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Barenaked Ladies Reprise Records |
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Say what you will about Barenaked Ladies, but they are a great live
band. They consistently serve up an energetic, inspired, sincere live
performance no matter where they are or who they're playing for. And they're
just a lot of fun. Rock Spectacle is a live album, recorded at two shows the Barenakeds did in the Spring of 1996. As always, the boys were in fine form, delivering new songs and old favorites that delight fans. There's a good mix of their hits from Gordon and Maybe You Should Drive, all funked up or changed around in the 'Ladies' traditional concert style. The best songs on the disc are "When I Fall", a love ballad from Born On A Pirate Ship, and "These Apples". The bonus of this disc is that after the traditional last track ("If I Had $1,000,000" often ends their shows) there is some Barenaked banter. This is often the best part of their live shows and part of what makes them so fun, as Ed Robertson, singer, explains: "Those of you who've seen a Barenaked Ladies show know that anything can happen - we make up songs, sing other people's songs, sing songs blue, dance, sculpt things, speak Chinese, eat baby carrots, synchro swim, whatever takes our fancy." I haven't seen it all yet, and I suspect I'll be back for their next show here. In the mean time, Rock Spectacle is pretty respectable fun. |
| by Jennifer Zaplinty |