Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 8:18 am
THE SAGA BEGINS: Weird Al's best parody ever! It tells the story better than the movie itself does. The lyrics are so good that Don McLean has said it was hard to remember his own lyrics when performing the original! The idea of the song is funny, even if there are only a few laugh-out-loud moments (it's not that type of parody). 10/10
MY BABY'S IN LOVE WITH EDDIE VEDDER: Very funny lyrics. Terrific music (albeit a bit reminiscent of "Airline Amy"). Great accordion playing. 9.5/10!
PRETTY FLY FOR A RABBI: Like so many of Al's parodies, this one is clearly better than the original, a credit to Al as a writer and to TBITB. Hilarious without being offensive at all. One of Al's best lines ever: "And have some cake—you want some cake?!" 10/10
TWAS THEME: One of the catchiest songs I know. I've spent entire days having just this song in my head. Cute words and perfect for TWAS. Great energetic ending. Challenging to sing, which is half the fun. It should be used in diction classes for vocalists. 10/10.
JERRY SPRINGER: Captures the show perfectly, which is I assume why Jerry Springer decided not to appear in a video for it. Sounds better musically than the original, partly because it's sped up (how can Al sing that fast?!), partly thanks to TBITB. Many great lines, and good use of word/lines from the original. 10/10
GERMS: One of Al's best originals musically, if not THE best. Great lyrics: like TSB it's not really meant to make you laugh out loud, but it is still funny. 10/10
POLKA POWER!: His best polka medley, which of course is saying a lot. 10/10
YOUR HOROSCOPE FOR TODAY: I know some will disagree with me, but this has never been one of my favorites. While the lyrics are funny at points, it's the weak point especially muscially on the album. I can't point to any particular thing wrong with it, it doesn't stand out musically or lyrically. I have to give it "only" a 9/10.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PENTIUMS: The song of a generation. Perfectly and hilariously captures the world of computers. Again, lyrically and musically an amazing song. You can taste the energy just by listening to it! 10/10
TRUCK DRIVIN' SONG: Al decides to tackle gender issues in this one. Several funny laugh-out-loud lines. Musically very solid, but not as good as his best originals. 9.5/10
GRAPEFRUIT DIET: I don't know why I like this song so much...but I do. Less original lyrically than the other songs, but it's still very funny nonetheless. Maybe this is the guy in "Fat" who has suddenly become health-conscious? 9.5/10.
ALBUQUERQUE: This is a song that defies genres. It is unique in the very best sense of the term. I love it, and it's my sister's favorite song of Weird Al's. There are some lines that only Weird Al could dream up. No truer words wer eever spoken than: "If one day you happen to wake up and find yourself in an existential quandry full of loathing and self-doubt and wracked with the pain and isolation of your pitiful meaningless existence[...]There's still a little place called ALBUQUERQUE!"
The best part of course is the last chord! 10/10
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So for the album overall, his best ever, that works out to a grade of 97.5%, an Al+.
MY BABY'S IN LOVE WITH EDDIE VEDDER: Very funny lyrics. Terrific music (albeit a bit reminiscent of "Airline Amy"). Great accordion playing. 9.5/10!
PRETTY FLY FOR A RABBI: Like so many of Al's parodies, this one is clearly better than the original, a credit to Al as a writer and to TBITB. Hilarious without being offensive at all. One of Al's best lines ever: "And have some cake—you want some cake?!" 10/10
TWAS THEME: One of the catchiest songs I know. I've spent entire days having just this song in my head. Cute words and perfect for TWAS. Great energetic ending. Challenging to sing, which is half the fun. It should be used in diction classes for vocalists. 10/10.
JERRY SPRINGER: Captures the show perfectly, which is I assume why Jerry Springer decided not to appear in a video for it. Sounds better musically than the original, partly because it's sped up (how can Al sing that fast?!), partly thanks to TBITB. Many great lines, and good use of word/lines from the original. 10/10
GERMS: One of Al's best originals musically, if not THE best. Great lyrics: like TSB it's not really meant to make you laugh out loud, but it is still funny. 10/10
POLKA POWER!: His best polka medley, which of course is saying a lot. 10/10
YOUR HOROSCOPE FOR TODAY: I know some will disagree with me, but this has never been one of my favorites. While the lyrics are funny at points, it's the weak point especially muscially on the album. I can't point to any particular thing wrong with it, it doesn't stand out musically or lyrically. I have to give it "only" a 9/10.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PENTIUMS: The song of a generation. Perfectly and hilariously captures the world of computers. Again, lyrically and musically an amazing song. You can taste the energy just by listening to it! 10/10
TRUCK DRIVIN' SONG: Al decides to tackle gender issues in this one. Several funny laugh-out-loud lines. Musically very solid, but not as good as his best originals. 9.5/10
GRAPEFRUIT DIET: I don't know why I like this song so much...but I do. Less original lyrically than the other songs, but it's still very funny nonetheless. Maybe this is the guy in "Fat" who has suddenly become health-conscious? 9.5/10.
ALBUQUERQUE: This is a song that defies genres. It is unique in the very best sense of the term. I love it, and it's my sister's favorite song of Weird Al's. There are some lines that only Weird Al could dream up. No truer words wer eever spoken than: "If one day you happen to wake up and find yourself in an existential quandry full of loathing and self-doubt and wracked with the pain and isolation of your pitiful meaningless existence[...]There's still a little place called ALBUQUERQUE!"
The best part of course is the last chord! 10/10
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So for the album overall, his best ever, that works out to a grade of 97.5%, an Al+.