Stunted growth (Stunt - Barenaked Ladies)

Member Name: cswann

Product:	Stunt - Barenaked Ladies
Date:	05/02/01 (69 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Happy go lucky sound, even on less than happy topics

Disadvantages: Humour a bit too contrived for some

This was the album that finally got the Barenaked Ladies noticed in the UK.
I was aware of them as a wacky, beachwear-doffing band before "Stunt" came out, and must say I thought they were very similar to They Might Be Giants - they have been described as the "Canadian Housemartins", which seemed about right. Even the band's name is a joke? (obviously, there are no ladies at all, clothed or otherwise, in the band!)
Then I went to see them live, and realised they are more than just a quirky indie / novelty band.
Their set was extremely professional, highly entertaining and full of great songs, including the well-deserved hits "One week", "It's all been done" and "Call and answer". Between songs, we were treated to extended introductions and funny tales, and there were many take-offs of other artists, from rap to heavy metal. A kind of gig-cum-variety show - I'd recommend seeing them to anyone.

Since that concert I've got into the "Stunt" album. It's full of catchy tunes, and interesting lyrics - I definitely head for the lyric sheet more I usually would with other albums.
"One week", is a triumph of clever rhymes and high speed delivery. It reminds me of that old song "Life is a rock (But the Radio rolled me)" in that respect, but "One week" is a much cleverer song. There is less of the humour of their previous albums, or, shall we say, the humour is darker on "Stunt", as many of the songs are about less happy subjects, things like relationships ending.
"It's all been done" is next up, and in a sense they're right - it has all been done before, the music sounds like it's recycled REM, or 60s pop ("ooh la la la"s). Maybe it's just an acknowledgement ("If I play the same three chords?") that there's nothing new in the music business.
"Leave" sounds
like a country-era Byrds song with a bit of early REM in it - suits me fine. "Call and answer" is another favourite of mine, a tender ballad, which displays Steven Page's vocal range, in an understated kind of way.
I also think "Some fantastic" is pretty, er, fantastic, a great upbeat song.
Closing track, "When you dream" marks a change of style, with a light and airy, almost hallucinatory feel.
I feel the first half of the album is strongest, and overall, there are a couple of tracks I could have done without - "Never is enough" being one of them - more than enough for me! - but with a collection that's over 50 minutes long that's surely to be expected, and even the songs I didn't instantly like grew on me.

My version of the album comes with an extra CD, which includes some excellent live versions, such as "Brian Wilson" and "If I had $1,000,000" - great as a reminder of that great concert I went to last year.
"Stunt" is the kind of album that cheers me up whenever I play it.

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