Everyone gets naked

The Barenaked Ladies (BnL) have returned with their usual clever rhymes, ridiculous lyrics, and sometimes-serious subtext. Their new album, Everything to Everyone, is their first new release in three years since the release of Maroon.

On the album, the band exhibits both its folk roots as well as the goofy, nonsensical style that made it famous. While the beginning of the album draws the listener in with some fun songs such as "Another Postcard" and "Shopping," the conclusion of the album is more restrained while still as evocative.

The first track, "Celebrity" shows off the clever rhyming that make the band famous. The song laments the celebrity status that hides the real person behind the glamour, saying to just, "Smile and wave/ Try to behave/ Be happy that they've/ Made you a celebrity."

The next two tracks "Maybe Katie" and "Another Postcard" showcase the fun, upbeat side of BnL music. While both feature synthesized sounds, "Another Postcard" also incorporates a reggae feeling that makes the song all the more entertaining. This is also the most ridiculous song on the record, recounting the mysterious postcards of chimpanzees he received in the mail.

After the awkward transition offered by the broken rhythm of "Next Time," the great folk sound that BnL does so well comes out in "For You." One of many songs about the necessity of knowing oneself, the sing-song beat of the acoustic guitars and great vocals are well mixed. Along with "Testing 1, 2, 3" and "Unfinished," "For You" is the kind of song that might be skipped over at first but deserves an extra listen to appreciate the folk roots of these tracks.

A surprising track on this album is "Upside Down," which has a strong Latin feeling rare in BnL songs. There is a flurry of sounds in this fast-paced quasi-tango song that livens up the middle of the album.

One of the more serious songs on the record is "War On Drugs," a very somber, slow song about a girl who has been left alone and miserable. The powerful song recounts her difficult battles with depression, drugs, and suicide. The instruments fade as he describes a jumping spot where a net was put up to prevent suicides: "Like that'll stop anyone at all/ What they don't know is when nature calls, you go."

The album finishes with two more somber songs. "Take it Outside" features fantastic vocal inflections that make this song about a tough break-up powerful. Keeping with what is becoming a BnL tradition of ending on a sad note, "Have You Seen My Love" is slow folk song with a simple rhythm that focuses attention to the lyrics about a couple that has grown apart: "And I swear that's her face/ Did you bury the woman I love/ And fall asleep in her space?"

The limited edition also features three acoustic versions that have some new guitar riffs, but other than that are close to the same as the album tracks.