Mandatory Fun (Album 14) Speculation :3

[Killingsworth]

I think this '90s band song is probably going to be a style parody. I'm sure Patton meant that it "starts as a SPECIFIC parody of a SPECIFIC song" in the same way that "Skipper Dan" started out as a "SPECIFIC parody" of "Pork and Beans" or "Islands In The Sun" or "Germs" started out as a "SPECIFIC parody" of "Closer" or even TNSWC started out as a "SPECIFIC parody" of Soul Asylum's "Black Gold".

To me, the most realistic guesses have been Pixies, Pavement, Wilco, Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins. For my money, it's just GOT to be one of those five.

I also thought the polka might be a specific themed one like Beatles/Zeppelin or maybe the possible "indie folk" polka everyone's been clamoring for but Pattons' qualifier "which is saying something" makes me think otherwise. Maybe it's just another generic Top 40 polka like his last two, but one that all three found to be particularly well arranged.

It just reminds me of when some posters on this board mentioned how the horns and instrumentation on the studio version of "Polka Face" made it sound more authentic and like a throwback to '80s/early '90s polkas, back when they sounded like real polkas and not just "accordion covers"...but yeah, if it caters well to both Patton AND Bermuda's musical tastes, there must be more to it than that.

[Cheerios Applejacks Cheerios]

I can't quite square these two tweets:

Also, @alyankovic's hit a level of mastery where, by parodying ONE song by a band, he nails what's genius, silly & lovable about them.

You'll see. It starts as a SPECIFIC parody of a SPECIFIC song & then ends up celebrating their whole catalog.

The second tweet fits the style parody theory, but what's with the emphasis on "parodying ONE song" in the first tweet? How does Al celebrate a band's whole catalog while only parodying one song?

[Killingsworth]

For all we know, those two tweets could be referring to two DIFFERENT songs. That first one could be about an ACTUAL parody, although if it is I doubt hearing any current music it could be based on would have the same effect on Patton. I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure we'll find out when the album finally comes out (which should hopefully be only a few months from now).

[Teh Dingo]

Did Al decide to close out polkas with a bang by finally doing the all-Beatles (or all-Zeppelin) polka?

While a more varied Beatles medley would be nice, a polka of the Abbey Road medley would seem very appropriate

[Big Spoon]

SO exciting about Patton's tweet last night!!!!! Makes me even more excited for the album!!!

[mrmeadows]

Going back to what was being discussed before Patton's tweet, it seems like there's been a slow crawl of "teases" about the album from Al (and surrogates) on Twitter lately. I have to imagine he let Patton listen to the album and gave his blessing for him to tweet a non-spoiler tease about it. It's this kind of thing that makes me think the album is closer to being released than we may think. Why get people excited and thinking about a new album if there's a possibility it may not be coming out for another year? I mean, all he said is he hasn't recorded the 12th song yet...who's to say he doesn't have his target already chosen and just needs to get in the studio to lay it down?

But maybe that's just me being overly optimistic.

[joseyklein]

If Patton already heard the whole album, its in the can and we're very close to a release


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[Muppetboy09]

I was wondering, has the lead parody been recorded already, but still has a little work to go?

[Noodles]

It's possible that one of the parodies already recorded could be the lead parody, and the one that hasn't been recorded yet could just be another parody.

[Marko_The_Odd]

Would The Flaming Lips or Beastie Boys be considered 90s bands? Y
One band that popped in my head was Ween, but they themselves are also masters of pastiche and don't necessarily conform to a specific sound.
More left field choices would be Guided by Voices or Neutral Milk Hotel, but I don't think Al's going there.
And I doubt Patton Oswald would refer to an act like the Wu Tang Clan as a band.

I'm thinking though based on influence and Patton's tastes the best bets are either Radiohead or Pavement, with a slight chance of it being Pixies.

Or maybe Patton Oswalt is finally coming out as a closeted Dave Matthews Band fan.