Barenaked Ladies: Snacktime!, a Free Holiday Download, and CD Giveaway

This has been an interesting year for multi-million selling Canadian pop-rock favorites Barenaked Ladies (or just BNL).  They’ve been busy engaging in rock star kinds of shenanigans- you know, miraculously walking away from airplane crashes and that sort of thing…  But they also kicked the year off with their first ever kids’ CD release.  I mentioned Snacktimeback in a Canada Day post; have a look and you can watch the video for the song 7-8-9.

The CD is worth revisiting for several reasons: it’s pretty damned good, it would make a great and inexpensive Christmas gift for any young ones you might have running around the house, and BNL vocalist/guitarist Ed Robertson made the time to talk with us about it.

Robertson is a dad, a funny guy (hey, he’s Canadian, eh) and he has Geek cred galore.  What kind of Geek cred you ask?  How about: he’s in a band whose songs have been known to mention superheroes by name, sports a tattoo of a Mercator projection of the continents, has his pilot’s license, is a well-known video game aficionado, voiced a character in the Red vs. Blue Machinima series and guest co-hosted Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet for a few weeks.  This guy’s the real thing…

Before we get to chatting about Snacktime! though, how about a seasonal freebie?  Z posted a great piece about various Christmas Songs that have grown tiresome over the years and Jingle Bells is one that would have to be near the top of my own list.  But, there is a version out there that’s guaranteed to move the old standard from Tired to Wired.  Thanks to the copyright reform-promoting Barenaked Ladies, for the month of December only, GeekDad is offering a DRM-free copy of BNL’s Jingle Bells that you can download for free.  If you’ve never heard this track before, I can tell you right now that it’s going to have your kids jumping around the house.  Wait until about a minute and half or so in because it’s a bit of a trojan horse; very effectively masquerading as a traditional Christmas carol before it takes off.  In a timely coincidence (given the Dark Knight release on Tuesday), BNL’s version of Jingle Bells includes the schoolyard favorite "jingle bells, Batman smells…" lyrics.  If you like it, there’s a whole CD of BNL Christmas tunes, Barenaked for the Holidays available.

Our interview with BNL’s Ed Robertson and a chance to win one of three copies of the Snacktime! CD after the jump.

GeekDad: BNL is somewhat unusual for a rock band in your range of releases.  To date, this has included pop, rock, a Christmas album, a CD of music from the Stratford Festival’s production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, and now a children’s album.  Does this represent the varied interests of the band, an attempt to explore the potential of new markets, or is this a diabolical plan to drive classification-crazy music Geeks insane?

Ed Robertson: It’s not that being in a rock band isn’t enough fun, but our forays in to other avenues are always fun, and challenging. Sure it’s creative, but ultimately, it’s about trying to win awards.  If we can’t get album of the year, then perhaps we can win "Best Foreign Language Bluegrass"… that’ll be out in the spring.

GeekDad: Given the success of Snacktime! are there any plans for a second release aimed at kids?

ER: Yes indeed, but after careful demographic research our second release will be in the form of an empty box.  Kids love those.

GeekDad: In the old days, cartoons produced for kids more or less stayed on target; but increasingly, we find that animated movies and shows include cultural references, guest appearances and humor that is clearly aimed at adults (while still appealing to kids, even if they don’t “get it”).  Does Snacktime! bring a little of this approach to the children’s music genre?

ER: This is a delicate line where so many things fail.  It was something we were very conscious about when making this record.  Often, there are jokes for the kids (usually just fart jokes), and jokes for the adults (usually pop culture related fart jokes), and the whole thing just feels contrived, formulated, and pre-programmed.  When it’s done right, it’s not marketed to segments of society, it’s simply entertaining.  Our goal with Snacktime was to make a record that was an enjoyable, and entertaining listen.  Period.  After you write a period, do you need to write "period"?… I don’t think so.  That’s more of a spoken word thing I guess.  BTW, while I said "Spoken Word", I held my 2 fingers up to indicate the quotes, but that’s more of a visual thing I guess.

GeekDad: What are the chances of seeing a BNL song on Rock Band or Guitar Hero?  I’ve always thought One Week would be a wicked addition.

ER: I’m a massive fan of the genre.  I think it’s the greatest thing to happen to video games since Parappa!  Wouldn’t it be great if the media started blaming video games for causing kids to start bands??  "Tragedy in Ohio as 3 youths started an actual garageband.  The 3 were known to play Rock Band heavily.  The neighbourhood is in shock."    I hope there will be Barenaked Ladies music available soon, I’ve been hounding them forever!

GeekDad: One of the songs on the new CD, “Canadian Snacktime Trilogy: Snacktime” features a long list of cultural figures naming their favorite snack.  You managed to get Weird Al Yankovic to participate and he notes honey roasted peanuts as his snack of choice.  How did you get Weird Al to call in and do you think he was telling the truth?  I’ve been led to understand that his favorite snack was a Twinkie Dog (Twinkie split open and used as a bun for a hot dog, then covered with cheese whiz).

ER: Getting Al to call was the easy part, getting him to say honey roasted peanuts were his favorite snack was the really tough part. 

GeekDad: You performed on LIVE with Regis & Kelly last Tuesday morning and you’re playing in Detroit on New Year’s Eve.  Any tour plans for 2009 and, if so, will any of the shows be in support of Snacktime?

ER: We’re currently planning a tour for the spring to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band (and the 20th Anniversary of the Apple IIx).  We’re hoping to pull off some special Snacktime matinee shows as part of that tour.  It’s all in the planning stages now.  Don’t tell anybody.

GeekDad: You guys are pretty well known for spontaneity and banter during performances- do you have to make a deliberate effort to tone things down when playing for a younger audience?

ER: We have to make a very deliberate effort to not swear our heads off.  That’s a hard thing to do when you’re improvising.  When you’re thinking on the fly, it’s sometimes difficult to make a rhyme with "Other trucking quick".  As in:

We had killer gig, but we had no way to go
We ordered up a van but the ride didn’t show
We said you’d better get some other trucking quick
Or you’ll be riding my…

Then where do you go?? 

GeekDad: Part of our philosophy at GeekDad is actively involving our kids in our activities where possible- were any of your kids involved in the production of Snacktime?

ER: Yes, all 11 of the band kids sing on Snacktime, and they were our inspiration, and test audience throughout.  They join us on the road.  The great thing about being a musician is that everyday can be "bring your kid to work" day. 

GeekDad: What has the demographic mix been like at your Snacktime performances?  Do you get confused college kids showing up?

ER: The shows have been full of kids, which is fantastic.  For a lot of fans, it’s an opportunity for them to bring their own kids, or relatives.  Lots of adult fans come too though.  It’s a fun record either way.  It’s certainly best enjoyed with kids, but all are welcome. 

GeekDad: It’s been a pretty good run lately for superhero movies.  Any favorites among the band?

ER: It’s not even a contest after Dark Knight.  It didn’t just raise the bar, it used the bar to make scaffolding, and then constructed a dark, and terrible tower that will take some doing to climb again.  I’m a sucker for superhero films though, I will likely see them all.  I’m really looking forward to "Watchmen".

Barenaked ladies have offered up three copies of Snacktime! to GeekDad readers.  Shoot me an e-mail (brad@geekdad.com) and the first three who can give me the name of a BNL song that includes Aquaman in its lyrics scores a free copy of Snacktime.

Update: we have our 3 winners. Thanks to everyone who’s given it a shot. Even if you missed out on the CD, you still get the free song…

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