Artist:  Barenaked Ladies
Title:  All in Good Time
Label:  Raisin' Records

How much difference does one band member make?

When U2 included lyrics from Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" in the band's 1988 fave "God, Part II," many a Christian music fan touted the nod to the former Myrrh Records artist. However, when an emerging Canadian act covered Cockburn's entire song just three years later, even seeing it become their first Top 40 hit north of the border, there was nary a peep. After all, who would dare ask the question, "Is Barenaked Ladies a Christian band?"

Granted the band's moniker—not to mention much of their music and live persona—was completely tongue-in-cheek. And after Barenaked Ladies released the 1998 No. 1 smash "One Week," the rest of the world was in on the joke. BnL followed with more radio hits, and festive tours, becoming one of the era's most popular muti-platinum rock bands. Now, a decade later, the group has created a record label for its own music and said farewell to one of its two co-founders/creative forces.

Shortly before his departure last year, co-vocalist Steven Page (who had a history of alcohol abuse) was arrested for cocaine possession. His exit, hardly amicable, plays a definitive role both lyrically and musically on BnL's 10th studio album All in Good Time. Produced and engineered by Michael Phillip Wojewoda (Ashley MacIsaac, Rheostatic), the 14-song disc boasts bluesy alternative rock, '70s soul jams, emotive ballads and, on occasion, that beloved playfulness and wit. Bandleader-by-default and singer/multi-instrumentalist Ed Robertson handles most of the songwriting and vocal duties, though he leans on Guitarist/keyboardist Kevin Hearn and bassist/guitarist Jim Creegan to replace Page's trade-off vocals.

Pick any track on All in Good Time and there's a good chance some or all of its lyrics are a therapeutic (at best) response to Page's departure. In the lead single, "You Run Away," a mournful ballad, Robertson sings, "I tried to be your brother/You cried and ran for cover." He later declares, "I'd use a metaphor/But I'm done with you," in the gritty rocker "I Have Learned," and in the deceptively buoyant "Golden Boy," Robertson concludes, "Hang your hat/At somebody else's house."

Though comedic takes are unusually scarce this time out, Robertson delivers classic BnL with "Four Seconds," a fast-paced lyric-fest replete with smart, silly fun. Along the way, he takes an off-color, self-deprecating shot at one of his rhymes: "Oh sure that one's obscure, maybe even p_ss-pour/But I had to take a little detour." While All In Good Time ranks among the Ladies' best albums musically, hopefully their next outing will be a Page-free zone making way for more endearing mischief.
 

**This review first published on April 13, 2010.