Rock Spectacle by Barenaked Ladies

The 6th studio release by Canadian rockers Barenaked Ladies featured the singles "Another Postcard" and "Testing 1, 2, 3," both which broke the Adult Top 40 Chart. In the band’s typical style, the music is an exhilarating blend of folk and funky rock colored with satirical lyrics and driven by the band’s unmistakable energetic delivery.

In Flight, BNL’s eighteenth studio album, retains the dry wit and keen observation we expect from vocalist/guitarist Ed Robertson, bassist Jim Creeggan, keyboardist/guitarist Kevin Hearn and drummer Tyler Stewart, but adds a strong sense of maturing and lessons learned. There is also a sense of joy (which is exemplified in the first single, “Lovin’ Life) and appreciation. On the new single, “One Night”, BNL honor “…the magical connection that happens between a whole audience and a band.”

THIS ALBUM IS RELEASED ON THE 15TH SEPTEMBER. In Flight, BNL's eighteenth studio album, retains the dry wit and keen observation we expect from vocalist/guitarist Ed Robertson, bassist Jim Creeggan, keyboardist/guitarist Kevin Hearn and drummer Tyler Stewart, but adds a strong sense of maturing and lessons learned. There is also a sense of joy (which is exemplified in the first single, "Lovin' Life) and appreciation. On the new single, "One Night", BNL honor "…the magical connection that happens between a whole audience and a band." Songwriter Robertson, says, "When it goes right - which it almost always does - for that 'One Night', it's a very intense connection." In addition to the eight songs written/co-written by Ed Robertson, the album features four songs from Kevin Hearn, (two of which are love letters to Toronto - "See the Tower" and "The Peace Lady") and two from Jim Creeggan (including "Wake Up", a co-write with the Arkells' Max Kerman). Produced by Grammy and Award-Winning producer Eric Ratz, In Flight is ready for takeoff.

The 2011 Barenaked Ladies compilation Hits from Yesterday & the Day Before compiles most of the hits and best-known cuts from the band's catalog. Beginning with the band's 1992 full-length debut, Gordon, and continuing all the way through to the group's 2011 post-Steven Page release, All in Good Time, Hits features such popular cuts as "If I Had $1,000,000," "Brian Wilson," "Too Little Too Late," "Falling for the First Time," "One Week," "Easy," and more. Certainly, die-hard fans will miss such lesser-known tracks as "Be My Yoko Ono" and "Jane." In that sense, 2001's fan-voted anthology Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits (1991-2001) did a better job of including everything from a longtime fan perspective. Nonetheless, Hits from Yesterday & the Day Before still works as a nice single-disc summation of the Canadian rock band's career.

The band spent five weeks at vocalist/guitarists Ed Robertson's cabin outside Toronto pre pandemic writing and recording in a makeshift studio. During pandemic lockdown, they decided they wanted to polish things up a bit. They returned to a Toronto studio when the lockdown lifted to rework the tracks resulting in 'Detour de Force'.

By trying to mask their smart-ass humor in a big pop production, the Barenaked Ladies attempt to set themselves up for the big crossover that they nearly achieved with such past singles as "Be My Yoko Ono" and "Brian Wilson." Nothing on Stunt, the group's fourth studio album, is so clearly jokey (although "Alcohol" comes close), but they still rely on clever satire. That may irritate some listeners who would otherwise be won over by the group's increased musical skill. Never before has the band been able to pull off so many different styles, from jangly pop and alt-country to loungy bossa nova, so well. Musically, it could convince the doubters who have written off Barenaked Ladies as novelty pranksters, but the lyrics still will stand in the way of trad-rockers predisposed to this style of music. Of course, listeners who are a little less uptight will find Stunt to be a fine collegiate party record and one of the best albums the Barenaked Ladies have released.

Multi-platinum band Barenaked Ladies release their 16th studio album Detour de Force! Produced by JUNO and Grammy award winner Eric Ratz and Mark Howard, the eagerly awaited album features 14 newly minted tracks including “Flip”, the buoyant and sonically adventurous debut single and BNL’s first new music in four years.

The Canadian band’s 1998 long-player is their most successful, peaking at number three on the US charts on the Billboard thanks to the massive success of the single One Week which sold a staggering five million copies and reached number one in America. It was also a top five hit in both the UK and Canada.