After crossing over from Canadian cult act to international hitmakers through the '90s, Barenaked Ladies entered a new decade with their fifth album Maroon in 2000. Next month, Rhino is expanding and reissuing the album, adding five rare tracks into the running order, pressing it on 180-gram, double (what else?) maroon-colored vinyl. The new pressing will be available in early 2021, while a digital version of the same set is now available to stream and download.
Maroon followed 1998's Stunt, the band's best-known album thanks to songs like the motormouthed smash "One Week" (which topped the Billboard Hot 100) and radio hit "It's All Been Done." Despite the success that followed, including Juno Awards for Best Group, Best Single and Best Pop Album, the era was bittersweet: keyboardist Kevin Hearn sat out most of the ensuing tour to battle leukemia. Once Hearn was in remission, the group reconvened with producer Don Was to record a follow-up.
Though songs like "Pinch Me," "Too Little, Too Late" and "Falling For The First Time" weren't as raucous as earlier works, they still possessed the smart, catchy melodies that made principal singer/songwriters Steven Page and Ed Robertson so respected in the Great White North. Ultimately, Maroon reached the pinnacle of the Canadian charts (their first to do so since debut album Gordon in 1992) and became their second Top 5 album in the U.S., again winning Best Group and Best Pop Album for their efforts.
The deluxe Maroon features three non-LP B-sides, a demo of "Falling For The First Time," and the original version of the holiday original "Green Christmas," as recorded for the 2000 live-action version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas. It's presently only available to pre-order at the band' s official store, but the digital version is available now at the links below.
Maroon: 20th Anniversary Edition (Reprise/Rhino, 2020)
Digital: iTunes / Spotify / Amazon
- Too Little Too Late
- Never Do Anything
- Pinch Me
- Go Home
- Falling For The First Time
- Conventioneers
- Sell Sell Sell
- The Humour Of The Situation
- Baby Seat
- Off The Hook
- Helicopters
- Tonight Is The Night I Fell Asleep At The Wheel
- Hidden Sun
- Powder Blue
- Inline Bowline
- Born Human
- Falling For The First Time (Demo)
- Green Christmas (Alternative Version)
Tracks 1-13 released as Reprise 9 47814-2, 2000
Track 14 from "Pinch Me" CD single - Reprise 9 16827-2, 2000
Track 15-16 from "Pinch Me" European CD single - Reprise 9362 44929-2, 2000
Track 17 previously unreleased
Track 18 from Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Interscope 069 490 765-2, 2000
Robert says
Looks like the vinyl is actually coming from Run Out Groove:
https://shop.runoutgroovevinyl.com/shop/barenaked-ladies-maroon-20th-anniversary-edition.html?eml=2020September10/5097712/6416261&etsubid=6048395
As always, I'd really like to have this on CD, but it looks like there isn't one.
Shawn C. says
Would rather have seen an expanded "Gordon."
Robert says
It's 30 in 1992...hopefully they're already working on that. It's as close as a year and a few months.