By shelz.

Human resources are an important component of any organization.  Losing a co-founding, shot-calling manager changes the entire dynamic and can spell disaster for the business.  When the business is a band and the lost member wrote and sang lead on most of the songs, it’s almost a given that the band will fold. Almost.

Barenaked Ladies has been through just that with co-founding anchor, Steven Page calling it quits following a drug arrest in 2008.    After ten albums and an almost 20 year run, the band decided to continue without Page and not only did they fill the void competently, they managed to inject a maturity perfectly appropriate for the moment.  All In Good Time may not be BNL’s best album, but it’s close.

Known for an ample amount of silliness and tongue-in-cheek material, the group has meandered into a more serious range.  Of course, folks will comb through the lyrics to find shots at Page and there are plenty that could possibly be about him, but that pales in comparison to the bands updated sound which includes brilliantly constructed songs, great vocal arrangement and an attention to detail that many bands lack.

There is some throwback in the form of “4 Seconds,” a semi-rap song that is better suited to live performance than recording.  However, once you get past that (and the acoustic bonus version) it’s smooth sailing. “Ordinary” is a guitar driven slice of Americana with a great build courtesy of a well-placed organ and a wonderful cohesiveness. 1970’s AM radio is resurrected with “Summertime,” a very airy track with shots of heavy electric guitar that ground the tune in the 2000’s.

The lead single “You Run Away” is one of the songs that folks will definitely suggest is about Page. It features the line:

I tried to be your brother.  You cried and ran for cover.

The song is beautifully arranged and poignant enough to affect those who have followed the band through their highs and lows.  It’s the perfect selection to lead the album into mass radio spins.

“How Long” tackles anger and all the negative results it can produce.  The up-tempo track is a bit more aggressive to fit the content of the lyrics.  It’s not the best song on the album, but an interesting exploration for a group who are known for having audience members throw food at them during live performances.

“On the Lookout” is yet another smooth mid-tempo track that incorporates strings and some piano tickling.  The vocals are a bit bland, particularly the chorus, but it doesn’t detract from the album horribly.  By far, the best track on the album is “The Love We’re In.”  It’s beautifully bluesy and puts the exclamation point on the grown up spirit that permeates All in Good Time.

Page will be missed.  However, the band couldn’t have done any better without him than they did with All In Good Time. It’s thoughtful, wonderfully- written, and pushes the group forward instead of sending them back to the drawing board. Considering BNL was founded in 1988, it’s obvious the group realizes that their core fan base isn’t in college anymore.  They are paying mortgages, re-learning 6th grade math and obsessing over 401K contributions. In retooling after Page’s departure, they have remained faithful to their own life experience as well as that of the people who got them started.  It’s a shame more music veterans don’t do the same.

3.75 out of 5

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