Daily Staff Writer

“Stunt”

Barenaked Ladies

Barenaked Ladies’ new album, “Stunt,” unfortunately won’t be on shelves until July 7.

But when it does come out, I think you should run right out and get it. Reserve your copy NOW!

This band is like HBO’s “The Kids in the Hall” set to music. Like the modern day minstrels they are, they entertain us in a variety of ways and on different levels. Barenaked Ladies does the same thing.

The group is brilliant musically, but it has a kind of ridiculous, creative junior high school impulsiveness to its music that makes it a real pleasure to listen to closely.

It’s kind of like a cross between They Might Be Giants, X, and The Housemartins.

Barenaked Ladies balance whimsy with unsentimental lyrics about post-adolescence with a comedic, observational humor.

It is accessible, but not designed with the lowest common denominator in mind.

“Stunt” has a slightly more mature sound than previous albums, like “Gordon” and “Born on a Pirate Ship,” which were a lot heavier on the comedic side.

“Stunt” also seems to take a more serious attitude towards the songs without losing any of the quirky, Canadian humor which is Barenaked Ladies’ trademark.

The opening track, “One Week” is a great opening volley about having a fight with your girlfriend that just seems to scream, “Here we are! Give us Kraft Dinner and let’s get funky!”

It is also the band’s first attempt to reproduce one of its greatest in-concert features, which is freestyling like the bastard offspring of James Joyce with Snoop Doggy Dogg ad-libbing lyrics.

The sixth track on the album, “Alcohol,” is a musical apology from the band and a tribute to alcohol for not giving it enough credit for too many years.

“I love you more than I did the week before I discovered alcohol/oh, alcohol, would you please forgive me, for while I cannot love myself, I’ll use something else/ I thought that alcohol was just for those with nothing else to do/ I thought that drinking just to get drunk was a waste of precious booze/but now I know that there’s a time and there’s a place where I can choose/ to walk the fine line between self control and self abuse.”

Now is a good time to jump on the bandwagon and still look cool before everyone gets on.

4 1/2 stars out of five

— Greg Jerrett

“Eve 6”

Eve 6

California is still a hot market for budding bands, as proved by the rookie trio Eve 6. The band’s self-titled debut album is a certificate of its accomplishment.

After all, these three rockers haven’t even surpassed their teens, yet their music is already finding its way into television programs, in cluding “Dawson’s Creek.”

The group’s first hit single, “Inside Out,” reaches the core of catchiness and befriends anyone who hears it. The song is absolutely chock full of punk riffs and inviting hooks.

Singer/bassist Max Collins wrote the lyrics for each song except “Leech,” in which guitarist Jon Siebels helped out. Unfortunately, the song suffers because of that.

Judging by the rest of the songs on the album, Collins probably isn’t the one who penned the elementary lyrics “Sucking on my brain/you’re the teacher, I’m the student” on “Leech.”

Musically, the song rocks along well, bleeding into the follow-up, “Showerhead,” a song about a cheating lover.

“Open Road Song” depicts the feeling of freedom caused by driving too fast. Crafty guitar work by Siebels mimics a fast cruise down a highway to nowhere as it builds a foundation for Collins’ vocals.

While that song lifts your spirits, songs like “Jesus Nitelite” and “Superhero Girl” will depress you with feelings of being an outsider and needing acceptance.

“Tongue Tied” brings a much needed change of pace to the album. It touches upon the reality of being a special student in a school filled with holier-than-thou mentalities.

The final song, “Small Town Trap,” examines the plight of living in a small town. It captures the feelings of boredom, directionless thought and the desire to be else-where.

Infectious vocals and guitar-laden powerhouse songs make Eve 6 a band that appeals to any taste.

2 1/2 stars out of five

— Kevin Hosbond

“Road Rash 3D: The Album”

Various Artists

I swear that the longer I live, the weirder everything under the sun gets. I thought all that science fiction I read would insulate me from “future shock,” but I guess Orson Wells was right: You can never predict what weird-ass thing is going to send you over the edge.

So now record labels, obviously disappointed with the current level of diversity in the music industry, have created a whole new genre to plug albums in — and the damnedest thing is that it will probably work like gangbusters.

Now, video games have soundtracks you can buy, and “Road Rash 3D: The Album” is the latest offering at the Temple of Mammon to suck the money right out of your tight little pockets.

“Road Rash” is a Sony Playstation combat motorcycle racing game where contestants try to make it to the finish line by mauling anyone who gets in their way.

Okay, that part does sound pretty cool, I will admit. I also have to admit that the soundtrack is pretty freakin’ good.

But I don’t have to like the fact that I like it. I do have standards.

But then again, who am I to judge? I always liked to play Doom while listening to Ministry’s “Psalm 69,” so there must be an intrinsic connection between video games and music that was just waiting to be exploited by the armies of the night (a.k.a. the music industry).

The album contains sound bites and quotes from the game’s mistress of the road, Motorhead Patty, which makes for super fun listening (for example: “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack’s gonna get his little ass kicked”). She certainly isn’t short on attitude.

Some of the bands which are not too ashamed to appear on a video game soundtrack are Sugar Ray, CIV, Kid Rock, Fat Joe, Full on the Mouth, Big Wreck, The Tea Party and The Mermen.

“People Mover” by Full on the Mouth opens the album with a little dark techno to warm things up.

“Sponge Cookie” and “Driving the Cow” by The Mermen are two of the better tracks. They certainly don’t come off like incidental video game music. They have an atmospheric quality that makes them really cool road tunes.

“Babylon” by The Tea Party has a Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails electronica feel that comes across well. Sugar Ray is not overly impressive with “Mean Machine,” which lacks some of the originality you get from the band on other projects. But it is acceptable.

Big Wreck’s “That Song” brings some soft and lathery sentimentality to the album, with a great lyrical hook that surprised me to no end with it’s moody refrain.

If you like video game soundtracks or if you are a collector of new trends, run right out and buy this CD and blast it proudly.

If you are jaded like me, then just request a few tracks and save your money for more important efforts and projects by artists with at least a modicum of integrity who need your support.

Leave the video game soundtracks for the gamers.

3 1/2 stars out of five

— Greg Jerrett

“REO Speedealer”

REO Speedealer

REO Speedealer is Southern-fried, speed-metal punk served up hot and spicy Texas style.

The group’s sound has been described as “monster truck rock meets hardcore punk metal,” and its new self-titled release lives up to that reputation.

The group’s sound cuts through the veil of pop music like a chain saw on nitro, and whether or not your tastes run towards this kind of unrelenting, in-your-face style of hardcore (which leaves your ears feeling like they have been violated), you have to admit that it isn’t more of the same old crap.

After listening to “Top 40” radio all of your lives, you could probably use a palate cleanser like this one.

Did I say palate cleanser? That is mild.

This stuff is more like taking a brillo pad and comet to your brain while driving on the Autobahn on crank, drinking a double espresso and eating handfuls of white sugar while the kids are screaming “are we there yet?” Perry Como it is not.

With unmerciful tracks like “Turkeyneck,” “Screamer,” “Double Clutchin’ Finger Fuckin’,” “Pussy” and “Pigfucker,” not only are these guys probably devils with the ladies, they have got to be an absolute riot to see live.

The vocals have a mystical sandpaper-on-rebar quality that just stings you right behind the eyes like lemon juice eyedrops.

I would reprint some lyrics here, but I couldn’t make any out, really.

For all I know they were reading ingredients from the back of a cereal box, but with a high octane-scrubbing out your brainpan-mother scratching-looking for love in all the wrong places-kind of acidity that is as difficult to categorize as it is to marginalize or insert rectally.

The guitar work is pretty intense, too.

Overall, it is not a triumph of the human soul. But then again, what is? It does kick a whole lotta ass.

Unfortunately, we are that ass.

And if you are concerned with rioting, now is a good time to get the gear out of the closet.

But bring extra teargas canisters because there is enough energy in this band to keep a small city burning for several months.

If you are into White Zombie but find them to be too intellectually challenging, then you will love REO Speedealer.

3 stars out of five

— Greg Jerrett

---

Editor’s Note: REO Speedealer will be performing this Friday at the Safari in Des Moines. Ticket prices and performing times were unavailable as of press time.

For further information, please contact the Safari at (515) 279-5507 or see the group’s web-site at http://www.testicle.com/reo.htm.