Share the post "Album review: BARENAKED LADIES – Detour de Force"
Raisin’ Records [Release date 16.07.21]
It has been four years since Barenaked Ladies released their excellent ‘Fake Nudes’ and like many artists it was started before the outbreak of the pandemic, which delayed its completion and has played havoc with their touring plans (their Last Summer On Earth Tour is now scheduled for next year).
Produced by Juno award-winner Eric Ratz with Mark Howard, the album benefits of the so-called “pandemic pause effect” that has resulted in many excellent albums being released this year so far. With little or no live action many artists, Barenaked Ladies included, became immersed in making their albums in a way they hadn’t been able to before.
The opening duo of ‘Flip’ and ‘Good Life’ bodes well for the rest of the album. ‘Flip’ is one of those instant on the ears songs that should be a hit single. ‘Good Life’ sees them reflecting on their thirty plus years of performing, complete with a rap and again a chorus that you’ll be humming after just one play.
The pandemic certainly provided them with song ideas with ‘New Disaster’ reflecting on the seemingly never ending series of bad news stories on the mainstream news media.
After such an energetic start to the album the gentle, country refrains on ‘Live Well’ shows the other side of Barenaked Ladies musical world. The band’s love of a quirky lyric, and indeed musical backing (the keyboards parts on this one are superb!), come through loud and clear on ‘Flat Earth’.
‘National Park’ is one of those dreamy pop songs Barenaked Ladies seem to create with ease, as is the next song after it, ‘Man Made Lake’. Both are sumptuous on the listener’s ears.
Only the last track on the album, ‘Internal Dynamo’, seems a little strange even for this band. Little bit of rap, some weird electronics. Just seems to be missing that magic spark present on the rest of the album.
Barenaked Ladies show no signs of letting slip their excellent run of albums. I am sure when they tour the world next year many of the songs on here will feature in the set list. A quirky pop rock tour de force! ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: BARENAKED LADIES – Detour de Force"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
