Customer Reviews

Everything to Everyone (CD & Dvd-A) (Coll)

5 star:		(92)
4 star:		(42)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

You could almost say that a pop band over a decade old has no right to be releasing such a strong and [shudder] mature album as Everything to Everyone. Or you could just be glad they're still capable of doing what they do so well. After all it's only a small step from silly to cartoonish, or witty to overblown, or sugary/catchy to fluffy. BNL have assembled one of the most impressive pop catalogues around not only by having a knack for funny radio-friendly singalongs, but by usually walking that line without tipping too far to the wrong side. The lyrics are clever and often humorous, but only cross into self-parody if it's intentional. They can be serious and they can be wacky.. but most of all they can laugh at themselves right along with the rest of us.

After their last two offerings Maroon and Stunt (which are also mostly strong picks) the Ladies put a good helping of time and effort into E2E, and it shows. The result is that intriguing rarity: a strong pop record that benefits from being grown over time with good attention to detail. It's got enough hooks and irresistible choruses that it'll snag your ears right away, but there's a freshness & staying power underneath the hummability. The usual goofiness that's been a BNL trademark since "If I Had $1000000" coexists nicely with the likes of "War on Drugs" and "Have You Seen My Love," which are lovely ballads almost as simple and honest as you could ask for.. a skillful balance that only the best pop (think Ben Folds or Kevin Gilbert) achieves.

The sound is nicely varied without losing the sense of fun. "Another Postcard" is a semi-fast chant that's almost half rap (all the more silly considering that such lyrics aren't usually about, say, chimps in swimsuits). "Upside Down" is driven by a sinuous middle-eastern melody on accordion, which would be nutty enough to fit the absurdist lyrics even if they didn't toss in some screwy odd time changes. "For You" has a tinge of country; "Next Time" would almost be a sweet 60s-style waltz if the words weren't so cynical; "Shopping" shoots directly for the realm of mindless synth/techno and then overshoots, becoming something even more ridiculous. And for that song it's precisely what belongs.

Any one of their last three offerings is a great choice, whether you're new to the band or not, but I say this is the pick of the bunch. Who knew maturity could still be so much fun?

I must admit, I thought there would never be a great Barenaked Ladies album again. After the wildly popular, but mostly soulless and derivative "Stunt" and the better, but not terribly interesting "Maroon" it had looked increasingly like it was time to play Taps for what had been, in this reviewer's opinion, the best band of the 1990s. I bought this new album with great trepidation, expecting to be disappointed yet again, and have been listening to it constantly ever since. The 14 tracks on this new album represent everything that is truly great about this band: Witty, and yet sometimes strangely touching, lyrics. Tight vocal harmonies. Completely effotless swings between the wildly frenetic and the slow, nostalgic balladeering that is, at once, both out of place for a pop band, and somehow perfect for this one. And underneath it all, a core of rock solid musical integrity. Steven Page's voice is the best in the business and it is a deep pleasure to hear him using it to its full potential again. "Everything to Everyone" is BNL's best work since "Born on A Pirate Ship" and over time I will probably come to regard it as better, for I think there are fewer poor songs on this new album than there were on that uneven masterpiece. It will never rival their 2 truly great contributions "Gordon" and "Maybe You Should Drive" but it is still one of the best albums of the year and a great relief to the true Barenaked Ladies Fan.
A note: Buy the special version with the DVD. It is worth the money. A bonus song, the entire album mixed in Dolby 5.1, interview segments, and a great acoustic concert where BNL premiered 11 of its new tracks in front of a very small audience in the recording studio. Some of those versions are better than the album versions, and showcase why the Ladies are one of the best live bands out there.

I didn't expect to like this CD as much as Maroon, which I thought was a terrific album, especially in the wake of the commercial onslaught of Stunt. And I didn't expect to like this CD as much as Born on a Pirate Ship, which has always been my favorite BnL album, as it was the first one I bought and the one I cut my teeth on. Now, of course, I have all their albums, including the live one and the greatest hits package. So I sat down with my copy of the NEW BnL, with a plate full of high expectations, and a half-hearted smile, not daring to love it too much, not daring to laugh at it too much. But after listening to it, I'm quite sure that they've made their best album, maybe not because it's all brand new and wild like Gordon, or subdued and solemn like Maybe You Should Drive, or as experimental and eclectic as Pirate Ship, or as commercial as anything since, but because, I think, they are finally making music that is based on everything they've done, with the satisfactory smirk that says now they can do whatever they want. Can't wait until the next greatest hits package. I think they'll be around long enough to warrant a boxed set.

I'm one of the unfortunates who was a fan of BNL long before they became popular. Therefore I'm initially disappointed with each new album. This one started out the same way, but by half way through I stopped hoping BNL would finally release another album like Maybe You Should Drive. Instead I found myself genuinely enjoying this album for what it is. With Maroon, they were trying to write a follow-up album to solidify their popular appeal in the US and it just didn't enjoy the creative freedom of their other albums. By contrast, Everything to Everyone is much more relaxed. BNL is back to having fun and you can feel the excitement in some of the new things they're doing with this album. A little country, folk, and the inclassifiable Shopping. The whole album gets better every time you listen to it.

My one disappointment is that with the CD+DVD set is that unlike the regular CD, this CD doesn't have the bonus tracks. Instead the bonus tracks are only on the DVD. The DVD is extremely impressive though. It contains the entire album, an acoustic version of the album, an extra bonus track, and a bunch of great video. The 5.1 Surround Sound on the DVD is amazing and it really shows off what we can expect someday when all albums are released in 5.1. It's a terrific example of what to do with a DVD and I hope other artists follow suit. It's definitely worth the extra money for this DVD.

OK now after 'Gordon' the Barenaked Ladies took a long time to get back on track. Don't get me wrong, 'Maybe You Should Drive' may be one of their best albums, and 'Born on A Pirate Ship' is remarkable as well, but neither album got the band where they wanted to go. 'Stunt' got them back on tack, followed by 'Maroon', enough to get them to a Greatest Hits record. Now, three years after 'Maroon', and eleven years and four albums after 'Gordon', the Barenaked Ladies may have recorded their best album yet, and here's why:

Celebrity (9/10)- a great way to start the album in my opinion, serious yet humorous at points. this is a great way to show what most of the songs on the album are like

Maybe Katie (10/10) - best song on the album? possibly. same deal as 'Celebrity,' it is both serious and humorous, and has a catchy tune and strong chorus. ten/ten, nice job.

Another Postcard (8/10) - things were going well, but this song i just don't get. the problem that BNL has is that their label chooses the dumbest singles. i think it's a funny song, so it is quite entertaining, and the beat is quite catchy. decent song, but they could do better, and they did.

Next Time (9/10) - a perfect song to follow 'Another Postcard' because of the line: you can always get it right next time". indeed they did, and thank god the album doesn't have 14 Postcards in it, or 'Everything' wouldn't be anything but decent

For You (8/10)- not as good as Next Time, but good nonetheless. not much to say except it won't be on the repeat button too much, even though it beats 'Another Postcard.'

Shopping (9/10) - catchy tune, funny lyrics = good BNL song

Testing 1,2,3 (10/10) - one of the best on the album. serious, classy, and funny lyrics. i'm lovin this one

Upside Down (9/10) - i like the background especially, and the lyrics and vocals are superb. the album seems to keep going uphill.

War on Drugs(10/10) - dark, deep, mysterious, serious. those four words don't usually fit with BNL, but this song is nothing short of stellar.

Aluminum (9/10) - not much to say. sounds like a lot of their usual stuff, but i still seem to enjoy it.

Unfinished (9/10) - maybe it was unfinished, because it could be better. i see so much potential in this song, especially if they could fix the chorus.

Second Best (10/10) - the opening lines make this song worth the whole CD: "everything's a lie. we're all gonna die. before we say goodbye let's attack" GREAT song.

Take it Outside (8/10) - i've given three Eights so far, and i think this one is more of an 8.5 of 8.6, but that's not what i do here. still a good song, but needs work.

Have You Seen my Love? (7/10) - not a bad way to end an album, if you're trying to put me to sleep. i like everything BNL does, but this is just my all-time least favorite. 7 isn't bad for my least favorite song though ; )

totals: 125/140 = 8.9/10 on aaverage

With all the flak about cds not being worth their price when you can download music for free, here's a new release worth every penny of the $16-$20 cost. Not only do you get 14 new original songs, but a second bonus cd with the entire album in 5.1 Surround Sound, a scathing bonus track called "Yes!Yes!Yes!" which is arguably worthy of being more than an add-on, and an 11 song acoustic studio session with dvd.

Talk about great marketing!

But, is the music worth it? Aren't some folks saying this is a departure from such greats as "Gordon" and "Maroon,?" So glad you asked. Personally, it feels like E2E picks-up right where Maroon left off, with a mix of bouncy and somber songs, nearly all with thought-provoking lyrics. Easy on the ears and good for the brain!

It's perhaps more eclectic in musical styles than their earlier works, which might be due to the fact that the entire band collaborated on writing the music, for the first time. It shows, but not in a jarring way.

At some point in a band's career, they need to feel comfortable putting out music without having to focus solely on building a fan base and foregoing their own desires. E2E seems to reflect the band at this stage of their evolution, and the results are a bit less tongue-in-cheek, perhaps, but honest and refreshing.

The opening song, "Celebrity" reminds me of something from The Beatles' Revolver era. Immediately after is "Maybe Katie," poppy, breezy and reminiscent of an updated Roy Orbison sound. After listening to the cd two times, four songs refuse to leave my head - just what good music should do.

Call it a departure. Call it a different course. Being human means growing and changing, and in "Everything to Everyone," BNL shows us growing up can still be fun, interesting, and thoughtful.

This is one of those cd's that can be easily overlooked and dismissed. I honestly didnt give it much of a chance at first but I just saw them with Alanis Morrisette and Nellie McKay in columbus Ohio and was blown away by some of these new songs. My wife still says she wasnt as impressed with the newer songs and they werent as good as the older ones that she knew more of. I felt the opposite. I loved the music , the wit, sarcasm and lyrics of this new cd are often as good and sometimes better then earlier releases. The cd's opening track Celebrity is slower then im used to them opening a disc with but it works. Maybe Katie is a catchy 3 minute song that I could see bieng a single. Another Postcard has that BNL sound that really draws people in,It took a while to grow on me though. When I first heard it on the radio I didnt like it that much at all. The band also left it off their setlist at the show we saw. I expected them to possibly do it during the encore but that didnt happen either. We were all shocked. Next time slows the cd down a little bit but it isnt a bad song. Not one of the best on the cd but I didnt feel like skipping it like a few past reviews had stated. For You is an acoustic song that really worked well live during a small acoustic set they did with the entire band singing. Its alot differant sound for them. Almost has a country feel to it but it shows a new range for the band to expand into. Shopping for me was the highlight of the concert and the cd for me and my wife both! They did synchronized swimming with shopping carts (that was viewed from above on cameras) This just needed to be seen to be believed. This also is my favorite song on the Everything for Everyone cd. testing 1,2,3 just seems like something that would have been on one of their older releases. its just has that sound that they used on Stunt or Maroon. For fans of those 2 releases,this song is for you! Upside Down was another highlight of the cd for me. this also was one of those great songs that sounded even better live. This should not be one of those songs that you should be skipping. War on drugs I dont care for as much , it hits a bit too serious of note for me but on almost every release they do something that isnt as light hearted. My favorite of the bands serious songs still lie with When you dream. After becoming a parent this song strikes a more emotional stance... but thats a differant cd and left for a differant review. Aluminum is another song that reminded me of the Maroon release with the sound and way it is sung. Great lyrics and the song just makes me smile. It was also another highlight of the tour. Unfinished isnt bad but doesnt stand out like other songs did. Second best is an upbeat rocking song with a great guitar line that is just so catchy. It is a great way to start winding the cd down towards the end. Take it outside slows it down even further to an almost Eagles'esqe guitar/vocal style. Its a great song with some of the bands best harmonies. Have you seen my love is a nice slow way to round out the disc. It can be skipped if you dont care for the bands slower material but I wouldnt. Its a great song. Also for those interested having some of the bands live shows, they are offering the bands shows for sale on https://www.werkshop.com/bnllive/index.jsp The band highlighted the Everything for Everyone cd nicely. As far as some of the slightly negative reviews from people on this cd , I am a little shocked because it is a good solid release from start to finish. Now if I can just convince my wife of the same.

Initially, I was dreading the release of new material from BnL. In my opinion, Maroon was the greatest album the band has ever done, and to top that would be a monumental feat, but, the Ladies have put an end to my fears. E2E is an amazing album, from the seemingly silly but actually quite deep Shopping, to the undisputed best track on the album, the 5:33 "War on Drugs". This song, in the vein of other great melancholy songs by BnL like "Break Your Heart", "Call and Answer" and "When I Fall", is a classic. It's is five straight minutes of unparalleled musical beauty. Everything about the song amazes me, and Steven Page displays some of his best singing to date on this track. Also notable tracks are "Upside Down", which, with its somewhat starnge musical genre and the Jim Creegan and Co. String opening, is a song that will have you dancing on the office floor, and "Maybe Katie", a catchy little tune that's sure to get stuck in your head. BnL should be proud of themselves, E2E is one of the best CD's I've listened to in quite some time.

Just picked this CD up an hour ago and I'm hooked already. This album was well worth the wait and reminds me a little of Stunt in the sense that there are no "fast-forward" songs. In fact each song was so good I felt like listening to it again before going on the the next! Buy it!

When I first listened to this album I was disappointed soley because I was hoping for another Stunt album. After I listened to it once I popped in Stunt and got my fix of their harder stuff. After that I listened to the album again and remembered why I had become a BNL fan in the first place. These are incredible musicians that write the most catchy and fascinating tunes. Not ones that you'd blare across the dance room but ones that you feel like you've known your whole life. I love this album and can't get enough of it. Welcome back Gordon.