Maybe You Should Drive

Barenaked Ladies

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 16, 1994)
• Original Release Date: August 16, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B000002MT4
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,470 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
On this, their second major label release, Barenaked Ladies get romantic without slipping into sappy sentimentality. Wonderfully witty love songs like "Jane," "These Apples," "A," and "Alternative Girlfriend" explore the pitfalls of modern relationships with pointed candor and remarkable eloquence. Throughout, the troupe displays its expected high level of musicianship and vocal expertise, delivering full-bodied performances on every track. As always, Ed Robertson and Steven Page dominate the vocals, turning in particularly fabulous work on "Am I the Only One?" and "The Wrong Man Was Convicted." Perhaps the "hit" from this disc is "Life, In a Nutshell," a charming ditty about, surprisingly enough, a happy relationship. What bliss! --L.A. Smith

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ladies Best, January 25, 2001

By	Zachary J. Powers "Zach Powers" (Savannah, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The only good things to come out of Canada: Hockey, the syllable 'eh', and Barenaked Ladies (no offense to all you wonderful Canadians).

You're all familiar with the band's recent releases, "Stunt" and "Maroon", but their best work was this, their second album. I'd list the good tracks, as is my habit, but just read Amazon's provided set list because they're all good. My favorites (I feel the overwhelming urge to list something) are "Jane" and "Life, In a Nutshell", but I put this CD on and listen straight through, at least to track 10.

As a follow-up to their first release "Gordon" this album demonstrates the honing of their art. The band is tighter, and the songs exemplify the bands uncanny ability to mix sincerity, depth and wit, often moreso than any of their other CDs.

If you're familiar only with the Ladies new albums, then you should definitely check this one out. Its not as hard-edged as "Maroon" and not quite in the same vein as "Stunt", but its HIGH quality music in every respect. This album makes me believe there's hope for pop music yet.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly BNL's Most Underrated Effort, March 11, 2001

By	"tomthedog" (San Bruno, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Most of the people I know who are into BNL seem to think this is the group's weakest album. I couldn't disagree more. While Gordon was a tough act to follow, Maybe You Should Drive was a fantastic second album, continuing the tradition of shiveringly perfect harmonies, ultra-clever lyrics, and so much fun you almost have to restrain yourself from jumping around the room with glee.

Possibly I'm prejudiced by the fact that I first saw the band in concert during the tour for this album. The sheer joy I got from seeing BNL live has always been linked in my mind with Maybe You Should Drive. "Jane," "Intermittently," "These Apples," "A," "Alternative Girlfriend," "Life, In A Nutshell"... all such strong, funny, bouncy, wild tunes... this album always seems fresh and new to me.

From "A": "A is for Algebra, I learned it in school/A is what Fonzie said cause he was very cool."

From "Jane," a pop culture reference so specific to the time of the recording, it was obscure 6 months later: "No promises as vague as Heaven/No Juliana next to my Evan."

And here is the entirety of "Little Tiny Song," a 62-second nugget of bizarreness from bassist Andrew Creggan: "Hey I'm a cow, I'm curious/Hey watch me now, I'm furious/Hey I'm a cow, I'm full of hate/Hey watch me now, I'm on your plate."

The songs and albums to follow Maybe You Should Drive were (and are) always good and often great, but this was the last BNL album that felt like 100% fun to me. You need to own it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An album that carries special sentimental value., July 5, 2004

By	"scp2115" (Mentor, OH) - See all my reviews

Two of the songs on this album (Everything Old is New Again and The Wrong Man Was Convicted) got me through a particularly difficult breakup with my girlfriend at the time. Needless to say, this album has a special place in my collection. It's a good listen all-around, and if you're in a difficult emotional state like I was, it may strike a chord with you as well. BNL has always been one of my favorite bands, and this album is a prime example of the way that BNL pours their collective heart and soul into their work.