lambchops's Full Review: Stunt by Barenaked Ladies
Once upon a time there was a band unlike any other band. First of all, they looked more or less like cartoon characters. Secondly, they took themselves none too seriously. Finally, they were funny—not just in looks but also as far as lyrics go. Of course, they are Canadian also—and Canadians are notoriously kooky. Or not.
The story of the Barenaked Ladies began in 1990 Toronto. At first a novelty act spawned from an unlikely incident at a Bob Dylan concert, the band of five miscreants has since honed an eclectic sound which combines elements of pop and rock with folk and jazz. Ed Robertson, Steven Page, Jim Creeggan, Andy Creeggan (later replaced by Kevin Hearn), and Tyler Stewart birthed the band that has to date released six albums of original material and one outstanding live disc (Rock Spectacle, 1996).
At their best, BNL (as they are affectionately known) is a goofy, campy band with irreverent style and somewhat questionable substance. At worst, the band is self-aware, purposefully goofy and has sold out to mainstream interests. The quality of the six BNL studio efforts wildly vacillates. The best of the lot aren’t even perfect—debut Gordon and the aforementioned Rock Spectacle. Most of the albums fall into the average and sub-par categories. 1998 mainstream breakthrough Stunt is no exception to this unfortunate rule.
On Stunt, BNL shed too much of their humor and instead went for big pop hooks and tailor-made MTV appeal. It worked as far as sales went, but at the same time the new “look” and the new “sound” alienated most former macaroni-throwing fans. The changeover wasn’t immediate, but once the band was way overexposed prior listeners began to peel off. I was never a rabid fan, but I did like BNL as they were around 1995 and 1996. Little about Stunt appealed to me in 1998 and very little of it appeals to me now. Note to all somewhat obscure and novel bands—this is what happens when you sell out.
I wanted to hear about monkeys and old apartments and Jane, but instead I got stuck uncharacteristically serious fare. Nobody ever listened to BNL thinking that they were anything but a wise-cracking band, yet Stunt attempts to erase much of that reputation save for a few exceptions with Alcohol being the closes to the work of the old band I used to like. The hit songs are the best of the album, but radio and MTV epically overplayed them. At first One Week was fine with the kinetic pace (but horribly overwrought melody), but after hearing the song some twelve times in a day for a period of a few months it lost all appeal.
BNL followed with two more singles--It’s All Been Done and Call and Answer. These songs prove slightly more appealing if nothing else because they were mostly spared by MTV (at least compared to One Week). It’s All Been Done is a cute little retro track, but nothing more. It’s nice to listen to, but is overproduced—a major problem that pervades each of the thirteen songs. Producer David Leonard is to blame for this (in addition to the mixing and engineering). Call and Answer was a strange selection for a single—slow and plodding it takes much too long to develop for the liking of attention-span-deprived audiences. But still I like it even if it doesn’t sound like BNL.
Alcohol is definitely the closest thing to old school BNL on Stunt. Short and straightforward, the song is the perfect addition to any college party mix tape. It makes me smile; a definite characteristic of previous songs from the band I’ve really enjoyed. I’d have preferred the sound to be a bit more acoustic, but I am still satisfied with this product. The lyrics too smack of BNL from a few years previous:
I love you more than I did the week before
I discovered alcohol
Would you please ignore that you
found me on the floor
Trying on your camisole?
O Alcohol, would you please forgive me?
For while I cannot love myself
I'll use something else
There is little else about Stunt worth even mentioning. Most of it is forgettable but not offensive—at least if it had been offensive it would be easily remembered. Instead it is generic pop schlock. The downward spiral really begins with the boring and melancholic sounding Light up My Room. Things get no better as the album progresses through I’ll Be That Girl, In the Car, Who Needs Sleep?, and album ender When You Dream.
The only brief reprieves occur with the chipper alt-country of Leave, the catchy Never Is Enough, and similarly Told You So. Stunt isn’t a horrible album. Rather, it just strikes me as over-produced and uninspired. BNL has never been known for their consistency, so I suppose Stunt fits right into the overall picture. If you’re a fan of the band, you already have this album. If you’re just thinking about making a discovery it’s definitely best to start with Rock Spectacle to get the most real and positive look inside of Barenaked Ladies.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Track Listing:
01. One Week
02. It’s All Been Done
03. Light up My Room
04. I’ll Be That Girl
05. Leave
06. Alcohol
07. Call and Answer
08. In the Car
09. Never Is Enough
10. Who Needs Sleep?
11. Told You So
12. Some Fantastic (Ivory & Ivory)
13. When You Dream
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