Barenaked For The Holidays

Barenaked Ladies | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: October 5, 2004
• Label: Desperation Records
• Copyright: 2004 Desperation Records
• Genres: Alternative Rock/American Alternative, Broadway & Vocalists/Traditional Vocal Pop, Miscellaneous/Holiday, Pop/Adult Alternative, Pop/Vocal Pop
• ASIN: B000XXKTSM
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (134 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Off-beat Beats for the Holidays, October 5, 2004

By 

Lavode (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Barenaked for the Holidays (Audio CD)

BNL joins the tired ranks of groups to release Christmas albums. Of course, they do it in true BNL fashion, and are not content to simply record a bunch of slightly-warmed-over standards. Some of the songs are original compositions, such as "Christmastime (Oh Yeah)," and some are standards done up in BNL's jazzy, rock style. Still others sound as if they are being played on your Grandmother's old electric organ, complete with tacky drum machine. (I have to wonder if this last is a peek into their early Christmas traditions.) And lastly, there are some very off-the-wall tunes, like "Deck the Stills" and "Sleigh Ride" that pretty much sound like the guys screwing around.

All of the tracks are well-polished, and the entire album evokes a holiday spirit. So in that sense, this album is a huge success. I only subtract 1 star because if you're not a fan of the band, you won't be too interested in their interpretation of the standards, and the novelty songs will probably be a bit of a turn off. However, if you like BNL, this is a must-have, even if you skip a few of the songs after listening to them once.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Now for something out of the ordinary, November 17, 2005

By 

Christene Ostrom "music lover" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Barenaked for the Holidays (Audio CD)

Every year I get a Christmas CD for my collection. I like it to be different, new songs, new or unusual arrangements of old songs, and BNL fit the bill. They are their usual irreverent selves and their humor can be found in this CD as with all their others. I like their version of "Do They Know It's Christmas" and I know they were having fun recording "I Have a Little Dreidel".

As has been said before, if you are not a BNL fan, some of the songs on this CD will not be up your alley. But those of us who do enjoy them - will enjoy this collection of Christmas songs. I recommend you add it to your collection.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fan since Gordon, December 13, 2004

By 

Cameron Marston "bcedrum86" (Appleton, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Barenaked for the Holidays (Audio CD)

I've actually been a fan of the Ladies since their first major release and I have to say that the people who don't like this album are clearly not familiar with the Ladies as they truly are. Clearly you have all been brainwashed by the more commercial and polished BNL that, while it is still very good, is not really the pinnacle of their work.

The originals on this album are brilliant, Green Christmas and Elf's Lament are now two of my favorite holiday songs (of course I'd heard Green Christmas before since it was on The Grinch soundtrack, but still...)

I'll admit that I don't care much for Kevin Hearn's synth songs, but they are short and they do grow on you. They are effective segues between the more substantial portions of the record.

"Carol of the Bells" however is spectacular, probably the coolest sounding version of it I've ever heard. Plus, it features all of the Ladies in someway or another. A very trippy piece and it sounds even cooler if you listen to it on a good set of headphones.

You can tell that this album was thrown together fairly quickly. Probably much of it was recorded during session for "Everything to Everyone," but this haphazard arrangement to recording really captures the essence of BNL's style. It makes the album seem more like their live shows, off the wall and ad libbed. I'm sure many of you who have taken the time to criticize this album haven't seen them live and thus wouldn't know.

I will admit that this isn't my favorite BNL album ever, but much of it isn't original, so it's hard to feel too loyal to it. Regardless, it's still a very cool album and brings new life to all of those cliched and annoying holiday songs that we've all gotten tired of. It also gives us a few new gems for the holidays filled with all of the mirth of folly that have made BNL global celebrities and concert dynamos.

I fully respect the opinion of all you cynics crying "sell-out" even if you are powerfully wrong in your beliefs :-)