Wait, You’ve Never Heard: Barenaked Ladies’ Everything to Everyone

By Tony Hardy on January 18th, 2010 in Features, Wait You've Never Heard

19 Comments »
Wait, You’ve Never Heard: Barenaked Ladies’ <i>Everything to Everyone</i>

This feature is all about owning up to not having heard an album before, or sometimes even the artiste. If you wile away your hours in bars, surrounded by the kind of guys that hang out in record stores the rest of the time, sniffing out (or even plain sniffing) old vinyl, you may have pretended to know all about something you actually haven’t heard. You maybe even chip in with the odd comment, “Of course, it’s not as good as their last…” Cheer up; there’s nothing wrong about working in IT and liking Marillion. Only don’t expect to meet girls. Or ladies for that matter.

Speaking of ladies, I have to confess that I had heard the ace Toronto band Bakenaked Ladies before, but I thought they’d only made one record, Stunt, and that was about 10 years ago. What happened before and after completely passed me by. Maybe they were wonders of the one-hit kind. Or they simply returned to the planet with all the best tunes. Stunt was a seriously good record, too, so it’s even more unforgivable that I hadn’t kept tabs on the band. Anyhow, just to prove it is quite possible not to know everything there is to know about popular music, I hadn’t heard of Barenaked Ladies before Stunt, and I heard nothing since then, until a few weeks ago, when our local church held its annual Christmas Bazaar. A better place also to meet girls than a Marillion concert.

There I was rifling through the CD bargain stall (thankfully unable to sniff vinyl), and there was Everything to Everyone by Barenaked Ladies. Thankfully the BNL cover caused no embarrassment to vendor or purchaser. Rather than an outré girl band, it depicted five clean cut guys in heroes of the republic pose alongside a white flag, though looking like they just exited a branch of Gap. I flipped it over to reveal a distant date, 2003, and had to buy it. At least two people stopped me on the way out and asked me if I knew other BNL albums I hadn’t heard of. I just kept muttering Stunt, in a voice not unlike that used by Justin Hoffman in “Rain Man”.

Much of Everything to Everyone is about the fake gloss of celebrity, commercialism, or corporate greed. It’s about how what you always want, or are told that you want, isn’t what you need. Opener “Celebrity” sets the tone. “All that’s left of me is my celebrity” is a great sentiment on the hollowness of it all. Next up, does consumer choice give you license to prevaricate over asking her out for a date? “Maybe Katie” says so. Then starting out like “Slim Shady”, “Another Postcard” reprises “One Week” from BNL’s biggest hit album, Stunt, in its semi-rap style. It’s that annoyingly catchy tune you can’t get out of your head, with clever- if superficially silly- lyrics about chimpanzees. I rationalize that BNL are smart enough for the monkey postcards to be a metaphor for unwanted direct mail. Then again, I think Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” might be about Tony Blair…

By song four, “Next Time”, you’re still waiting for a duff tune. Wrong. This is another corker and you can even waltz along to the verses. The country tinged “For You” brings a nice change of tempo and highlights BNL’s crisp close harmonies. Then “Shopping” hits with its whirlwind la-la-la’s and gets its point across straight off: “Everything will always be all right when we go shopping”. That’s about it, but it’s a bright tune and clever arrangement, though with more than enough repetition to work for the brain dead.

“Testing 1,2,3”, which follows, is an album stand-out with a classic BNL constructed melody, great dynamics, and funny-ironic lyrics, while “Upside Down” takes you back to the dance floor, this time for a tango. The next song is probably the finest on offer here. “War on Drugs” signifies a serious mood swing, a solemn reflection on human fragility. This is a powerful, compelling song that shows a sensibility wide apart from the wisecracking style the band frequently employs. The keyboard-driven “Aluminium” continues the reflections but with the focus shifted to the theme of appearance and reality: “You can shine like silver all you want but you’re just aluminum”.

“Unfinished” has strong Beach Boys overtones and is yet another great tune with signature bittersweet lyrics. Next, the breezy rocker “Second Best” provides a neat bridge to the wonderful “Take it Outside”, which has most of what you ever wanted from a pop song. The gentle, acoustic song “Have You Seen my Love?” makes a fine closer, seemingly more poignant now that singer and co-writer with Ed Robertson on most BNL songs, Stephen Page, quit the band earlier this year.

Everything to Everyone is a real treat: funny, touching, charming, and always really musical. The record reminds you that there aren’t many bands that write and perform pop songs consistently to such a high standard as Barenaked Ladies. Well, it would do that, if you knew all along that the band had made more than one album.

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comments (19)

  • You should check out “Maybe You Should Drive,” which I believe to be their best work. “Helicopters” is one of my favorite songs still to this day (and features Steven Page’s voice at its best).

    Megan January 25, 2010 at 11:49 am

  • Thanks for all the comments, everyone. I don’t think I’ve heard “If I had a Million Dollars” but Gordon is next on my list. Incidentally any of you into fellow Cnadian Kathleen Edwards?
    Check out http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/11/22/listen-kathleen-edwards/ I think she’s a great talent and can’t understand why she isn’t massive.

    Tony Hardy January 21, 2010 at 5:09 am

  • Totally cool that you just found it, and loved it.

    I’m just confused that you missed “If I had a Million Dollars” off Gordon. Easily just as big as “One Week”. Or maybe just in Canada, but still. I thought everyone knew that song!

    Bex January 21, 2010 at 1:04 am

  • I own everything BNL have ever released, so I’m looking forward to the new album too.

    Shame Steven Page had to leave – but never mind, it could mean we get a solo album from him soon too.

    Worth checking out the first Steven Page “solo” album under the name of “Vanity project”. Some really good stuff on it.

    Stephen January 20, 2010 at 7:02 am

  • I’ve taken crap from people for years because I love BNL. I think the sound is ingrained on my ear from living near Canada and hearing them in much earlier days. Check out some of their other disks, I think you may prefer then to E2E and if you get a chance see them in concert, their medleys are fabulous.

    Aftercancer January 19, 2010 at 12:16 pm

  • Everyone has opinions.
    .
    I could shout [in all caps] one album name, but all I’d be doing is limiting myself to only *those* songs. When it comes to Barenaked Ladies, (or, *heck* any music), all we can do as fans/future-fans is to appreciate each song for what it is.
    .
    …A song, a story, a moment in time where we can scratch our heads, laugh, or in the case of BNL, look at our significant other while driving in the car and say “did he just sing that?!”…and laugh some more.
    .
    I’ve been a fan of theirs since Maroon, when my, (then girlfriend and now…), wife took my hand at the Maroon concert, squeezed it and said “this is us” while they sang “Call and Answer”
    .
    I’m glad you found Everything to Everyone and honestly hope you’ll give the rest of the catalog a try.
    .
    Thanks for the review and we BNL fans hope to see you at the concert for their newest album being released in March, “All In Good Time” – one for the record books.
    .
    View more by hitting their home page at http://barenakedladies.com/
    as well as http://barenakedladies.com/videos

    barenakedfanband January 19, 2010 at 1:49 am

  • I think it’s a very telling statement that many believe this is one of the band’s weaker albums, yet objective ears have such high praise for it.

    I’m glad you discovered this album (which I love) and thanks for sharing your thoughts. Enjoy discovering more BNL albums!

    Sarah January 18, 2010 at 10:41 pm

  • I’ll always have a soft spot for this band. I, too, enjoy this album. I wonder how the new album will be sans Steven.

    Justin Gerber January 18, 2010 at 4:53 pm

  • Gordon was nice, but so are all of their albums. I really like maroon and born on a pirate ship, but I also love stunt and barenaked are me. Everything to everyone is fun to listen to, though I find many of the songs lagging with the lyrics. I just think BNL is always evolving and I am continually re-evauating all of their material as a listener too. For a band thats been around for over 20 years and released, what, 11 studio albums, with so many songs to choose from two things are clear. The band has obvious creativity and staying power, and it is way to hard to pick one favorite song or album because they have enough songs to appeal to everyone and every mood.

    Razr January 18, 2010 at 4:26 pm

  • Ghost that never lies…

    And you know that “Ed and Steven were fighting over control of the band:”, how? Were you there? It’s speculation like this that causes rumors and untruths to be spread. It was between them. Leave it there.

    Dani Lowe January 18, 2010 at 3:13 pm

  • Hey thanks for all the comments. Nice to see that people hold this band in some esteem, though opinions will always differ as to which is the best etc. Finding this record has spurred me on to checking out more of BNL’s back catalogue. The more I hear, the more I like.

    Tony Hardy January 18, 2010 at 3:07 pm

  • I Agree, I love this Cd and I find it one of their finest examples of their musical and lyrical talent mainly one of the last strong influence of Steve’s writing ability with Ed. On the other Cd’s that followed as the song “running out of ink” suggests things started changing, not that there weren’t “gems” on them they just were not the same as prev done. Gordon is one of my fav’s but then so is Stunt and Maroon. I have them all and even vanity Project which is sweet ear candy that goes to the very core of your being which is why I loved the ladies and Steve the way they wrote their songs and the “quirky” why they expressed life living and emotional situation speaks volumes of their talent and intelligence I hope someday the will be recognized as contenders for one of the greatest bands of all time and placed in the rock and Roll hall of fame, because they belong there

    marie January 18, 2010 at 2:21 pm

  • I actually really enjoyed E2E. It had all the moods that BNL’s music should have. I’ve been a fan since Gordon and I will forever enjoy their music. It lifts me up more than any other band I like.

    Helena January 18, 2010 at 1:07 pm

  • It does an old heart good to read your discovery of such a fine album. One of my favorites.

    For those who Scream GORDON! – well Everything to Everyone
    is dedicated to you…

    All artists evolve and change – if they did not – The Beatles never would have explored Magical Mystery Tour or Abby Road.

    (just for an example)

    Cynthia January 18, 2010 at 1:03 pm

  • GORDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    bobbyrisigliano January 18, 2010 at 11:58 am

  • There are certainly some gems on this album, but it’s easily their weakest. I stand behind Maroon as their best work.

    Cap Blackard January 18, 2010 at 10:47 am

  • sorry Consequence, I followed this band since my days in Buffalo and the days of Gordon. This album is shit compared to their first two or three albums….. Listen to Gordon or Maybe You SHould Drive or Born on A Pirate Ship….. Kicks the crap out of their later work when Ed and Steven started fighting over control of the band…..

    Ghost that never lies... January 18, 2010 at 10:19 am

  • Tony, thanks for this review. I have tried to tell people to check this album out, appreciate the back up. I’m not sure what Jason J is talking about? Gordon, Stunt, and Everything to everyone are all classic; cover to cover. Their other albums, although overall not as strong, all have some great songs in them too.

    I also completely completely agree with your take on ‘The War on Drugs’. To fellow BNL fans, I’ve been preaching that song to deaf ears. Thanks again, great article.

    Ben January 18, 2010 at 8:44 am

  • Gordon is the only album this band made that matters, nothing else of theirs ever matched up to that classic

    Jason J January 18, 2010 at 4:00 am

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