There's an attention to detail here with each song. Vocal harmonies like The Beatles doing a stint as a barbershop quartet. Exactly the right instruments no matter how unorthadox, or no instrument at all for a bit of a capella action. Challenging but playful lyrics turn the big issues into personal ones ("River Valley" and "The Drinking Song") or attach great importance to the little things in life ("The Lazy Boy" and my personal favorite "My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors").

But--amazingly, like the best of Barenaked Ladies--the music is so simply perfect that you can just ignore the lyrics and move to the music. Bargainville is topical comedy meets great music. It's got one of the most fun war protest songs written in ages, and the flat-out greatest cover of the Spider-man cartoon theme song you'll ever hear.

I know some of you stopped reading after The Beatles comparison. But give them a listen and you'll figure out why I can't shut up about them.

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