Barenaked Ladies: All Their Greatest Hits 1991-2001, Vol. 1

Album Review

Canada's beloved funny guys the Barenaked Ladies have proved to be more than just a novelty act. Four albums into their wavering career, Stunt was golden for American fans and BNL found themselves chiefing the mainstream scene during the late '90s. So to issue a greatest-hits collection might be appropriate for those fans who caught on late, but also a sweet deal for those loyalists who were following the band since the early days of the lost Yellow Tape. Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits (1991-2001) is a heavy dose of Barenaked Ladies favorites spooled together in an inoperative mix. It's not distracting, though, for the select batch basically sounds like a mix tape. What's even more charming is how BNL allowed fans to vote for their favorite songs online in order to make up the song listing. Radio staples like "One Week" and "Pinch Me" are woven in between cult classics like "Be My Yoko Ono," "Enid," and "The Old Apartment." Two prime cuts from the multi-platinum Rock Spectacle — "What a Good Boy" and "Brian Wilson" — are also included, but the rare acoustic beauty of Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" is a definite standout. Two new songs complete this lush and celebratory album. The spunky new wave-like "It's Only Me (The Wizard of Magicland)" boasts typical BNL humor and grandeur; however, "Thanks That Was Fun" gives something more. It's an emotional track, and Ed Robinson's dark vocals are his finest yet. Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits (1991-2001) does indeed close a chapter in the ever-changing storybook of the Barenaked Ladies. They're rock stars, but they were friends first — even before they had a million dollars.