Customer Reviews

Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits 1991-2001

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been a fan of the Ladies ever since the original release of "Gordon". Their quirky wit and sense of humor have always been enjoyable, and the evolution of their musical style has been just as entertaining as the tunes themselves.

Nearly all of their best songs are here, from "If I Had $1000000" (the first song of theirs that I ever heard), to the hammering "The Old Apartment", to the daydreamy "Pinch Me". In the interest of keeping this review reasonably brief, I'll refrain from commenting on each of the tracks; suffice it to say I love them all! Unfortunately, one of my personal favorites, the heartwrenching ballad "Break Your Heart", is absent from this disc. Anyone who enjoys a good ballad must hear that song (which is, by the way, on their "Born on a Pirate Ship" album, which I highly recommend as well).

While this collection doesn't match up perfectly with my idea of their greatest hits (but then, does any artist's "best of" list ever jibe completely with yours?), it is an essential part of my Barenaked Ladies library. Not only does it contain two new songs -- the jaunty "It's Only Me" and the melancholy but engaging "Thanks That Was Fun" -- but also a pair of hard-to-find tracks: a cover of the Bruce Cockburn tune "Lovers In A Dangerous Time", and "Get In Line", another favorite of mine which is lifted from the "King of the Hill" soundtrack.

Although I could recommend any of Barenaked Ladies' albums, if you buy only one, make this it. You might be surprised at how many great songs are on this disc! Definitely worth the money!

As Steven Page says in the liner notes about "Get In Line," calling some of these songs "greatest hits" may be stretching the definition of the term. Perhaps a better title would be "The Best of (And Then Some)."
And among the band's best these are. Besides the expected hits ("Brian Wilson," "One Week," "Pinch Me"), this collection includes the hard-to-find cover of Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers in a Dangerous Time," and "Get In Line," which was only available on the "King of the Hill" soundtrack. Plus you get the superior live version of my personal all-time BNL favorite, "What a Good Boy."
Of the new songs, "It's Only Me (The Wizard of Magicland)" reminded me a little of The Knack (one of Page's favorite albums was that band's debut album) and has a exciting New Wave kickiness to it, while Ed Robertson's "Thanks, That Was Fun" is a little more mournful. Neither of them (sad to say) is likely to conquer U.S. airwaves, but they're welcome additions anyway.
For the casual BNL fan, this collection is a great way to get deeper into the band's catalog. For the BNL fan who already has all their albums (like me), it's a way of hearing these favorites in a new context, plus two new great tracks. What are you waiting for?

...from fringe-dwellers mocking 'Greatest Hits' collections on their first album ('Disc One, it's where we've begun/It's all our greatest hits/And if you are a fan then you know that you've already got 'em' from 'Box Set') to Big Stars putting out a collection of their own. As the title indicates, they're well aware of the irony; what this traditional-style CD really celebrates is success for a band that has never sold out.
The lush (19-song!) selection is excellent, covering the obvious highlights ('Brian Wilson', 'If I Had $1 000 000', and, yep, 'One Week' - be prepared to be driven crazy all over again) as well as less successful or harder-to-find treats ('Call and Answer', 'Shoe Box', 'Lovers in a Dangerous Time'). The only track I'd disagree with is a live version of 'What a Good Boy', an essentially intimate ballad that isn't at it's best with several thousand people singing along.
The two new tracks are a toss-up; 'It's Only Me' is frenetic New Wave stuff, funny but maybe a bit too busy, and 'Thanks That Was Fun' is the gentle, nicely rueful story of a break-up that (in patented BNL fashion) isn't proving nearly as satisfying as the narrator had hoped.
The liner notes include two admiring (but thankfully not gushy) 'how-they-dunnit' essays and track-by-track annotations from Steven Page. In other words, everything you wanted to know and some stuff you maybe could have lived without but will enjoy anyway.
All told, a hugely satisfying Barenaked Ladies experience. (Although they'll hopefully drop the 'Box Set' references while they're ahead. Otherwise...'Disc Three/Well this is really me/In a grade school play' and 'Disc Six/A dance remix/to catch the latest trend...')

I've been a fan of BNL ever since a friend of mine asked me if I wanted "...this annoying CD I bought off the bargain table - but I think it's your type of thing." The CD was 'Rock Spectacle', and I was hooked immediately. When they toured, I jumped to buy tickets (word to the wise: even if you're only a slight BNL fan, you MUST go to one of their concerts - it's the most fun you'll have all year). So I was thrilled to hear a couple of the newer songs I'd heard performed live ('The Wizard of Magicland', 'Falling for the First Time') on this CD.

The Ladies are very funny, a little strange, and very smart. The lyrics are never cheap, and you'll find yourself catching more and more in the songs, the more you listen. The songs on this CD range from the more "made for radio air-time" hits like 'One Week' and 'It's All Been Done' to the sadder 'Call and Answer' and 'What a Good Boy'. They even sing love songs...of a sort. What girl wouldn't want to be a guy's Yoko Ono? Right....don't answer that.

The point is, this CD is the perfect soundtrack for a cynical but hopeful generation of kooks. It has a place of honor in my CD collection, and never gets old or fails to cheer me up.

With all those "Greatest Hits" collections out there that contain one or two good songs followed by a bunch of unknown filler, it's nice to see one where every song is a winner. I'm basically a BNL newbie (I listened to "One Week" when it started getting airplay and said, "I like these guys!"), so I bought this CD because, simply put, it packs ALL of BNL's major hits onto one CD... yet it still leaves room for their lesser-known work, which I discovered and loved. Barenaked Ladies' true talent, it seems to me, is the ability to write seemingly light pop music that, upon reflection, camouflages a deep, pensive point. The selection of songs presented here highlights that talent, leaving the listener to stop and think after each song. As well, although BNL has a distinct musical style, each song presents a different facet of it, leaving a new surprise around every corner. (Speaking of surprises, it was nice to note that the two new songs on this CD are as fun--and as deep--as their earlier efforts.) I don't know what else I can say, except that the producers of this CD have packed as much value into it as possible. Other reviewers say this CD is even a good buy for diehard fans who have every BNL CD as it is. I just know that for a new fan such as myself, this was definitely the right place to start.

I thought about getting this disc when it first came out, but after listening to sound snippets of the songs I didn't know, I put it on my wish list for later. A few weeks ago, my five year old daughter came home singing "If I had a million dollars"--I had to get it. Ahhhh....the wisdom of children. This is a great collection of songs. The poppy, catchy, humorous songs are all here (Brian Wilson, If I had a million $, Its all been done, One week, the old apartment) as are other less familiar (to me at least) gems such as Be my yoko ono, alternative girlfriend,and Bruce Cockburn's classic 'Lover's in a dangerous time'. For those of you who know just a little about the Ladies, this is a great intro disc to get to know them a little better.

I am a huge BNL fan, and I LOVE this album. Just finished listening to it, and I am very happy I got it (and not just because I have every other BNL CD).

It is a great CD for any BNL fan, from the seasoned fan who has all there albums, to the person who heard a couple of there hits on the radio, wants to get a CD, and doesn't know where to start.

It has some of there best classics, as well as 2 new and two less common songs. The CD is worth it just to get a good recording of "Lovers in a Dangerous Time", and the two new songs. Its also nice to be able to get "Get in Line" without having to buy the King of the Hill soundtrack.

This is a must buy for all you BNL fans out there.

I'm a fairly recent BNL fan. In fact, I only really got to know their music after the recent "Pinch Me". But I'm very glad I did. The songs are alternately fun and sweet, but they're almost all excellent. Even my sister, who only likes old stuff, had to admit that this was a great CD. This CD has all the songs I know and love, such as Pinch Me, One Week, and If I Had $1,000,000, plus some truly great ones I've never heard before, such as Get In Line, and the Wizard of Magicland. I was slightly disappointed it didn't have "Who Needs Sleep", "Some Fantastic" or "Never is Enough" but you can't have everything.

I happen to know that this band didn't get famous for being a bunch of pretty boys, like certain other bands I can mention. BNL got famous from pure talent?

This CD is the best of the best and has the place of honour in my collection. I began my BNL journey when a friend forgot her Rock Spectacle CD at my house and I played it to see what it was about. I had low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised. With live versions of Brian Wilson and What a Good Boy, two previously unreleased tracks and a new version of Lovers in a Dangerous Time, this CD proves undisputedly that the Barenaked Ladies truly are the kings of Canadian music.

1) The Old Apartment: A great song that hasn't gotten the attention it deserves. This is one of my favourites on the CD.

2) Falling for the first time: An upbeat, catchy song about a guy who realizes the joy in failing.

3) Brian Wilson: A truly great song that was the first BNL song I ever heard. Once I heard the first chorus, I was hooked.

4) One Week: A catchy song with a bit of rap, I think this song is great. It's one of my favourites.

5) Be My Yoko Ono: For some reason, I don't care for this song much. It's a decent song that gets annoying after awhile.

6) Alternative Girlfriend: A reasonably good track, Alternative girlfriend has a nice beat that I never get tired of.

7) It's Only Me (The Wizard of Magicland): One of the two previously unreleased tracks, I like this song because of it's hilarious lyrics and catchy beat.

8) If I had $1 000 000: This is my favourite Barenaked Ladies song so far. This song never gets boring.

9) Call and Answer: A ballad with heartfelt lyrics that I enjoy very much.

10) Get In Line: I have to say, this track stretches the definition of 'Greatest Hits.' I usually skip this song.

11) It's All Been Done: A very fun song to sing, especially the "Woo hoo hoo" chorus.

12) Jane: This a slower song, but it's a very good one and I like the lyrics.

13) Lovers in a Dangerous Time: This song is one of my favourites, especially the chorus. It's got a nice beat, great lyrics and the music is amazing.

14) Pinch Me: For a song about chronic depression, this one still makes me feel good. I especially like the line "It's like a dream, you try to remember but it's gone and you try to scream but it only comes out as a yawn."

15) Shoebox: a quicker song, this one is pretty good, but not one of the best.

16) What a Good Boy: For a song that is supposed to be an intimite ballad, I've heard better versions of this song than the live one with hundreds of fans singing along.

17) Too Little Too Late: A reasonably good song, I like the music better than the mediocre lyrics.

18) Enid: One of my favourites, this song has a great beat and great lyrics, especially "I can get a job, I can pay the phone bill, I can cut the line, cut my hair, cut off my cholesterol, I can work overtime, I can work in a mine, I can do it all for you. But I don't want to."

19) Thanks That Was Fun: A friend of mine told me that this song sounded too dark, but I don't agree. This song has heartfelt lyrics and Ed's best singing on the CD.

Overall, this was a great CD that I never tire of listening too. I hope that the Barenaked Ladies are around for another ten years, because they truly are great.

Between all of my CDs and MP3s, I actually did have every song on this compilation of singles (including the new ones), but I bought the CD anyway. I admit, I bought it for the insightful liner notes from Steven Page, and to help support what I think is the most underrated band on the face of the planet. Of course, all the concert tickets (three shows this year alone) don't hurt, either... :~) I admit that I am what could be considered an obsessed uber-fan, but I'm going to try to put this in perspective.

Though this is a compilation primarily of released singles (even the Ladies admit that the term "hit" is stretching it a bit for some of the tracks), I still think is an excellent sampler for a new fan that may only be familair with Stunt and Maroon (or to take a step further -- One Week or Pinch Me). People either "get it" or they don't with BNL -- the ones who get it will dig this CD. If all you know is One Week or Pinch Me, give some of the older stuff a listen. I firmly believe that BNL has something for everyone, all it takes is the right song -- and this is probably the most balanced collection money can buy.

I have to say, I love both of the new songs. Thanks, That Was Fun is a fine example of a poignant Ed-song, and really shows how his voice has devleoped over the years. The lyrics are great, as usual, and Ed sings it with emotion. It's Only Me (which I affectionately refer to solely as "Wizard") is pure fun, in a sort of early-80s, Knack-kinda way. And the subject matter, when you figure out what the song is really about, makes it all the more fun! It's never stated in the liner notes, but I think the line "I'm the me in monogamy" gives it all away. I won't say anymore. :~)

If you love the Ladies, pick it up. If you like the Ladies, but didn't know which CD to buy, pick it up. If you have never liked anything they played on the radio in the USA, well, you might want to skip it, but maybe borrow it and give the older tracks -- all Candian releases -- a listen. :~)