"Weird Al" Yankovic: 'Straight Outta Lynwood

'Straight Outta Lynwood's biggest hit almost wasn't.  When he started looking for a lead parody, he asked James Blunt to do 'You're Pitiful' to the tune of 'You're Beautiful.'  Blunt agreed, but not so much his record company.  So, even before we got a new album, Al released the song online to whet our appetites for the upcoming album.  This album was released in a dual disc edition, featuring animated videos for all 6 original songs on the album as a DVD on the reverse side of the CD. 

In place of Blunt's song, Al went looking for another hit, and came across Chamillionaire's 'Ridin',' which Al quickly changed to 'White and Nerdy.' Chamillionaire liked the parody so much he put it up on his MySpace page (remember those?).  The song became Al's only top 10 hit, reaching number 9 on the Billboard charts.  Quite an achievement for someone who had his first record deal over 30 years before.  'White and Nerdy' is not only my wife's favorite song, but it's in my top 5 parodies as well.  It's video also has twice as many YouTube views as 'Ridin,' proving once again that Al sometimes remains more popular than the artists he parodies.

Going in a completely different direction, 'Pancreas' is the Beach Boys song that could have been, if Brian Wilson had been more interested in writing about body organs than surfing and girls.  Various musical cues harken back to the Beach Boys' heyday, along with the layered harmonies and mid-song changes.  Very well arranged and produced.

'Canadian Idiot' just might be my oldest daughter's favorite song.  Something about picking on our neighbors to the north just tickles her funny bone.  The parody of Green Day's 'American Idiot' plays off our American superiority complex to great effect.

Speaking of the American way, 'I'll Sue Ya' is a Rage Against the Machine style-parody mocking some of the ridiculous lawsuits that get brought to national attention. 'I sued Starbucks cuz I spilled a frappacino in my lap, and brr it was cold!' I am tempted to sue Ben Affleck for no reason, though.

'Polkarama!' is this album's polka medley, and again, it's even better then last album's  Featured here are...

• "Let's Get It Started" by The Black Eyed Peas
• "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand
• "Beverly Hills" by Weezer
• "Speed of Sound" by Coldplay
• "Float On" by Modest Mouse
• "Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz & De La Soul
• "Don't Cha" by Pussycat Dolls & Busta Rhymes
• "Somebody Told Me" by The Killers
• "Slither" by Velvet Revolver
• "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent & Olivia
• "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg & Pharrell
• "Pon de Replay" by Rihanna
• "Gold Digger" by Kanye West & Jamie Foxx

(Thanks, Wikipedia).   From the moment the polka opens with 'The Chicken Dance,' the momentum doesn't let up.  Also, Al finally gets a Weezer song in ('Buddy Holly was cut from 'Polka Power!' at the band's request).  A particular highlight is Al's choice of music for 'Candy Shop.'

'Virus Alert' describes the ludicrous affects that a new virus is going to have on your computer- similar to those virus warnings your mom emails you about.  'It's gonna melt your face right off your skull/ And make your iPod only play Jethro Tull.'

'Confessions Part III' follows up on Usher's 'Confessions Part II,' and recites a further list of shortcomings to a woman whom the narrator has already told he's been cheating on with a woman who's having his child.'  The spoken word breakdown is my favorite part of this song.

'Weasel Stomping Day' is a festive song describing the activities of the title holiday.  'Put your Viking helmet on/ Spread that mayonnaise on the lawn/ Hi-D-Ho it's Weasel Stomping Day.' The behind-the-scenes video on the DVD shows some of the lengths Al went through to get perfect crunched weasel sounds.

'Close But No Cigar' is a song reminiscent of the band Cake.  Al has said that this song is somewhat based on an acquaintance who would be dating women, and then find the tiniest thing wrong with them and break up.  A lot of fun similes populate the lyrics, but 'she got me all chocked up like Mama Cass' is about as harsh as Al has been since 'Another One Rides the Bus.'

'Do I Creep You Out' is a parody of American Idol winner Taylor Hicks' 'Do I Make You Proud.'  It wasn't that big of a hit, and that's too bad, as Al's stalker mentality combine easily with the American Idol format (low key start, key change, big finish complete with vocal ad libs over background vocalists, and audience applause at the end). An overlooked gem on the album.

'Trapped in the Drive Thru' is Al's longest parody.  As Al felt that the original song was already a bit strange, he decided that his version would be about something completely average, a couple taking a trip to get some burgers.  A decent parody, it's almost the parody version of 'Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota.'

'Don't Download This Song' is fun due to it's non-commital to the issue at hand.  While it's never obvious if the narrator truly encourages someone to download songs, it's obvious that the practice of the RIAA of suing little girls and elderly ladies is also not favored.  To further confuse the issue, this was the first song actually released for the album...as a free download.  I imagine quite a few people ignored the title warning.

Next time, prepare yourself for...the AlPocalypse