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Al's latest masterpiece is also the last on a lengthy contract. Al has hinted that this may be his last regular album, as his particular style of parodying current music is very reliant on time, and producing an album can put him past the window of opportunity to catch a musical craze at it's peak. Perhaps other options are better suited to him now that he is free to do as he wants.
If that is the case, this was quite a way to go! It was his first number one album, and got a lot of attention. He released videos for eight of the songs, all at about the same time. The first single released was "Tacky", a send-up of the ubiquitous Pharrell Williams song, "Happy". Al goes into various fashion faux paux...not exactly edgy, but a fun parody.
Another parody gives us an alternate version of Iggy Azalea's "Fancy", this time "Handy". Instead of upper crust, we have plumbers and carpenters...Al gives us something more useful once more!
"Word Crimes" is a personal favorite, spoofing the Robin Thicke song "Blurred Lines". This one not only entertains, it educates! It gives many English lessons, spelling out some very common atrocities made against the English language. I'll bet you are guilty of many of these! The world could stand to listen to this one a few times.
A particularly fun one is "Foil", a parody of "Royals" by Lorde. It starts off simply enough, extolling the virtues of tinfoil. Then in launches into it's true mission: using a tinfoil hat to expose the things any conspiracy theorist sees, secret armies, shadow governments, the works.
Al also does style parodies, which are not exact take-offs of any particular song, but more done in the style of a certain band. One here that I really came to appreciate was "Mission Statement". At first listen, it's a bunch of business speak thrown together. But listening to the music, this is a cross between two Crosby, Stills & Nash songs, "Carry On" and "Suite Judy Blue Eyes". This is so completely opposite of what CSN is, it's brilliant.
Of course, no AL-bum would be complete without a polka medley. NOW That's What I Call Polka delivers as always, stringing together a series of popular songs in polka style. This needs to be heard to be appreciated, but it's a highlight of the album.
A rare miss, to me, is "Jackson Park Express". Every album includes a 'long' song, a lengthy original that meanders into craziness. This one deals with a man on a bus who invents an entire relationship from beginning to end with a woman he sees, simply by her normal mannerisms. These are usually real highlights for me, but this one just wasn't as funny as usual...the joke ran thin fairly quickly. Not a terrible song, just not as good as I'd hoped for.
In all, this is a fantastic release for Weird Al, the rare artist who has continued to release great album after great album even thirty-five years into his career. This album is funny, has some great musicianship, and gives permission to like some tunes you might otherwise hate...it's ok, because Al has made them his own.
If that is the case, this was quite a way to go! It was his first number one album, and got a lot of attention. He released videos for eight of the songs, all at about the same time. The first single released was "Tacky", a send-up of the ubiquitous Pharrell Williams song, "Happy". Al goes into various fashion faux paux...not exactly edgy, but a fun parody.
Another parody gives us an alternate version of Iggy Azalea's "Fancy", this time "Handy". Instead of upper crust, we have plumbers and carpenters...Al gives us something more useful once more!
"Word Crimes" is a personal favorite, spoofing the Robin Thicke song "Blurred Lines". This one not only entertains, it educates! It gives many English lessons, spelling out some very common atrocities made against the English language. I'll bet you are guilty of many of these! The world could stand to listen to this one a few times.
A particularly fun one is "Foil", a parody of "Royals" by Lorde. It starts off simply enough, extolling the virtues of tinfoil. Then in launches into it's true mission: using a tinfoil hat to expose the things any conspiracy theorist sees, secret armies, shadow governments, the works.
Al also does style parodies, which are not exact take-offs of any particular song, but more done in the style of a certain band. One here that I really came to appreciate was "Mission Statement". At first listen, it's a bunch of business speak thrown together. But listening to the music, this is a cross between two Crosby, Stills & Nash songs, "Carry On" and "Suite Judy Blue Eyes". This is so completely opposite of what CSN is, it's brilliant.
Of course, no AL-bum would be complete without a polka medley. NOW That's What I Call Polka delivers as always, stringing together a series of popular songs in polka style. This needs to be heard to be appreciated, but it's a highlight of the album.
A rare miss, to me, is "Jackson Park Express". Every album includes a 'long' song, a lengthy original that meanders into craziness. This one deals with a man on a bus who invents an entire relationship from beginning to end with a woman he sees, simply by her normal mannerisms. These are usually real highlights for me, but this one just wasn't as funny as usual...the joke ran thin fairly quickly. Not a terrible song, just not as good as I'd hoped for.
In all, this is a fantastic release for Weird Al, the rare artist who has continued to release great album after great album even thirty-five years into his career. This album is funny, has some great musicianship, and gives permission to like some tunes you might otherwise hate...it's ok, because Al has made them his own.