Before starting this blog, I had a feeling that documenting my old CDs on the internet would uncover some skeletons in the closet, and here's Exhibit A! This is Wierd Al's nineth- and apparently biggest selling- album, which was released in 1996.
Amish Paradise (Gangsta's Paradise) kicks things off brilliantly, with the twisting of rap motifs into an Amish setting providing many LOLs in my opinion. Some people find Al's vocals intolerable, but it's a comedy album, so suck it up, princess! The music isn't a perfect reproduction of the original songs (nor is it meant to be) but close enough to get the point.
Next up is the original Everything You Know Is Wrong, which explores an interesting philosophical proposition in a completely non-sequitur manner (woops, that's totally over-thinking things!). Like the other originals, the music is just a vehicle for the comedic lyrics, with plastic drums and basslines. Having said that, occasionally the backing track pleasantly surprises with some interesting musicality. Since You've Been Gone is a brilliantly executed barbershop comedy song. And the twist in the tale of I Remember Larry puts brilliant irony in the final chorus.
Like all of Al's polka medleys, The Alternative Polka is brilliant. I love hearing these pop songs having their dignity stripped away by a polka beat. Musically it's pretty cool, too, any polka that can hold my attention for 5 minutes is doing well.
The only songs on the album I don't dig are ones where I'm not a fan of the song it is based on. Originally bought for the parody covers, it was nice to find that the originals work well.
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