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Andrew’s Judgmental Album Reviews: Barenaked Ladies – Detour de Force (2021)

The JAR continues to be filled with bands that were big in the 90s with new releases! Does the new Barenaked Ladies album recapture some of the old magic, or are we at the end of Canada’s class clowns’ proverbial rope?

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The JAR continues to be filled with bands that were big in the 90s with new releases! Does the new Barenaked Ladies album recapture some of the old magic, or are we at the end of Canada’s class clowns’ proverbial rope?

Most of us know these guys from the One Week song from 1998 and/or the opening theme song to Big Bang Theory. Granted, Barenaked Ladies have been at it since 1988 in one form or fashion. Gordon was their first official album in 1992, and they’ve been going strong in that quirky, smart, artsy folk pop rock genre ever since.

In 2009 the co-lead singer Steven Page left the group, and they were never quite the same after that. Many of Page’s songs were the depressing content veiled behind pop rock instrumentation like, The Old Apartment, Alcohol and The Flag, to name a few. So when he left, not only did the interesting timbre of his voice make the band sound wholly more generic, the clever aspect of the lyrics became lacking.

That’s not to say everything after 2009 has been awful, just definitely not nearly as consistent. After getting inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2018 and reconciling a little with Page, there was always hope for a reunion, however the difficulty of 2020 probably didn’t aid in that effort. So we get an album that was apparently supposed to be more stripped down, but got re-imagined since everyone’s life took an unexpected detour in 2020.

Time to see if their most recent album can capture some old magic, poignant lyrics or quirky humor in the situation to get us from point A to point B.

  • Artist: Barenaked Ladies
  • Album: Detour de Force (2021)
  • Label: Raisin’ Records

Flip kicks off the album with their usual mixture of pop culture or childhood joke references, a catchy enough hook and a fairly light-hearted approach in general. It also stays in that Indie Rock vein that they’ve leaned into since Steven Page left. Speaking of songs that sound very much like Barenaked Ladies in the last decade, Good Life, does the same thing with the sing-a-long chorus and trying to mask relatively ironic lyrics in an upbeat song. Thus far, the first two songs feel very BNL, but also too much like the same old thing.

New Disaster, tries to put the quirky spin on the world situation, but honestly it just feels like saying a whole lot of nothing. It’s like the most basic observational humor at a local stand up club. Big Back Yard, is the first song on the album that Ed Robertson doesn’t sing lead, and it’s just awkward. Kevin Hearn has a Peter Gabriel-esque voice, but this feels like a kid’s song and really deviates sonically and tonally for the fourth song on the album. BNL have always had quirky country/folk/rock stylings, but this is just awkward and goes nowhere as song.

Live Well continues the sonic shifts and we get a twangy country song that sounds like something Alan Jackson would pen. While not cacophonous or problematic musically, it just lingers and says a lot of nothing about getting back up and taking lumps in stride. Flat Earth, I suppose is trying to basically call out Flat Earthers as stupid, wrapped in this little song about not believing something someone says; because if you believed THAT crap, you might as well believe in flat Earth. Here Together would definitely be the weakest song on the album thus far. It sounds like an intermission song that does nothing but fill time.  No offense to Jim Creegan who does lead, the song is just a salad at restaurant; a promissory note that the entrée is on the way.

Roll Out randomly changes the tone back to up-tempo Pop Rock with digital horns and a weird funk bass driving the rhythm. Bylaw is another Kevin Hearn lead song, but this is clever. This reminds me of something like Light Up My Room from the Stunt album. It’s relatable, clever, uses bylaw and by law to drive the verses and chorus. About two thirds of the way through the album and we finally found a really good song. God Forbid while on the merits of music they usually make, fits their mold well, but again, the tonal jumps and the fact that you can tell which songs were intended to be “more stripped down” makes the flow of this album awkward. Even with an interesting premise based around not believing in God but still applying the idiom, it is terribly lacking.

Paul Chambers is a weird song. It is a simple swingy Jazz number, with Creegan doing lead again; and this is actually quite a nice little song. But where in the world does a swingy horn laden Jazz number fit on this album? Really good song, but more out of place than Wayne Gretzky on the Blues. And now we go to National Park which is just…I got nothing. It’s like Simon & Garfunkel on Xanax. Man Made Lake does a slightly better job at being a folky banjo ballad and not completely derivative, but it’s still very much a song that they play during a montage of building things with your Dad before he left to go get cigarettes 10 years ago.

Internal Dynamo ends the 14 song album…and wait, wait…what? WHY DID THEY WAIT 50 minutes for this song! This has a Kearn song with an interesting sandwich of Robertson and drummer Tyler Stewart chiming in to make things more dynamic. This feels like their live riffing they do during concerts, and it works well. Kearn’s Peter Gabriel space exploration tone, getting interrupted with Robertson and Stewart’s loud approach is fun and clever.

This album had its struggles getting made, direction re-imagined and it shows. We get a sonic mess, but there are enough pieces to see what they were trying and a good portion of the album still fits the BNL motif. Schizophrenic at best is a way to describe the album, but not awful, just shows that at this point in their career and without Page, Barenaked Ladies are a shell of themselves.

Final Judgment: 5.05/10

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Bandwagon Nerds #284: Mission Unlikely

The Nerds break down a tremendous Episode 8 of Daredevil: Born Again. Plus, the Sweet 16 of Villain Madness and the return of the Trailer Park!

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Bandwagon Nerds Mario

This week, the NERDS are back in full force, and there is no shortage of topics to discuss. Episode 8 of Daredevil: Born Again was filled with drama, surprises, and a stunning ending that left all the Nerds wondering what will happen next. After a few weeks’ absence, the Trailer Park returns to look at upcoming releases such as F1, a wild-looking sequel for M.E.G.A.N., another great-looking series on Apple TV (Murderbot), and the finale of the Mission Impossible series. Plus, we get to the Sweet 16 of Villain Madness! Which ultimate bad guys/gals punched their tickets to the Elite 8? All that and, of course Whatcha Watchin”?

  • @AttitudeAgg
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  • @ViolentAesop
  • @TheMindlessPod
  • @therealcplatt
  • @ChairshotMedia
  • @BandwagonNerds

PROWRESTLINGTEES.COM/TheChairshot – Makes a GREAT GIFT!!!

About Bandwagon Nerds

Join Patrick O’Dowd, David Ungar, PC Tunney, Rey Cash, and DPP as they keep everyone up on all things nerd, and maybe add some new nerds along the way. It’s the Bandwagon Nerds Podcast!

About Chairshot Radio Network

Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

MONDAY – Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

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SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE’s PPV/PLE history)

http://TheChairshot.com PRESENTS…IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5


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About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling) 

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

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Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (4/10/25)

It’s gonna be May!

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There’s been a slight change in the forecast…

There may not be a storm on the horizon, but when Wrestling Is Life, every day is unpredictable! What does HPW have planned for May Day?

 

HPW prepares for the storm ahead…

Blood & Thunder still beckons, and the Faces of Evil need to defend their HPW World Trios Championships. Therefore, Wrestling Is Life will see two qualifying trios matches! After the controversial nature of losing the titles at HyruleMania, Arrow Club is given a spot in these qualifiers. And they will be facing familiar foes in TSDQ! The Studly Don’t Quit, but will they make it through to ThunderStruck? As for the second qualifier, Los Taros Locos will return in hopes of stampeding up to the top of HPW, but they’ll be up against quite the mysterious team. Cia represents the OG Dark Forces expelled from the group, and she’ll bring her sister, Lana, with her!

But who is their third partner? They didn’t name them, so who could it be? Volga? Kevin Gibdo? Or even Wizzro? Will keeping it an unknown be the key to winning?

 

Igos du Ikana speaks.

From inside his shadowy throne room, The Ruler of Ruin looks at the HPW Death Mountain Championship on a pedestal. “The HPW Death Mountain Championship. A championship created not just to commemorate one of Hyrule’s greatest landmarks, but also to commemorate one of Hyrule’s greatest wrestling promotions. Death Mountain Wrestling was a vital part of wrestling history, where legends would pave the way for a new generation, and inspire many more. Not unlike Termina Championship Wrestling.”

Igos walks past the pedestal to look to a trophy case. Igos looks to his copy of the classic TCW Championship, and even of the High Noon Championship. There are also poster sized pictures of Igos’ greatest moments, such as the first time he won the TCW title, and the last time he held it while TCW was still active. Igos continues by saying, “I say this not because you don’t know. Of course you know this. I say this so that you might understand. I say this because I need you to understand. You have great aspirations, and strong ambition, but I don’t think you understand what you’re attempting to achieve.

“You stand at the foot of a mountain, it’s shadow upon you. That mountain’s name is legacy. You want to climb the mountain. You want to reach the top and plant your own flag at the summit. You want everyone to see you, to look up to you, to acknowledge you. But this climb is more challenging than you know. This climb is more challenging than you can handle. These belts may only be ten pounds, but they weigh so much more once you put them on. You are not ready for the climb. You are not ready to carry that weight. You are not ready to push yourself, step after step, inch after inch, as the mountain only grows steeper and steeper. And you never will be.

“So I tell you this not because you do not know. I tell you this so that you may understand. You must turn back now, find another path forward, before it is too late. Before you fall… to ruin.” It is clear who this message is for, but will young Yunobo heed this grizzled warrior’s warning?

 

HPW Deep Dive: Wisdom VS Power.

The Princess of Hyrule visits Hero of Hyrule, Link, now that he’s home from the hospital. He still needs bed rest, given everything Ganon did to him. He has bandages around his head, and his sister, Aryll, checks his stitches. 13 stitches all along the hairline. They’re holding well, no bleeding. Zelda sits with Link and holds his hand. She apologizes for what happened, but Link shakes his head. Aryll agrees, Zelda’s not to blame, Ganon and his Dark Forces are. They ruined her moment, they beat Link down, so they they have to be stopped. Ganon’s coming after the title anyway, so Zelda can get payback at the same time.

Ganon says, “Like I give a damn.” The Gerudo Ace lounges in his manor, The Dark Forces all around him. That now includes Shabonne & Tali, sporting new ensembles to reflect joining up. The Faces of Evil have their HPW World Trios Championships while Ganon has the Triforce Tournament trophy in hand. Ganon then mockingly says, “YoU dEsErVe It~! YoU dEsErVe It~!” Audio from the Triforce Anniversary event is interspliced here, as well as flashes of Zelda being emotional as she has the title belt put on.

“Isn’t it strange that Zelda takes the fall at HyruleMania, but I’m the one relegated to the tournament? And she clearly has that pointy eared little simp wrapped around her finger, or else he wouldn’t have even agreed to the match. But hey, what do I know? I only beat Link one-on-one in his first defense, then beat Zelda one-on-one in my first defense. I’m the Triple Crown Champion, I beat legends of TCW, and I’m this year’s Triforce Tournament winner. No one is more deserving of that title, of whatever title there is, than me! Isn’t that right?” The group all say, “Yeah!”

Ganon says, “The Dark Forces will be golden!” The group again shouts, “Yeah!” Ganon says, “The Dark Forces RUNS HPW!” The group again shouts, “YEAH!!” The Dark Forces all raise a glass to drink it up, while Link rests his head on Zelda’s shoulder and she rests her head on his. The Princess of Hyrule may reign, but will she fail to trump the Gerudo Ace? The countdown is on until May 1st, when Wrestling is Life!


 

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling) 

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast 

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR


Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand


Powered by RedCircle


Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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