Remember 1998? I do. "Seinfeld" was wrapping up, Smoke and Mirrors - a collection of short fiction by Neil Gaiman - was on the shelves, and, thanks to a little ditty called "One Week," America was being introduced for the first time to a little ensemble from north of the border (the Canadian border, that is) called the Barenaked Ladies. The irony, of course, being that all of the band members are clothed and none of them are female. Their music, however, is great.
Most people know a bit about the Barenaked Ladies. Just about everyone has heard "One Week". Many know "Pinch Me". Some might even be able to recognize tunes like "It's All Been Done" or "The Old Apartment". For my money, few bands of the last decade are as all-around fun as the Barenaked Ladies.
From early successes like the classic "Brian Wilson" (named for the lead singer of the Beach Boys, natch) and "Be My Yoko Ono" to stints on television (like donating the themes to TV shows like "Baby Blues" and "The Big Bang Theory"), the Ladies are prolific. As their style continues to evolve, their sound remains as crisp and cool as ever.
The dual vocals of frontmen Steven Page and Ed Robertson are continued evidence that the two have worked together for awhile, honing their craft opposite one another. The sheer talent and versatility of member Kevin Hearn is also both astounding and unparalleled (at least as far as Canadian bands I know of). From top to bottom, BNL is a treat for the ears.
A couple of years ago, the band came out with a new album entitled The Barenaked Ladies Are Me, showcasing a mellower BNL, but with all the wit and intelligence that one comes to expect from the group. Below is one of my favorite tracks from that album, called "Bank Job," telling the story of a group of cons robbing a bank. The story surrounding the song is well worth the listen.
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