Continuing my look at 1994, first by counting down my own top ten albums of that year.
#9 – Maybe You Should Drive – Barenaked Ladies
This was the second album by one of my favorite 90s alternative rock bands. It’s a bit dismissive to call BNL a 90s act, I suppose, given that they have consistently recorded in the two decades since, but with very few exceptions, everything I like by the band came out on their first five albums.
I’m more of a Steven Page guy than an Ed Robertson guy (the Canadian alt-pop version of John vs. Paul), and this album is dominated by Page’s compositions. Those include the wonderful ‘Jane‘ as well as standouts ‘You Will Be Waiting’ and ‘Everything Old is New Again.’
Robertson’s efforts here are decent, especially the plaintive ‘Am I the Only One?,’ though ‘These Apples’ tilts a bit too far on the goofiness scale.
Maybe You Should Drive is a solid effort that set the table nicely for the even better albums to come.
When she was three
Her Barbies always did it on the first date
Now she’s with me
There’s never any need for them to demonstrate
She’s like a baby, I’m like a cat;
When we are happy, we both get fat and still
It’s never enough, It’s never enough
It’s never enough
[Chorus]
But I don’t tend to worry ’bout the things that other people say
And I’m learning that I wouldn’t want it any other way
Call me crazy but it really doesn’t matter
All that matters to me is she
[Bridge]
Her life in a nutshell
No way would she want it to change me
It’s not that easy cause
My time is often decided for me
For me
[Verse 2]
She memorized every pencil crayon color in the box
Her blue-green eyes complement the burnt sienna in her locks
She’s at the movies, I’m on the phone;
When we’re separated, we’re never alone, but still
It’s never enough, It’s never enough
No it’s never enough
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Verse 3]
I fell down with no one there to catch me from falling
Then she came ’round
And only her tenderness stopped me from bawling my eyes out
I’m OK, and that’s why
[Bridge]
[Chorus]
Meet Me In Montauk 
I too am more of a Page guy, though, much like McCartney, Robertson has the smoother more pleasing voice.
I tend to love the goofy stuff, so perhaps that makes me Team Robertson?