Barenaked Ladies

I first heard Barenaked Ladies back in the early ‘90s on that much-missed, last-gasp attempt at truly independent, DJ-programmed FM rock radio, KRFD out of Marysville (of all freakin’ places!). The station was becoming noted for its nigh anarchistic approach, playing new, “unproven” artists alongside time-tested, old-school rockers. “If I Had $1,000,000” was quite unlike the grunge, metal, jam, alternative and otherwise rock cemented on other stations at the time; the Ladies’ plaintive yet comical wish-fulfillment ballad harkened more to folky, roots-oriented music.

Then, of course, the Canadian group really hit big later with "One Week," the syncopated-riff-backed tune (dubiously utilized currently to schlep Japanese car ads on American TV) penned by guitarist/singer Ed Robertson. Anyway, just in time for Xmas, Reprise has compiled and released this "best of" collection. Naturally, it features all of the group’s big hits from the last five years; better, however, is the lesser-known, earlier material. Still, as an overview this ain’t bad.