shy away from a challenge, I've decided it's about time I jumped in feet first into the music category. So without further ado, I'd like to welcome you to the quirky, fantastical world of the Barenaked Ladies.
About the Band
Barenaked Ladies are a Canadian alternative rock band, renowned for their comedic lyrics, humorous rapping and general quirky take on songs. The band began as a duo with founding members Ed Robertson and Steven Page, playing their first live gig on October 1st, 1988. They then recruited more members and released their first full album, Gordon, in 1992, quickly achieving success in Canada. More albums followed and the popularity of the Barenaked Ladies increased. Even I graced them with my presence at a live performance at V2000, which is, of course, a recognized achievement amongst many contemporary bands!
About the Album
Stunt was released in 1998 and is considered to be Barenaked Ladies breakout album. It is the band's fifth full-length album and their fourth studio album. The album sole over 4 million copies in the US and the single 'One Week' became (and still remains) the band's most successful to date, reaching the number one spot in the US Billboard charts.
Despite their success, most people I meet still seem to think they've never heard of Barenaked Ladies. That's until I blast out a few bars of 'One Week' or 'It's All Been Done' and they soon recall two of Barenaked Ladies greatest hits. At least they claim to. Perhaps they just nod in agreement in the hope that I'll shut up....
But there's far more to Barenaked Ladies and the album Stunt than the aforementioned tracks. So let's give you a breakdown.
The Tracks
1. One Week
Now you might think you don't know this but I promise you do. That is, unless you were stuck in Outer Antarctica when it hit the charts. The song is upbeat, quirky and a perfect example of the slightly crazy, quirky lyrics that Barenaked Ladies are so famous for:
'Chickity China the Chinese
chicken You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin' Watchin' X-Files with no lights on We're dans la maison I hope the Smoking Man's in this one Like Harrison Ford I'm getting frantic Like Sting I'm tantric Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy' The song is nonsensical, complete with some great rapping and it's very impressive if you can sing along despite the various tongue twisters littered throughout.
2. It's All Been Done
Another upbeat and catchy song that featured on the Argos TV ads if I recall correctly. So that will be another Barenaked Ladies track you'll probably recognize. Unfortunately, Argos didn't see fit to us in on the lyrics so here's a little taster just for you:
'Alone and bored on a thirtieth-century night Will I see you on The Price Is Right? Will I cry? Will I smile? As you run down the aisle?'
OK, so it's more nonsense from BNL but the tune is solid, the vocals are fantastic as always and who can't smile when it reaches the 'wooh-hoo-hoo' part?!
3. Light up My Room
The mood of the album changes as we enter into 'Light up My Room.' After the up tempo and up lifting first two tracks, this song is far more relaxed and melancholy. The tune remains beautiful though and the harmonies are gorgeous. Despite the romantic theme of the song, the band still don't take themselves too seriously and they even appear to have preempted the current credit crunch as they sing:
'There are luxuries we cant afford But in our house we never get bored We can dance to the radio station That plays in our teeth'
4. I'll Be That Girl
Ah, unrequited love. It worked for Shakespeare and it works again for BNL. A slightly different take on the theme but another catchy tune with more brilliant vocals than you can shake a hat at!
'It's time to kick off your shoes, learn how to choose sadness It's time to throw off those chains, addle our brains with madness 'Cause we've got plenty of time to grow old and die But when at last your beauty's faded you'll be glad that I have waited for you'
5. Leave
This song has a country and western twang to it and always makes me feel as if I'm at some sort of a hoedown (not that I've ever been to one!) Perhaps one of my least favourite songs on the album, I still can't help but sing along to it with my best Southern drawl. Country and Western isn't a genre I generally enjoy and the lyrics aren't particularly memorable for this song, particularly with a chorus that consists solely of 'Do do do do do do do do whoa' but more interesting lyrics include:
'I've informed you to leave 'Cause I can't afford to lose more sleep There's your shoes, and there's the door Please don't come here anymore'
6. Alcohol
A classic BNL song. For me, this song is easily on a par with their classics such as 'Shoe Box', 'Brian Wilson' and 'The Old Apartment.' It's got a rocking guitar backdrop with quirky lyrics sprinkled with just a hint of awkwardness:
'Alcohol, my permanent accessory Alcohol, a party-time necessity Alchool, alternative to feeling like yourself O alcohol, I still drink to your health'
7. Call and Answer
Call and Answer is far from one of my favourite songs on the album and yet it still has a lovely melody, beautiful lyrics and thoughtful lyrics. This is the serious side of BNL that we don't often get to witness. Listening to it again, I still can't help but sing along though and be drawn into the song.
'You think it's only fair to do what's Best for you and you alone You think it's only fair to do the same To me when you're not home I think it's time to make this something that is More than only fair'
8. In the Car
Proving their versatility, BNL take a Shadowsesque backing and top it with some an awkward tale of young love. There are some beautiful lyrics and the song tells a great little story that you could easily believe is true, perhaps with a little artistic license used in the recounting of it. It's perhaps not one of the strongest songs on the album and some of the lyrics mean that it's not for little ears, unless you're prepared to be asked some rather pertinent questions. Searching for lyrics which don't mention any naughty words, I've picked:
'In the car We were looking for ourselves But found each other In the car We groped for excuses Not to be alone anymore In the car We were waiting for our lives To start their endings'
9. Never is Enough
And Never is Enough brings us back to the upbeat catchy lyrics and tune that BNL do so well. It's funny, funky and oh so true as it reminds us all:
'You get your PHD How happy you will be When you get a job at Wendy's And are honoured with employee of the month'
It makes me wonder what my friend, the eternal student, will do with her umpteen degrees and her PHD when she finally decides to look for a job in the real world!
10. Who Needs Sleep?
If you ever suffered insomnia then this song will definitely strike a chord. Unfortunately for me, as I struggled to nod off last night it was this song that kept popping into my head. It continues the upbeat tempo following on from Never is Enough and is another standout track on the album for me. These lyrics were particularly poignant last night as I lay in bed stressing about work:
'My hands are locked up tight in fists My mind is racing, filled with lists of things to do and things I've done Another sleepless night's begun'
11. Told You So
Told you so is a laid back track about the end of a relationship. The song has a nice simple melody backed up with simple lyrics and some of the fantastic vocal harmonies that Barenaked Ladies do so well.
'I never told you I agreed with you, I don't think I do I wasn't sure quite what the whole thing meant, but I'm glad you went I never thought that it could be painless, but it is I guess I had myself fooled into needing you, did I fool you too?'
It does differ from a lot of songs on the subject in that it doesn't mourn the end of a relationship, nor is it bitter. On a personal level, it reminds me very much of the end of my 7 year relationship where the love two people had for each other just dissolves over time.
12. Some Fantastic
More giddy merriment comes flooding out of the speakers with Some Fantastic which again shows that BNL can back their quirky lyrics with solid tunes and great vocals. Not sure how many favourite songs I can have on one album but this has to be in there!
'Some day I will find the secret to your social chemistry Then I'll print it on a t-shirt and it'll make you want to be with me If I wear it past your work you'll see other guys are jerks'
13. When You Dream
A final beautiful song to finish the album. The song is written in the style of a lullaby with a simple acoustic guitar and some 'sleep' inspired sound effects for backing.
'When you dream What do you dream about? Do you dream about Music or mathematics Or planets too far for the eye? Do you dream about Jesus or quantum mechanics Or angels who sing lullabies?'
The Album as a Whole
Despite usually opting for rock and indie as the soundtrack to my life, I still include Barenaked Ladies as one of my favourite bands. The music is mostly tongue in cheek, interspersed with some heartfelt and melancholy moments. BNL have been performing for many years and they've perfected their craft over the years. The vocals and harmonies are fantastic, the lyrics quirky and Stunt shows what a versatile band BNL are. Stunt includes rapping, country as well as plenty of the alternative rock the band are so famous for so there's something for everyone's tastes. Equally, there will always be songs hat don't appeal to everyone but on the whole I think the album is fantastic and tracks such as Alcohol show that BNL haven't lost steam despite reaching their fourth studio album. One Week and It's All Been Done also introduced a wider audience to the music of Barenaked Ladies so I can thoroughly recommend it to new fans and curious readers of this review.
For the fans, Stunt - Special Edition collects together a handful of "live favourites"--a ... more
term that's usually used to describe a track that's just too dull to be a single, but the band insists on playing anyway. Not so, here--the originals of the live ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
For the fans,Stunt - Special Editioncollects together a handful of "live favourites"--a ... more
term that's usually used to describe a track that's just too dull to be a single, but the band insists on playing anyway. Not so, here--the originals of the live re...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
exceptional by (22%):
very helpful by (78%):
![River Is Wide, The [Remastered] - Forum (The)](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/251/prod_small-6006251.jpg)
