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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great Band, Good Book, December 22, 2003
This review is from: Barenaked Ladies : Public Stunts, Private Stories (Paperback)
Paul Myers' book offers a serviceable account of the history of Barenaked Ladies, from their beginnings through the making of 2000's Maroon. What's missing is much in the way of insight from the band members. The book details their early Canadian success and struggle to build an American following before the 1998 album Stunt and its breakout single "One Week" made them stars. It touches on band member Kevin Hearn's struggle to overcome leukemia and various marriages and births. But it doesn't explore much past the surface in any aspect. This band has been through some struggles, and the brooding melancholy that lurks in their lyrics has to come from somewhere. But the book emphasizes their clever wordplay, sense of humor and superb musicianship leaving much unanswered about what personal darknesses lead to songs like "When I Fall" or "Light Up My Room," or "Break Your Heart" or "Pinch Me." I know there are some stories to tell, because I've read some of them in interviews with the band. Myers doesn't seem interested in offering a deeper examination of these fascinating people, and the book suffers as a result. The closest he comes is when he mentions the death of one of Ed Robertson's brothers as part of the meaning of the song "Leave" -- the way that a premature death can haunt those left behind. But even then he mentions it in passing and deals with the whole issue in one paragraph. The other major failing is that Myers is infatuated with his own cleverness, and the text is peppered with puns and efforts to incorporate song titles into sentences. These devices might bring a smile or two used sparingly, but he seems to lack both self-restraint and a good editor. It's a good book, and worth reading for any fan of the band, but it isn't what it could have been.
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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Paul Myers Presents BNL Featuring Paul Myers, December 29, 2003
This review is from: Barenaked Ladies : Public Stunts, Private Stories (Paperback)
Public Stunts, Private Stories (which was originally sold directly to fans at BNL concerts) would be an incredible biography if it weren't for the author's incessant, excessive need to insert himself into the proceedings. Paul Myers tries to emulate the anything-goes style of the band's live shows in his narrative, but falls entirely flat. He constantly uses first-person voice as he commits the sin that the Ladies are often unjustly accused of: being clever for the sake of being clever. It's a criticism I've never believed about the band, but Myers has no defense with pointless asides (such as the Willie Nelson Connection, which isn't really much of a connection at all), self-referential interviews, forced pop-culture namedropping, and mid-narrative lines like "Yes, I know I'm on thin ice with the bad puns and wordplay." More than you know, Paul. Step back and let the band's story be the star, please? What's more, the book is not as complete as it should be for a historical account of the Barenaked Ladies' evolution as a band. There are references to Maybe You Should Drive being a traumatic experience, but no real solid evidence to suggest what the source of the tension was--Ben Mink, for instance, is not interviewed. Anybody who gave Myers a lot of face time for interviews (such as manager Terry McBride, whose interview is as chilling as it is informative) gets more attention in the book. It comes off as uneven. And still, the grating elements are outweighed by excellent, honest quotes by the band, plenty of fun photos, amusing anecdotes, and a lovingly detailed recounting of the band's earliest days. Hearing so many of the stories straight from the band members themselves--especially when they're being embarassingly honest about their own flaws and the band's more difficult growth stages--gives this book a compelling flow. As the only decent BNL book out there, Public Stunts, Private Stories is #1 in a field of one. The core of the material works so well that I'd love to see a revised edition in a few more albums, with Myers' extraneous influence toned down.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for new fans!, November 26, 2006
This review is from: Barenaked Ladies : Public Stunts, Private Stories (Paperback)
We bought the "Gordon" CD for our daughter when it was first out, but I am embarrassed to admit, I did not listen to it. But friends told us the music was appropriate for an 8 yo. I did not have a CD player in my car or at work and that was part of the problem. At any rate,we just recently saw BNL in concert in Rochester, and I was blown away by the music! I never realized how complex and different the music was. This got me wondering about the history of the band, and how they have stayed together so many years and still seem to have fun making music and entertaining. That led me to this book...and I took it out of my local library. I have to say, for a new fan, it is a great way to learn about the evolution of the band, their early years and the troubles they went through staying together. It almost reminded me of the work involved in a marriage. I would agree with the other reviewer that, at times, the author tries to be coy and it falls somewhat flat,and that is why I gave it 4 stars(I would have given it 4.5, but that's not available, but for a new fan, it's a great read. The book is on my Christmas wish list; it is something I can see reading over and over! If you are new to the band, make sure you read it!
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