It’s embarrassing to say now, but I once lost interest in someone when I saw the spine of a Barenaked Ladies CD in her collection.
To say I’ve never been a fan is a bit of an understatement. I was the kind of youthful, indie-rock obsessed music snob for whom goofball BNL songs like “If I Had a 1,000,000 Dollars” and “Be My Yoko Ono” were anathema. And never mind later, unescapable singles like “One Week” (still their biggest hit).
So when my editor at the Vancouver Sun asked if I would interview someone from the band before its show here Oct. 21, I hesitated. In the end, I said “sure” (not that I really had any choice), deciding it was time to make my peace with one of the biggest musical exports out of Canada from the last 20+ years.
What I found, when I gave the band’s new album a spin, is that I still find their goofball side insufferable. However, I enjoyed the more serious songs like “Here Before”. So there you go.
Anyway, here’s the link to my interview with drummer Tyler Stewart, for the Vancouver Sun.