Weird Al Yankovic - Straight Outta Lynwood

Weird Al continues to impress and amuse

On one hand, this album follows the same pattern as Al's entire discography. On the other, there is nothing wrong with that!

This album's hit "White and Nerdy" has already achieved widespread popularity, especially since the world of nerd rap isn't exactly bursting with material (yet: check out MC Frontalot). The other parodies are pretty good too. Unfortunately, he's a little slow on the uptake: waiting until 2005 to parody "American Idiot" seems rather lazy. However, his attack on the music industry with the ironic "Don't Download This Song" (provided for free download on his website) is just in time.

That song, plus 5 other originals based on other artists' styles and the obligatory polka medley round out the album. While some of these styles are rather dated, that actually makes them funnier: "Weasel Stomping Day" sounds like a 50's pop song glorifying conformity (assuming weasel stomping was compulsory in times of yore). "I'll Sue Ya", based on Rage Against The Machine, and "Close but No Cigar", based on Cake, mirror their original artists with an uncanny accuracy and showcase the versatility of Al's backup band.

Heck, "I'll Sue Ya" actually has some pretty good riffs in it: though it lacks the usual killswitching guitar solo, Al's group is surprisingly skilled for a novelty band. This keeps the album fresh and will keep you listening to it long after the first laughs wear thin. Recommended. October 25, 2008

Odd bag of weasel pancreases

There are a couple songs that may take some time to win you over (I'm thinking of "Pancreas" and "Weasel Stomping Day" in particular) but even so, this is a fairly solid album from the paragon of parody. It's not the instant classic that some of his other albums were (such as "Even Worse" or "Off the Deep End") but it does eventually work its way under your skin. You'll find yourself humming sections of "Trapped In The Drive-Thru" while you're waiting "at the pay window, ... or whatever you call it."

The videos on the second disc are quite odd. Al is attempting to encourage independent creativity by having a number of different people make their own version of music video based on his songs. Some play out better than others, but they all have some quite interesting imagery.

If you're an Al fan, this is a "must get". If you're not, you'll enjoy many of the songs but will probably be put off by a couple of the others as being just a bit too ... dare I say it? ... weird. July 2, 2008

Weird Al Rocks On

This latest CD shows Weird Al still can make you laugh. Although Weasel Stomping Day is just a bit sick - more along the lines of Dr. Demento, many other songs are pretty family friendly. April 23, 2008

Hit and miss

Weird Al has struck again. Though he has some good songs on here, the album is all over the place, some good, some not so good, and some just awful and beg for the >> button to be pushed. It is harder and harder to enjoy Weird Al's parodies when you do not even know the original song he is paroding. Not his fault, but since music has sucked from the early 90's on, the parodies are less funny now as when he was destroying Michael Jackson and Madonna back in the 80's. I realize Weird Al has to stay current to make a living, but I sispect he misses the days when he could take a song like 'Eat it' and be a sensation. The funny thing for me about listening to Weird Al these days is that I do not know his parodies from original songs.

1. White & Nerdy : Funny song even though I never heard the original. Racist and offensive towards white people, but I guess that does not matter since white people are the only race that can be insulted without anyone getting mad.

2. Pancreas : This was retarded and boring. Skip. Next.

3. Canadian Idiot : Well when you have American Idiot by Green Day, why not go north and poke a little fun at the Cannucks? SOme good ryhmes here and good for a chuckle or two.

4. I'll Sue Ya' : This was funny. I think it is an original. Had me laughing.

5. Polkarama! Here comes the signiture medley. Pretty good even though I only know about half of these songs.

6. Virus Alert : Unfunny, skip

7. Confessions Part III : Stupid

8. Weasel Stomping Day : Possibly the worst thing he ever recorded

9. Close But No Cigar : Al seems to be pretty good at writing tongue in cheek love songs like "I was only kidding" and "One more minute". This song is in this vein. I like the Joe Dirt mention.

10. Do I Creep You Out : Too slow, puts me to sleep

11. Trapped In The Drive-Thru : Al goes back to the well and writes an endless song in the style of Albequrque. This is about a visit to the drive in with his wife. It is endless, pointless, and really has no meaning to exist at all. I listened through it once and that was enough. Best part was the Led Zeppelin break.

12. Don't Download This Song : I wonder why Al didn't do this earlier. He really missed a great chance to do this back when Metallica was suing fans over music downloads. Maybe Al didn't want to take on the Metallica Empire, but considering the wusses that Jaymz and Lars are these days, the song would have been a whole lot funnier if timed better for release.
March 28, 2008

Simply great!

This is by far Weird Al's funniest and truly best smelling album, second only to the book "Instru-Mental" from the Adventures With Boys book series! February 29, 2008

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