May 6: Barenaked Ladies, "Gordon"

Artist: Barenaked Ladies
Album: Gordon
Year: 1992
Label: Reprise


One common downfall in the music industry occurs when a band begins to take themselves far too seriously. The band tends to get very serious, and most of the time, their music suffers greatly due to the band not having "fun" anymore. Taking the complete opposite approach, Barenaked Ladies are still trying to see if they can have too MUCH fun on their records. Successfully creating music that is amazingly fun, somewhat silly, yet not at all childish, their music is a wonderful fusion of numerous genres.Though they are now international superstars, nearly twenty years after its release, their 1992 debut, Gordon, still stands as their finest recording to date.

First off, YES, there are two VERY distinct covers to the album. The one pictured above is the cover that was placed on the album beginning in late 1996. The original cover features the band members goofing off around a superimposed image of the albums' title. If I knew why they changed the cover, I'd tell you, but I don't, so I can't. With over thirty musicians appearing throughout Gordon, the job of producing the album was one of the most daunting tasks ever. However, the entire group, along with Scott Dibble and Michel Philips do an amazing job of keeping the sound full and busy, yet uncluttered. The album itself is perhaps best known for the mammoth hit, "If I Had $1,000,000." The song, which has become a staple across the universe, was strangely never actually released as a single, yet it remains their most popular song by far. Showcasing the groups' interplay between being silly and strangely romantic, it s a perfect example of everything there is to love about Barenaked Ladies.

Barenaked Ladies miss no opportunity to pay tribute to their influences, or even to take a jab at their contemporaries. The most obvious is their dedication of an entire song title to Beach Boys legend, Brian Wilson. One can clearly hear the heavy influence that Wilson and his band had on Barenaked Ladies, and the song is a fitting tribute to the man. Barenaked Ladies also sneak in riffs from bands ranging from Rush to Styx to the "Peanuts Theme." At points on Gordon, the band name checks infamous lip syncers Milli Vanilli as well as referring directly to a majority of the hits from New Kids On The Block (as well as making strong reference to their fan base and general attitude towards fans). Oh, then there's the whole "Yoko Ono" thing...

Rarely doing anything resembling "loud" and using minimal electric equipment, the music throughout Gordon is mild, yet undeniably fun and catchy. Performing songs ranging from fast-paced acoustic "rockers," to near-jazz moods, to quiet acoustic numbers, the band shows that, regardless of genre, they are extremely capable. The dual guitars of Ed Robertson and Steven Page provide a gorgeous, consistent sound throughout the record, and the classic double bass of Jim Creeggan fills behind it perfectly. Andy Creeggan and Tyler Stewart bring such a varied style and instrumentation to the "percussion section," that it is truly where Gordon becomes different than anything else around. Experimenting with everything from triangles to finger cymbals to a mark tree (feel free to google that one), the duo are determined to make the classic drum kit "one of many" instruments in their arsenal. The band also seamlessly incorporates a handful of beautifully orchestrated horns as well as bringing in the ENTIRE "Suburban Tabernacle Choir." The fact that the band was so daring and unorthodox paid off huge, and though at its base it is an acoustic record, it truly pushes the term to its limits.

One of the strongest aspects of Barenaked Ladies is the fact that all five of the core group members have amazing voices. Their ability to harmonize had not been heard since the day of, well, Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. Careful of not "overdoing" the harmonies, they are perfectly placed throughout the album. With Page and Robertson trading lead vocal duties, it gives the bands' sound even more depth. Both vocalists come from the "less is more" school when it comes to volume, and there are moments where they are almost whispering. However, when the songs get going, both singers shine and excel with their often slyly sardonic vocal delivery. Taking on everything from the pitfalls of adolescence to dealing with fading into obscurity, the band brilliantly deploys their sound and style toe very situation. However, at the end of the day, Barenaked Ladies still fall into the "hopeless romantic" category, with many of their songs having beautiful subtexts of love and longing cleverly disguised behind the "silly" and jovial front of their music.

With gorgeous harmonies, original lyrical approach, and unavoidably catchy music, there was little doubt that Barenaked Ladies would achieve huge worldwide success. Their ability to incorporate a seemingly endless array of instruments, yet never lose sight of their sound is a testament to their skills as artists. From speedy pop numbers to jazz and even a bit of bossa-nova, the group created a truly unforgettable record in Gordon. Having an unrivaled skill for laying painfully sweet sentiments under lighthearted, perhaps joking lyrics further sets them apart from their peers. Keeping the music sonically pleasing, full, yet not overpowering gives Barenaked Ladies appeal across the musical spectrum and they continue to achieve similar success to this day. Though they have since garnered a handful of hit singles, their 1992 debut, Gordon, stands as their greatest album to date and it is an absolute essential record for every collection.



Standout tracks: "Brian Wilson," "King Of Bedside Manor," and "Box Set."