Bargainville Explained

Bargainville
Type:	studio
Artist:	Moxy Früvous
Cover:	moxybargainville.jpg
Released:	July 19, 1993 (Canada) February 7, 1994 (United States)
Recorded:	1993, Hurley, New York
Length:	52:07
Label:	Warner Music Canada, Atlantic
Producer:	Moxy Früvous
Prev Title:	Moxy Früvous (The Indie Tape)
Prev Year:	1992
Next Title:	Wood
Next Year:	1995

Bargainville is a 1993 album by Canadian band Moxy Früvous, their first major-label release.^[1] This disc's subject matter is divided between comedy and serious personal, social, and ecological issues.

Bargainville was released on July 19, 1993, in Canada by Warner Music Canada and on February 8, 1994, in the US by WEA/Atlantic Records. "Stuck in the 90's", "My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors" and "Fell in Love" were released as singles.

Commercial performance

Bargainville was successful in Canada, debuting at No. 7 on the RPM Canadian Albums Chart.^[2] The album sold more than 50,000 copies within two weeks.^[3] The album was certified Platinum in Canada in 1994.^[4]

Critical reception

The Toronto Star noted that at times "vocals blend into pop perfection, conjuring up sonic images of the Beach Boys doing the soundtrack for a 1960s European road flick."^[5] The Calgary Herald praised "the clever way they mix folkish rhythms and mellow acoustics with their sentimental lyrics."

Track listing

1. "River Valley" – 3:24
2. "Stuck in the 90's" – 4:26
3. "B.J. Don't Cry" – 3:19
4. "Video Bargainville" – 4:15
5. "Fell in Love" – 4:24
6. "The Lazy Boy" – 3:14
7. "My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors" – 2:33
8. "The Drinking Song" – 5:07
9. "Morphée" – 2:13
10. "King of Spain" – 2:58
11. "Darlington Darling" – 3:36
12. "Bittersweet" – 3:25
13. "Laika" – 2:53
14. "Spiderman" – 1:44
15. "Gulf War Song" – 4:02

Personnel

Moxy Früvous

• Jian Ghomeshi - lead vocals (2, 4, 6), backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 7-15), snare drum (1, 3-4, 7), tambourine (2, 5-6, 12), sheet metal (7, 10, 12), drums (6, 11), bass drum (2, 10), chicken shakers (6), bomb (8), shakers (10), go-go bells (10), conga (13), wooden door percussion (13)
• Murray Foster - lead vocals (12), backing vocals (1-4, 6-8, 10-11, 13-15), bass guitar (2-5, 7, 11, 13), guitar (9, 12), electric guitar (1), anvil (2), spring muffler (7)
• Mike Ford - lead vocals (3, 8-9, 11, 13-14), backing vocals (1-2, 4-7, 10, 12, 15), woodblock (1), harmonica (2), guitar (3, 11, 13), güira (3), electric guitar (4), kabasa (4), money (4), flexatone (4), conga (6, 10), bass drum (12)
• Dave Matheson - lead vocals (1, 5, 7, 10, 15), backing vocals (2-4, 6, 8-9, 11-14), guitar (1-2, 5, 7-9), accordion (2-4, 8, 11), bass guitar (12), electric guitar (13), scream (4)

Additional personnel

• Doug McClement - "disfunctional youth" (4)

Production

• Moxy Früvous - Production
• Doug McClement - Associate producer and engineer
• John Yates - Assistant Engineer
• Andrew St. George - Assistant Engineer
• Mike Stanutz - Assistant Engineer
• Gabe Lee - Assistant Engineer
• Scott Keenan - Assistant Engineer
• Bob Ludwig - Mastering

External links

• Official site with liner notes and lyrics

Notes and References

1. News: Saxberg . Lynn . Moxy Fruvous stays true . The Ottawa Citizen . July 17, 1993 . F3.
2. Top Albums/CDs - Volume 58, No. 4 Aug 07, 1993. RPM. January 21, 2024.
3. Moxy Fruvous packs halls on Bargainville Tour '93. RPM. January 21, 2024.
4. Web site: Gold/Platinum. January 21, 2024.
5. News: Howell . Peter . Fruvous avoids frivolous in songs that show moxie . Toronto Star . July 17, 1993 . G10.