From geeks in short pants to multiplatinum artists, Barenaked Ladies are nothing less than a phenomenon. Now, for the first time in the United States, we can read their astonishing story.

Steven, Ed, Jim, Tyler, and Kevin have two Grammy nominations under their belts, they've appeared on The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live, and their music is featured in commercials. They've even preempted the Olympics and rocked the vote on The West Wing. Their quirky, bizarre lyrics and unforgettable live performances have secured a rabidly loyal fan base across North America. They are Barenaked Ladies.

Want to know more about this Canadian quintet? It's all here, from the births of five Barenaked babies to the triumph of band member Kevin over leukemia.

What's more, the book is not as complete as it should be for a historical account of the Barenaked Ladies' evolution as a band. There are references to Maybe You Should Drive being a traumatic experience, but no real solid evidence to suggest what the source of the tension was--Ben Mink, for instance, is not interviewed. Anybody who gave Myers a lot of face time for interviews (such as manager Terry McBride, whose interview is as chilling as it is informative) gets more attention in the book. It comes off as uneven.

And still, the grating elements are outweighed by excellent, honest quotes by the band, plenty of fun photos, amusing anecdotes, and a lovingly detailed recounting of the band's earliest days. Hearing so many of the stories straight from the band members themselves--especially when they're being embarassingly honest about their own flaws and the band's more difficult growth stages--gives this book a compelling flow. As the only decent BNL book out there, Public Stunts, Private Stories is #1 in a field of one.

The core of the material works so well that I'd love to see a revised edition in a few more albums, with Myers' extraneous influence toned down.


Great Band, Good Book   December 23, 2003
MichaelH (East Coast US)
20 out of 20 found this review helpful

Paul Myers' book offers a serviceable account of the history of Barenaked Ladies, from their beginnings through the making of 2000's Maroon.

What's missing is much in the way of insight from the band members. The book details their early Canadian success and struggle to build an American following before the 1998 album Stunt and its breakout single "One Week" made them stars. It touches on band member Kevin Hearn's struggle to overcome leukemia and various marriages and births.

But it doesn't explore much past the surface in any aspect. This band has been through some struggles, and the brooding melancholy that lurks in their lyrics has to come from somewhere. But the book emphasizes their clever wordplay, sense of humor and superb musicianship leaving much unanswered about what personal darknesses lead to songs like "When I Fall" or "Light Up My Room," or "Break Your Heart" or "Pinch Me."

I know there are some stories to tell, because I've read some of them in interviews with the band. Myers doesn't seem interested in offering a deeper examination of these fascinating people, and the book suffers as a result. The closest he comes is when he mentions the death of one of Ed Robertson's brothers as part of the meaning of the song "Leave" -- the way that a premature death can haunt those left behind. But even then he mentions it in passing and deals with the whole issue in one paragraph.

The other major failing is that Myers is infatuated with his own cleverness, and the text is peppered with puns and efforts to incorporate song titles into sentences. These devices might bring a smile or two used sparingly, but he seems to lack both self-restraint and a good editor.

It's a good book, and worth reading for any fan of the band, but it isn't what it could have been.