Straight Outta Lynwood

Straight Outta Lynwood

"Weird Al" Yankovic

Volcano, 2006

REVIEW BY: Benjamin Ray

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/16/2006

It's entirely possible Weird Al can continue to make records until he dies, since his whole act consists of covering other artist's songs and then composing originals that sound like a particular band, in both cases adding funny and slightly juvenile lyrics. It's an act he has honed since 1983 and it hasn't changed much since.

This is basically the problem with Straight Outta Lynwood, his latest disc. It's got good parodies of recent hits. It's got somewhat funny originals. It's got lyrics that poke fun at losers and dorks, of which Weird Al is the latter and proud. And, of course, the fifth track is a polka medley of eight or so recent hits. Not bad and frequently worth a chuckle, but it all sounds like you've heard it before.

So what makes this better then Alapalooza or 2003's Poodle Hat, you ask? The originals, which is where Weird Al usually falters. "Pancreas" is a Beach Boys-sound alike ode to the organ, "I'll Sue Ya" is a Kid Rock/Rage Against the Machine-type tune that pokes fun at those who sue for stupid reasons ("I sued Colorado because it looks a little too much like Wyoming / I sued Neiman Marcus for putting up their Christmas decorations way out of season / I sued Ben Affleck...aw, do I need a reason?"), and "Weasel Stomping Day" is a Christmas-type tune that celebrates Weasel Stomping Day.

How do you celebrate that, Weird Al? "Put your Viking helmet on / Spread some mayonnaise on the lawn," he says. For good measure, sound effects of weasel stompage pepper the track. It's the kind of thing a 12-year-old would find funny because it's so ridiculous, but the inner adolescent can't help but laugh, no matter how old you are.