Music review: Barenaked Ladies - Down To Earth

Artist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page (guitar), Ed Robertson (vocals, guitar), Tyler Stewart (drums), Jim Creegan (bass), Kevin Hearn (piano) Album: Barenaked Ladies Are Me/Barenaked Ladies are Men Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: Some people are just all show Well, I don't mind that if the show is worth watching But it's all bark and no tree What's more ironic than a hippie in Versace? It's all peace and love and limousines You got the right message, but the wrong intentions How can you be touchy-feely when you've lost touch? I think it's time we had a little intervention with you

Hey now, wake up And lose the makeup She makes you wanna know her When you don't know what it's worth Now you really wanna show her How she's just so down to Earth (via satellite)

There's no better friends than the, the kind you pay If they don't balance, great - then the door will keep revolving It's a tight circle of the chosen few Well, how'd you manage that with the recipe involving Just a pinch of sweetness and a cup of angst? Mix it all up - you're the all-purpose flour Though it looks delicious, something smells bad I don't think I'd last a half an hour with you

Hey now, wake up And lose the makeup She makes you wanna know her When you don't know what it's worth Now you really wanna show her How she's just so down to Earth (via satellite)

What's it like to love you When there's no one else above you And no one gets to know you? Well, who'll be there to show you (via satellite)?

It's like making love to a TV It's kinda novel, but it's miles away from satisfying Your hangers-on say it's a great deal But what you're selling, there's no chance in hell that I'll be buying

Hey now, wake up And lose the makeup She makes you wanna know her When you don't know what it's worth Now you really wanna show her How she's just so down to Earth She makes you wanna know her When you don't know what it's worth Now you really wanna show her How she's just so down to Earth (via satellite) About the song: The more I listen to this album, the more I love it. This is a song about fake people...most likely celebrities like Paris Hilton since the guys like writing about current events and the people involved in them. These are people who pretend to be 'normal' yet act the complete opposite. Such a great song.

Music review: Alanis Morissette - You Learn

Artist: Alanis Morissette Album: Jagged Little Pill Release date: 6/13/95 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: I recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone, yeah I recommend walking around naked in your living room, yeah

Swallow it down ( what a jagged little pill ) It feels so good ( swimming in your stomach ) Wait until the dust settles

You live you learn You love you learn You cry you learn You lose you learn You bleed you learn You scream you learn

I recommend biting off more than you can chew to anyone I certainly do I recommend sticking your foot in your mouth at any time Feel free

Throw it down ( the caution blocks you from the wind ) Hold it up ( to the rays ) You wait and see when the smoke clear

You live you learn You love you learn You cry you learn You lose you learn You bleed you learn You scream you learn

Wear it out ( the way a three-year-old would do ) Melt it down ( you're gonna have to eventually anyway ) The fire trucks are coming up around the bend

You live you learn You love you learn You cry you learn You lose you learn You bleed you learn You scream you learn

You grieve you learn You choke you learn You laugh you learn You choose you learn You pray you learn You ask you learn You live you learn About the song: When most people think of Alanis Morissette, the think of the angst-ridden song You Oughta Know. Amazingly, You Learn is on the same album. This song is about taking a chance in life, learning from your mistakes and growing as a person. It's a wonderful inspirational song and it's just one of the reasons I love this entire album.

Music review: Barenaked Ladies - Alternative Girlfriend

Artist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page, Ed Robertson, Jim Creegan, Tyler Stewart, Andy Creegan Album: Maybe You Should Drive Release date: 8/16/94 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: You're in an all-girl band Your futon's second hand Your parents understand but you don't care

I have a job in a shop I'm an undercover cop I make sure the customers aren't thieves

Old at being young Young at being old Everything's on hold within our evolution

Chorus:

You're my alternative girlfriend I love you, and now you cannot pretend There's nothing left that won't cross over

Last night we slept on the lawn you woke up and I was gone Back to the dream I dream to leave My life with her is a bore

A worn-out metaphor No more surprises up its sleeve We're old at being young Young at being old Everything's been sold to other's revolutions

Chorus

You live above your dad's four-car garage With your vinyl and imaginary entourage if I pull up in a U-Haul, pack up quick So we can get out of this town 'cause it makes me sick

Chorus About the song: I fully admit that I am pretty biased toward Barenaked Ladies songs. They have so many great songs. This is another one. Alternative Girlfriend is fairly straight-forward lyrically. It's a song about a young couple who have grown bored of each other. I think it's the background music that really makes this song. There isn't anything 'new' or 'fresh' about it but that's the point. It sounds like a whole lot of other 'alternative' songs from that time period which points out the fact that while you may think you are different, you're pretty much the same as everyone else.

Favorite.....Friday?

Since my birthday fell on Friday and I decided I wasn't going to do any work at all, I completely missed Favorite Friday. Instead, I will give you this week's Favorite Friday video on Saturday. Barenaked Ladies is one of my very favorite bands. It's extremely difficult for me to pick just one video to post for you. This is from Ed's "Bathroom Sessions," a series of performances from his newly remastered bathroom. I chose this particular song because Ed (the one with the guitar) and Steve (the one without the guitar) have such a wonderful time singing this song. I hope you take a moment to go through the rest of the Bathroom Sessions performances.

Music review: Barenaked Ladies - Shoe Box

Artist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page (vocals), Ed Robertson (guitar), Tyler Stewart (drums), Jim Creegan (bass) Album: Born on a Pirate Ship Release date: 3/19/96 Video link: on YouTube

Lyrics: A key in the door, a step on the floor A note on the table, and a meal in the micro Note says "I'm in bed, please make sure that you're fed if you're taking a shower, you can borrow my bathrobe When I'm asleep I dream you move in next week" I crumple the note and save it to put inside

Chorus:

My shoe box Shoe box of lies Shoe box Shoe box of lies

it's under my bed, it's never been read it's in with my school stuff and my mom never cleans there From my first little fib, when I still wore a bib To my latest attempt at pretending I'm someone Who's not seventeen, doesn't know what you mean When talk turns to single malts, or stilton, or

Chorus

Did somebody tell you This is how it's supposed to be? Or did you just find it And you don't want any more from me?

Chorus

Was it something I said, or was it something you read That's making me think that I should never have come here I can offer you lies, I can tell you good-bye. I can tell you I'm sorry, But I can't tell you the truth, dear And what if I could -- would it do any good? You'll still never get to see the contents of

Chorus

You're so nineteen-ninety And it's nineteen-ninety-four Leave this world behind me 'Cause you don't want me anymore. About the song: Shoe Box was a track on the first soundtrack for the tv series Friends. As such, it was added to BoaPS at the last minute. It's a rather cute song about the secrets and lies we all have.

Born on a Pirate Ship is an interesting album in the BNL library. When it was recorded, the band only had four members. Andy Creegan, who played a variety of instruments, left the band before the album was recorded. His replacement, Kevin Hearn, was invited to join them on the album's tour. This also makes the music video for Shoe Box a little weird. While Kevin isn't on the actual recording of the song, he is in the video for it.

Music review: Barenaked Ladies - Christmas Time (Oh Yeah)

Artist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page (vocals), Ed Robertson (guitar), Tyler Stewart (drums), Jim Creegan (bass), Kevin Hearn (keyboards & more) Album: Barenaked For The Holidays Release date: 10/5/04

Lyrics: Now that all the snow has fallen It's crunching in below my feet And all the Christmas lights are shining On houses up and down my street And I can see the happy families inside If only for a moment, it's Christmas time

I think I see the children down the street Here they come caroling Now we can hear them, they sing "Oh yeah"

Mr. Johnson bought a Christmas tree He set it up with his family They're opening their presents big and small Mr. Johnson got a big, brown, bowling ball And Sally got a pair of brand new skates And Jimmy got a box of frosty flakes He knows that there's a special little prize inside What a happy moment, it's Christmas time

The carolers are standing in line They sing, "Oh yeah" Oh yeah About the song: I'm not usually a big fan of Christmas music. However, this is one of my favorite songs about the holiday. I particularly love the harmony on the "Oh yeah" parts. In my opinion, Kevin is the weakest singer of the band but his nasally sounding voice is appropriate for a song about family. This song isn't about being a great singer. It's just about enjoying the holidays with your family, even if you only get Frosted Flakes as a present.

Music review: Barenaked Ladies - I Live With It Every Day

Artist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page (vocals), Ed Robertson (guitar), Tyler Stewart (drums), Jim Creegan (bass) Album: Born On A Pirate Ship Release date: 3/19/96 Video link: On YouTube

Lyrics: On August first, nineteen-eight-one I cycled to Scott's house with a BB gun We were almost twelve, but we looked thirteen He had baby-blue eyes that I shot him between Nature provides for us a safety net Whatever we do, we can never forget

Chorus: I live with it every day Even though we moved away Our yesterdays are on a loop; A marathon of heartbreaking moments I live with it every day For every step I have to pay The only thing that they can't take The guild that spirals in my wake

The day they found me asleep on the floor Engine running, closed garage door Was the day the For Sale sign arrived on the lawn Two weeks later, and we were gone Everyone falls through time and the funnel it makes But I'm staying here inside my biggest mistake

Chorus

The love I put away Like games that children play The hearts you choose to break Like cars dumped in the lake The laugh lines on your face The life I won't embrace The cold house I won't leave The guests I won't receive

Chorus About the song: What can I say about this song? BNL has been pigeonholed as a 'funny guy' group due to songs like One Week, Pinch Me and Another Postcard. Meanwhile a lot of their albums contain deep songs about drunk driving, war, domestic abuse and other serious topics. The lyrics to this song are pretty straight-forward. A couple of kids are playing around with a gun and one of them is fatally shot. The surviving kid has to live with the guilt of killing his best friend.

I Live With It Every Day is a good example of why I love this group. I'd also like to note that in the video I linked above, Kevin was recovering from battling leukemia. This concert was aired on PayPerView and I was lucky enough to be able to watch it. I'm glad Kevin has fully recovered and I look forward to many years listening to the band's music.