Published on Dec 6, 2004
If there’s one thing you can depend on with a Barenaked Ladies
CD, it’s that you get two CDs for the price of one. Even on this,
their latest CD, a collection of holiday songs, there’s two
separate undercurrents going on. On the one hand, you have the
quirky humorous side of the Canadians, and on the other side the
sudden moments of sober, serious thought-provocation. The question
is usually whether they can pull off both in the context of the CD;
on
Barenaked For The Holidays, they manage quite nicely.
You won’t confuse this CD with any other, certainly. From the
opening “Jingle Bells”, which starts out as a minor-key
Ben-Folds-like version and without warning mutates into a manic
polka, to the cheesy Casio keyboard takes on “O Holy Night” and
“Wonderful Christmastime”, Barenaked For The Holidays keeps you
guessing. The tongue-in-cheek labor rabblerousing tone of “Elf’s
Lament” and the truly incomprehensible “Deck The Stills” keep the
fun coming. (The less said about “Deck The Stills”, the better. It
is, quite possibly, the most bizarre thing BNL has ever
recorded.)
Of course, scattered through these Yuletide land mines of
silliness are some really beautiful, serious holiday songs. There
are some breathtaking originals like the wistful “Snowman” and the
holiday love story “Footprints”, as well as a great selection of
Hanukkah songs – including the truly incredible “Hanukkah
Blessings”. (Now, asks the Pagan, where’s the Solstice songs? Huh?)
BNL even whips out their own take on the Mannheim Steamroller vibe
with an instrumental “Carol Of The Bells”. Add to that unique takes
on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”, “I Saw Three Ships” (with
mandolin, yet), and “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, and you have a
funfilled holiday smorgasbord of tones and tunes. The elegance of
the closing “Auld Lang Syne” caps the CD off perfectly.
As far as I’m concerned, everyone should get
Barenaked For The Holidays. (Except your Uncle Joe. That
would just be disgusting.)