Maroon - Barenaked Ladies

Hm.. seems I've been reviewing a lot of Barenaked Ladies lately. Can't help it, they're just so good! 2000 saw Candian alternative rockers Barenaked Ladies follow up their commercial breakthrough, "Stunt", with a similar-sounding, yet slightly deeper, follow-up LP: "Maroon". It never reached the same heights of popularity its predecessor did, its lead single proving at best a minor hit on both sides of the Atlantic. This doesn't prove that the quality of the music has declined, however; rather, that the public are all too fickle when it comes to popular music, as "Maroon" is probably Barenaked Ladies' finest album to date, with ...  Read the complete review

It’s amazing how many bands ‘sell-out’. Just search the Internet and you’ll find hundreds of forums filled with members ranting about how their favourite bands have neglected their core values in search for music that will fill their pockets full of cash. To many Barenaked Ladies fans, Maroon is a ‘sell out’ and lacks the certain raw ability and ‘jangle-pop’ style that made the Canadian band so popular in the early nineties, to this I say caffobble (thats my own little made up word by the way). Maroon is the best real pop album about, a genre which has suffered greatly at the hands of commercially spawned girl and boy ...  Read the complete review

This morning, fresh out of the shower, I heard an ad on the radio for “Maroon”, the new album by the Barenaked Ladies, and I just *had* to run straight out and buy it. After I’d put on some clothes, of course. I first heard of the Barenaked Ladies (five guys, in case you’ve never heard of them) in 1992, when I was sharing a student flat with Paul Stefiszyn, who was from Canada (drop me a line if you’re listening, Paul!). They had just released their first album “Gordon” to enormous critical and popular acclaim on the other side of the Atlantic. It didn’t make much of a splash over here, though. And despite ...  Read the complete review

Between the releases of 'Stunt' and this album, the keyboardist/guitarist Kevin Hearn underwent (and successfully recovered from) a bout of leukemia. Not surprisingly, the subject matter on their sixth album leans toward the darker side of life. Among the foreboding topics touched on are the thoughts of a car crash victim 'Tonight Is the Night I Fell Asleep At the Wheel' and touring countries torn by political strife 'Helicopters'. Luckily, this Canadian quintet uses a combination of impressive pop sensibility and perfect songcraft driven by undeniable hooks to lighten the mood. So even though they might be singing ...  Read the complete review

From opening track to the close of the hidden song, I am more than pleased with how solid this album is as a whole. It's fun, it's hip, and it has cool lyrics to compliment the good time you have while listening. I don't think I've gone more than a day without listening to this album since I got it. It's so damn catchy that I can't help but continue to listen. Some say it's a bit more morose and somber...maybe for the Barenaked Ladies it is, but it's still loaded with humor and a damn good time. It's a sing-along, pop in the car stereo, pass your time, let your worries melt away album. I strongly suggest it. ...  Read the complete review