Weirdal.com And Social Network Site Chit Chat 4.0

[crazygurl14]

I couldn't resist I had to look. Then I gave in and read the spoiler forum. Still super excited I just now know more than I wanted to this early. So excited for the concert in a few weeks. I hope he plays some of the new stuff!!

[Orthography Enthusiast]

I'd be VERY surprised if he played anything we haven't heard yet before the album comes out. This album has already lost a lot of its novelty factor. Good thing Al isn't a novelty artist.

[JCM]

Good thing Al isn't a novelty artist.

Wait, he isn't?

[Orthography Enthusiast]

Of course he isn't. The novelty wore off about the time Capitol Records dropped him. He's had to slog through the subsequent three decades with nothing in his favor but musical and comedic talent, hard work, desire to excel, basic human decency and a gift for making and keeping friends.

[JCM]

Oh, I thought by novelty artist, you meant a producer of novelty songs, which Al is very much.

[Orthography Enthusiast]

I would even make a case for Al's songs not being (only) novelty songs. His best ones have had a lot more cultural penetration and staying power than you typically think of a novelty song having. People cover them (especially a cappella groups, for some reason). People seem to adopt them as their own personal anthems (esp. W&N, DTBS and maybe Fat). And some of his originals are funny songs with some serious cultural commentary lurking underneath (Why Does This Always Happen to Me? Don't Download This Song, Skipper Dan). Al has taken the novelty genre and made it more than it was when he found it.

[JCM]

OK, I see. Thanks for the clarification.

[childofthespiral]

I would even make a case for Al's songs not being (only) novelty songs. His best ones have had a lot more cultural penetration and staying power than you typically think of a novelty song having. People cover them (especially a cappella groups, for some reason). People seem to adopt them as their own personal anthems (esp. W&N, DTBS and maybe Fat). And some of his originals are funny songs with some serious cultural commentary lurking underneath (Why Does This Always Happen to Me? Don't Download This Song, Skipper Dan). Al has taken the novelty genre and made it more than it was when he found it.

I vote this be used when we make our next attempt at the Rock Hall and the Hollywood Star.

[JCM]

Yeah, his music would probably be taken a lot more seriously afterwards.

[crazygurl14]

I am assuming that since Al posts pictures on twitter whenever they are available that the picture topic on the mothership will no longer be updated. There have not been any new pictures since 2008. And it still says that the last to be updated are the new pics.