Barenaked for the Holidays
| Barenaked for the Holidays | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Studio album by Barenaked Ladies | ||||
| Released | October 5, 2004 | |||
| Recorded | May 2004 (Track 10 in August 1996) | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, holiday music, comedy | |||
| Length | 46:28 | |||
| Label | Desperation | |||
| Producer | Barenaked Ladies | |||
| Barenaked Ladies chronology | ||||
|
||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Rolling Stone | favourable |
| Sputnik Music | |
Barenaked for the Holidays is a holiday-themed studio album released by Canadian band Barenaked Ladies on October 5, 2004. The album includes Christmas and Hanukkah songs as well as "Auld Lang Syne", which is traditionally sung on New Year's Eve. There are also several songs that are simply about the winter season. The album was the first album recorded at Steven Page's studio, Fresh Baked Woods and was the first released independently by BNL's Desperation Records label (and distributed by the Warner Music Group). It was the band's first studio album for which a "naked track" was not recorded. This album achieved Gold status in Canada.
While the album contains some faithful interpretations of traditional songs, much of the album plays true to Ladies' off-kilter spirit. "Jingle Bells" begins as a slow, faithful rendition before breaking into an up-tempo version, including the "Batman smells..." lyric variation, and Page breaking down laughing. Several existing songs are included in the form of keyboard interludes; "Happy Birthday to You" is included as a hidden track in the form "Happy Birthday Jesus". The song "Deck the Stills" is an adaptation or parody of the song "Deck the Halls" with the lyrics Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young repeated in place of the real lyrics (it was an in-joke with the band at the time to use these lyrics in other songs). The album also includes the Band Aid charity song, "Do They Know It's Christmas?", all the royalties from which the band donates to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The collaboration with Sarah McLachlan for "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" was released on a prior compilation, Christmas Songs, in 2000. Finally, the album includes seven songs written by the band.
...
Wikipedia