Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

It’s been a good year for the former Barenaked Ladies man. First, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame alongside his ex-bandmates and reunited with them for the first time since parting ways with them in 2009. Now Page has Discipline: Heal Thyself, Part 2, a strong new solo album—his fifth—full of diverse sounds and thoughtful lyrics of both a personal and political nature, informed by being a Canadian citizen living in the U.S. The power-pop single “White Noise” was written in the wake of the Charlottesville white nationalist rally last August, while Latin-flavoured “Gravity” satirizes climate-change deniers. A more positive message is expressed in “Feelgood Summer” and...

The Ladies’ currency has always been catchy songs that excel in clever rhymes and witty wordplay. After 27 years, the Ladies—Ed Robertson, Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn and Tyler Stewart—are at their tuneful, wisecracking best. The group’s 14th album finds the Ladies on a roll, boasting all the swagger of a group that knows its strengths. It opens with the rocking “Get Back Up,” a song about midlife resurgence that floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee with its pithy boxing metaphors. “Say What You Want” is an exuberant expression of mature confidence, while “Duct Tape Heart” uses Red Green’s favorite fix-all material to express romantic resiliency. The title track reflects Robertson’s o...

The Ladies have soldiered on since the 2009 departure of Steven Page, with co-founder Ed Robertson carrying most of the freight. Here, Robertson supplies catchy examples of the band’s classic wordplay, including “Odds Are” and “Did I Say That Out Loud.” He also reflects darker emotions, especially on the deeply confessional “Boomerang.”

This 14-song collection, spanning songs from 1992’s Gordon to last year’s All in Good Time, captures the manic energy, wordplay and tunefulness that has always been at the heart of Barenaked Ladies. Humor is the driving force behind hits like “If I Had a Million Dollars” and “One Week,” in which Ed Robertson famously name-checks everyone from Sting and Harrison Ford to LeAnn Rimes. But often it’s Steven Page’s darker songs, including “Brian Wilson” and “Call and Answer,” that resonate well beyond the laughter.

He made headlines for his drug bust, marriage breakup and departure from Canada’s favorite band. But the former Barenaked Ladies frontman has clearly turned over a new leaf. After scoring theatrical plays at Stratford and recording a collection of cover songs with a jazz and classical ensemble, Page is back with a strong collection of witty, melodic pop and an impressive commitment to songcraft. “No waiting limos, no cocaine and discos,” he sings, “I gave that all up for the chorus, girl.” Brave new beginnings.