In the past couple of years, Barenaked Ladies has decided to go independent.
The band was at the end of its contract with Warner Bros. Records and it just seemed the right thing to do, according to keyboardist Kevin Hearn. "Most of the people who knew us and supported us at the record label were no longer there. Some quit and some had been laid off due to the funky things that happen in the music business.
"We were not a priority to the label. So we got together as a group and decided to leap out on our own."
Since taking that step, the band feels better. "We've been enjoying the freedom," Hearn said by phone from Philadelphia. "It's been liberating."
BNL, as it is known to fans, has recorded a new studio album, "Barenaked Ladies Are Me," the follow-up to the 2004 album "Barenaked for the Holidays." "The nice thing about making the new album was the fact that we didn't have any time constraints. Since we're on our own label (Desperation Records), the only people we answer to is ourselves."
The band members — including guitarist/vocalist Ed Robertson, guitarist/vocalist Steven Page, bassist Jim Creeggan and drummer Tyler Stewart — took 29 songs to the rehearsal space and worked out all the arrangements. When they entered the studio, the list had been whittled down to 13. "Three of those songs were leftover from the last studio session we did, and all the others were new songs."
Fans need not worry. The band's quirky humor remains intact. And Hearn said they knew that making a new album on an independent label was going to be scrutinized. "We make music we like, but we also have our fans in our minds when we write songs, too. We don't, however, think too much about anything when we write. We don't want to start second guessing, because a lot of bad things can occur when that happens."
New songs, such as "Adrift," "Bank Job," "Peterborough and the Kawarthas," have those familiar BNL hooks that fans love. But this is a new album with new ideas, said Hearn. "It's us with new songs. We didn't want to make another (album like) 'Stunt' or 'Maroon.' And I think we did what we set out to do."
Hearn said the live shows are still fun for both the band and the fans. "We do have certain things we need to do. We've been making up songs on the spot since we started playing together some 15 years ago at summer camp. So we make sure we have a part in the show where we make up a song on the spot. It's become a BNL tradition. And we still have the different concepts and ideas that are to be expected at one of our shows."
If you go
What: Barenaked Ladies
Where: E Center, 3200 Decker Lake Dr., West Valley City
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $34.50-$62
Phone: 467-8499 or 800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com