This holiday season, fans of legendary rockers Barenaked Ladies are in for a treat with the worldwide vinyl debut of their bestselling album, Barenaked for the Holidays. First released in 2004, the 20-track album blends original tunes (“Christmas Pics”, “Hanukkah Blessings”, “Green Christmas”) and seasonal classics (“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “I Have a Little Dreidel”, “Auld Lang Syne”), with a heavy dash of the band’s signature wit. Adding a twist of holiday magic are special guests Michael Bublé and Sarah McLachlan, who lend their vocals to “Elf’s Lament” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”/“We Three Kings”, respectively.
Arriving October 18, Barenaked for the Holidays will be available in classic black vinyl via Warner Music Canada here, and Candy Cane Split (exclusively through the band’s official store) available to pre-order here.
Long beloved for their quick wit and hook-filled blend of alt-rock, pop, and folk, Barenaked Ladies (aka BNL) became international sensations in the late ’90s, thanks to a slew of memorable hit singles. But the Scarborough, ON band had been fixtures in the Canadian music scene for nearly a decade by then. Formed in 1988, BNL gained notoriety three years later when their self-titled demo tape (featuring the fan favourite, “If I Had $1000000”) became the first independent release to be certified Gold in Canada. That success led to a record deal and a string of best-selling albums, including 1992’s Gordon and 1994’s Maybe You Should Drive.
It was 1998’s multi-platinum-selling Stunt, however, that catapulted BNL to the next level, thanks to such massive hits as “It’s All Been Done”, “Call and Answer”, and the US No.1, “One Week”. The band enjoyed their superstar status over the next few years—releasing their best-selling follow-up, 2000’s Maroon (featuring “Pinch Me”); performing at the 2002 Winter Olympics; securing songs on major TV shows and soundtracks; and touring the globe several times over. But by the mid-aughts, after the release of their sixth studio album, Everything to Everyone (2003), the band was eager to return to their indie roots—a move they made with 2004’s Barenaked for the Holidays. The album served as the launching pad for their independently owned label and ushered in a fresh chapter for BNL while serving as a jolly gift to their fans.
Offering something for everyone, BNL’s sole holiday release features 20 tracks that range from Christmas classics and Hanukkah favourites to original ditties about the joys of winter and beyond—many of which are made even jollier, thanks to BNL’s humourous spirit. Opening Barenaked for the Holidays is a measured rendition of “Jingle Bells”. Halfway through, BNL breaks into the parody version (“Jingle bells/Batman smells/Robin laid an egg…”), setting the tone for the album.
The group takes a more traditional approach to songs like “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah”, “Auld Lang Syne”, “I Have a Little Dreidel”, and Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, while an organ-based instrumental of “Carol of the Bells” (accented with harmonized hums from the band) is a refreshing take on the Yuletide classic. On the other end of the spectrum—in one of the album’s most hilarious moments—is “Deck the Stills” in which BNL breaks into a 30-second acapella interlude, singing “Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young” to the tune of “Deck the Halls.”
Nearly half of the album is comprised of original material, including the earwormy “Green Christmas” (which appears in the 1999 Ron Howard film How the Grinch Stole Christmas), “Hanukkah Blessings”, “Christmas Pics”, and the reflective “Footprints”. The whimsical “Elf’s Lament” meanwhile, features a cameo by a then-relatively unknown Michael Bublé—fresh off his first JUNO win for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. The band is also joined by the celebrated singer/songwriter Sarah McLaughlan, who lends her voice to an upbeat medley of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”/“We Three Kings”.
Peppered throughout Barenaked for the Holidays is a selection of synth-y instrumental interludes, built around beats programmed on a classic Casio keyboard. They include a bossa nova-infused rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, an up-tempo take on “O Holy Night”, and a cover of Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” (which ends with a hidden round of “Happy Birthday” to Jesus himself).
Released in October 2004, Barenaked for the Holidays was embraced by fans and critics alike, earning a gold record in Canada, where it landed in the Top 30, and receiving high marks from the likes of Rolling Stone, who gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising, “Tapping into their inner child, the Barenaked Ladies make the holidays fun again.” AllMusic hailed, “The arrangements are nimble and…clever,” calling it, “more interesting and distinctive than the average holiday record.” PopMatters simply declared it to be, “silly, rollicking, goofy, and fun.”
Speaking on the album, co-founder Ed Robertson says, “Barenaked for the Holidays is a record I’m very proud of. It was fun taking a stab at a few holiday classics, but I think the real strength of the record is the original songs. ‘Footprints’ and ‘Snowman’ are among my favourites I’ve ever written. It’s always fun to revisit these songs around the holidays every year. It’s the only original music that we ONLY play for one month every year!!”
20 years later, Barenaked Ladies—which features Robertson (vocals, guitar), Jim Creeggan (bass, vocals), Tyler Stewart (drums, vocals), and Kevin Hearn (keyboards, guitar, vocals)—continues to hold a unique place in the modern pop canon. Over the course of 35 years, the beloved quartet has sold over 15 million records worldwide and built up an arsenal of hits such as “If I Had $1,000,000,” “One Week,” “Pinch Me,” and “The Big Bang Theory Theme.” Widely acknowledged as one of the best live acts on the planet, BNL has hosted a cruise, had their own Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavour, and participated in the first-ever “space-to-Earth musical collaboration” with astronaut Chris Hadfield. To date, BNL has amassed eight JUNO Awards, garnered two GRAMMY nominations and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In September of 2023, the band released In Flight, their 18th studio album.
This fall, BNL are on an extensive tour in support of their latest album, In Flight. Fans can catch them across North America with shows through the fall. Scroll down to see a list of dates or visit the band’s website for tickets and more info.
Track Listing (Vinyl)
Side A:
01. Jingle Bells
02. Green Christmas
03. I Saw Three Ships
04. Hanukkah Blessings
05. O Holy Night
06. Elf’s Lament (with Michael Bublé)
07. Snowman
08. Do They Know It’s Christmas?
Side B:
01. Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah
02. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings (with Sarah McLachlan)
03. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
04. Carol Of The Bells
05. Footprints
06. Deck The Stills
07. Christmastime (Oh Yeah)
08. Sleigh Ride
09. Christmas Pics
10. I Have A Little Dreidel
11. Wonderful Christmastime
12. Auld Lang Syne
Barenaked Ladies North American Tour Dates:
September 1: Vancouver, Canada – Pacific Coliseum
September 16: Cedar Rapids, IA – McGrath Amphitheatre
September 17: Moorhead, MN – Bluestem Center for the Arts Amphitheater
September 18: Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Theater
September 20: Albuquerque, NM – Revel
September 21: Colorado Springs, CO – Ford Amphitheater
September 22: Vail, CO – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
September 24: Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater
September 25: Chesterfield, MO – The Factory at the District
September 27: Pittsburgh, PA – Rivers Casino Events Center
September 28: Charles Town, WV – Hollywood Casino Events Center
September 29: Ocean City, MD – Oceans Calling Festival
October 1: Brookville, NY – Tilles Center
October 2: Rochester, NY – Kodak Center
October 4: French Lick, IN – French Lick Resort
October 6: Umatilla, OR – Rock The Locks
October 17: Columbia, SC – Township Auditorium
October 18: Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
October 19: Augusta, GA –Bell Auditorium
October 21: Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheater
October 22: Fort Myers, FL – Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
October 23: Clearwater, FL – The BayCare Sound
October 25: Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium
October 26: Biloxi, MS – Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
October 27: Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 29: Ames, IA – Stephens Auditorium
October 30: Rochester, MN – Mayo Civic Center Auditorium
November 1: Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center Theater
November 2: Salina, KS – Stiefel Theatre
November 3: Sioux Falls, SD – Washington Pavilion
November 6: Duluth, MN – DECC Symphony Hall
November 7: Madison, WI – Overture Center for the Arts
November 8: Mount Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
