Weird Al's `TV Album' keeps goofy tradition
From the man who brought you "Eat It," "Fat" and "Smells Like Nirvana" comes his funniest album yet -- The TV Album .
That's right, "Weird Al" Yankovic is loose on the CD market again, and he's bringin' more parodies of songs you know (and some that you don't know) with him. Al's latest effort is a compilation of TV-related parodies taken from other albums.
Some of the tracks include the parody of Toni Basil's well-known "Mickey" song, "Ricky" (from his 1983 debut album, "Weird Al" Yankovic )" and "The Bedrock Anthem" -- a cover of The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away" (from his most recent work, 1993's Alapalooza ).
On this album, Al gives us all of his TV savvy in one place to be savored over and over again. All of the songs on the CD are "Weird Al" to the very core; just listen for the ubiquitous sound of the accordion in songs where it doesn't belong but where Al somehow makes it fit. These songs will also doggedly stick in your head for the whole day, demanding to be heard again, commanding your funny bone to tune out the world and turn on the Al.
And with cuts like "I Can't Watch This," a commercial-filled spoof of Hammer's "U Can't Touch This," and "Here's Johnny," a take off on El De Barge's "Who's Johnny," you can't help but turn it up and laugh.
However, this album does not consist only of parodies. He includes, for your listening pleasure, original songs with TV themes. My favorite is a toss-up between "Talk Soup" and "Cable TV." These tracks make fun of the glories of talk shows and the delights of having 83 channels, respectively. Other original songs on the album include "Frank's 2,000-inch TV" (off Alapalooza ) and "UHF" (off 1989's UHF/Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff ) and they are both hilarious tributes to TV as a medium.
The TV Album is a must-have for fans of Weird Al or of TV in general, and it makes a handsome addition to your CD collection. Don't be put off by the fact that it's a compilation. It's put together so well, and the songs all flow so smoothly, that it's a worthwhile investment. So, be the envy of your friends by having your own copy of this incredibly funny CD and look out for new Weird Al projects.
This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the January 26, 1996 issue.
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