Barenaked Ladies — Everything To Everyone

Most non-U.S. pop bands boasting intelligent lyrics, strong harmonies, seasoned musicianship, witty couplets and a wide range of style (say, from alt.folk to three-chord rock to strings and synths) are ignored by the People and praised by the Critics. So why does BNL elicit the reverse reaction?

Whatever: this is a good album with some great songs. Listen for the fun faux-tango of "Upside Down" or the vaguely XTC chorus of "Maybe Katie." Skip over the cockle-raising plastic dance-beats of "Shopping" and focus on songs that reinforce an image of Page & Robertson not as goofballs, but as real, live songwriters (try the depression-delving "War On Drugs" and feel it make your throat stick like a Peter Gabriel ballad).

Hell, if you don't want to threaten your local hip-osity standing, just pretend it's a co-ed band from Iceland and not the Scarborough boys who sang "Enid." Of course, with tracks like "Unfinished" or "Another Postcard" suspiciously sounding like previous BNL radio hits that may be hard to do. But here's the thing: even the familiar stuff's not without its charm. So there.

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