Some things change in nine years, and some things just remain the same. That said, don't judge the Barenaked Ladies' 1992 debut, Gordon, by what you may think of them now. Even if you hate what you hear of the band on the radio, what you dislike now might have sounded a bit different back then.
Now on tour supporting their newest album, Maroon, the Barenaked Ladies are playing in huge arenas across the country. A decade ago, however, the Ladies were only playing small venues and beginning to build a following in their native Canada - the band picked its name to attract people who might not have showed up for a gig by five goofy-looking Canadian men playing what has been described as "geek rock."
Most fans will tell you that the band's live performances are the key to appreciating its music, from the ridiculous sets and pranks to the improvised musical numbers to the spoken comedy that sometimes erupts in the middle of a song. Those same fans, however, are likely to tell you that short of a live recording (like 1996's Rock Spectacle), Gordon is the purest Barenaked experience on the market.
While some more recent albums have gotten a bit louder and rockier, Gordon is full of the group's distinctive sound and humor. There aren't many attempts to be taken seriously - the group takes pride in being ridiculous and poking fun at love, other musicians, and anything else that comes to mind. Riding not only the humor and catchiness of the songs but also guitarist Ed Robertson's fast fingers and singer Steven Page's instantly recognizable voice, Gordon became a Canadian bestseller and an eventual American crossover.
Most of Gordon can't be called timeless, beautiful music; with songs like "Be My Yoko Ono," lyrics like "I like soup, and I like ice cream sandwiches, too/I like fish sticks, but I love you," the Ladies don't aim for musical immortality. "Grade 9" details the stresses and clich?©s in the life of a high school freshman and is meant solely to make the listener smile and laugh. The Barenaked Ladies hit up the New Kids on the Block, Milli Vanilli, and even "Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto" for cheap pop-culture references - a trend continued with the Barenaked Ladies first true American hit, 1998's "One Week" - admit it, Milli Vanilli is always funny.
This doesn't mean that there is no legitimate music on Gordon, however. The band can be beautiful and sad, as in the yearning classic "What a Good Boy," and clever without being outright funny, as in "Hello City." Moreover, funny songs can still be done well or done poorly, and the Barenaked Ladies definitely pull it off. Unabashedly fun songs like "If I had $1,000,000" may not be meant seriously, but Robertson and Page are so good at what they do that they're still impressive.
Gordon is almost a relic of a lost band - much has changed with the Barenaked Ladies since 1992. Pianist/vocalist/percussionist Andy Creeggan has moved on, and keyboardist Kevin Hearn has recently jumped on board. Six more CDs, nine years of touring, and undeniable fame has brought some changes to the group, and many fans of early albums like Gordon and Maybe You Should Drive express distaste for more recent (and more popular) albums like Stunt.
What's more, Gordon includes plenty of talented and eclectic guest artists, a feature lacking on later albums and in concert. "Hello City" and "Enid" are still popular live tunes, but they lack a bit without the horn sections used on the album. The guest credits themselves are worth a smile: from bagpipes to Michael Philip-Wijewoda playing "Secret noises" to the "Suburban Tabernacle Choir." As for the songs... the band still plays many of these fan favorites in concert, but some of them rock a little harder now. Gordon's more relaxed versions of "Brian Wilson," "What a Good Boy," and "If I had $1,000,000" may seem slow-paced or gentle to fans of the live versions that are usually played on the radio.
Clever songwriting and a big cheesy grin go a long way on Gordon. If you're a fan of the Barenaked Ladies' recent work, check this one out and see what you think. If you're not... maybe you're destined to join the cadre of fans who liked Gordon more than anything that followed.
