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
Valiant Sophomore Effort, However Flawed The second album from the Ladies had a few very strong songs on it, but seemed to lack the strength that their later efforts have shown. It may be an unfair standard to put the band against itself when rating it, as this may be a better than average album for most bands, or maybe even great, but BNL has released much stronger albums since making this, with the exception of Born on a Pirate Ship. This is still worth buying, especially for fans of any of their non-radio stuff, but I wouldn't recommend it as the first album you pick up by them if you're new to the band. I don't see an album by BNL that isn't worth buying eventually. Even the Xmas album is worth buying, if only for sheer amusement.
Highlights of Maybe You Should Drive include three very strong songs: These Apples, A, and Life, in a Nutshell. Other enjoyable songs on the album are Jane, Intermittently, You Will Be Waiting, Everything Old is New Again, and Alternative Girlfriend.
Overall: Weak 4 (75% - 3.75 / 5)
Outshines Gordon Overall I'd have to say this is my all time favorite BNL album. There's just something about this album that really gets me in the gut. I know everyone thinks Gordon is just fantastic, and it is great, but this album seems to me to be a more polished and serious effort by BNL. There isn't one song on this CD that I dislike, and lyrically I think it's wonderful. "Maybe You Should Drive" is one of BNL's lesser known albums, and if you really like Maroon or Everything to Everyone, then perhaps this isn't your cup of tea, and you'll probably be disappointed. To me however, I think this is BNL at it's best, and I for one would like to hear more music like this from them.
Slumps a bit but sophomore disc still worth your time Time to do the dreaded "followup album" after the inventive and offkilter pop of GORDON. The Ladies can't deliver one as strong as that gem but this is hardly without its charms.
HIGHLIGHTS: Commitment phobic "Jane" is a standout ("Jane decided only cowards stay, while traitors run..") as is the catchy "These Apples" (I think it's an oil and water love song from a simpleton but I'm not certain on this), "Alternative Girlfriend" gently mocks a paramour ("You live above your dad's four-car garage/With your vinyl and imaginary entourage"). The sparse acoustic "Am I the Only One?" is the slightly paranoid questioning of a lover worried his girl might have a man on the side. ("Am I the only one who loves when you leave/Your hair down in front of your eyes?") "The Wrong Man was Convicted" finds our protagonist lamenting his lost love over a gentle marching rhythm. ("The wrong man lies beside you/And waits for you to wake/And all because I lacked conviction,The judgment's my mistake")
LOWS: "Intermittently" is lounge jazz that comes off like an inferior version of MAROON's "Conventioneers". "Little Tiny Song" is slight at best..it simply isn't memorable.
BOTTOM LINE: It's a sophomore slump but GORDON would be hard for ANY band to followup. When all is said and done, it's quite listenable and BNL fans should enjoy it along with fans of quirky pop in general.
3 1/2 stars
An album that carries special sentimental value. 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.
This album should've crossed over... The Barenaked Ladies struck big with "Gordon" in 1992, introducing their trademark humor, cleverness, quirkiness, and excellent musical craftsmanship to become the biggest band in the Great White North. But it took a while for the Ladies to cross the borders of their giant homeland. However, the millions of Canadian fans and the thousands of non-Canadian fans wanted more, and they successfully delivered with "Maybe You Should Drive". Their sophomore album failed to make the dough, but passed with flying colors in quality. Right from the front album cover you know these guys are something else. This is one of the best albums BNL has ever released, and there's a good reason why. They show they're more than capable of writing thought-provoking pop songs, and they musical virtuosity has greatly improved as well. The album opens up with the fantastic "Jane" and the severely overlooked "Intermittently", which wins by a hair compared to the album's most popular tune, "Alternative Girlfriend". "These Apples" is a fine song about miscommunication between men and women, and the banjo solo is hilariously blissful. One wonders how Ed Robertson delivered that with a straight face. "A" is a clever song with a bit of a jazzy Latin feel to it, and "You Will Be Waiting" is also great. "Am I The Only One?" and "The Wrong Man Was Convicted" are very provocative and thoughtful, though "Am I..." is more profound, telling the tale of the aftershock of the death of Ed Robertson's brother. Overall, "Maybe..." opens up the band's more sensitive side, and is an overlooked gem in a field of colorless stones. Do yourself a favor, and check it out.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
