VA album review: Bad Hair day

Weird Al is one of those artists you either love or hate. Me, I love his stuff, which for me started with 'Dare to Be Stupid' from the Transformers Movie soundtrack (the good one).



Seeing as how the mid to late 90's was an excellent time for music, it came as no surprise in 1996 when Weird Al would release his ninth studio album 'Bad Hair Day' and parody said excellent music. Considering that there are 12 songs on the album, I'll just cover my favorites.



The driving force of the album (and cover) was Al's spoof of Coolio's hard hitting 'Gangsta's Paradise', titles 'Amish Paradise', where he makes light of the Amish culture. When he somehow weaves the chorus of the Gilligan's Island theme into the song, I lose it everytime. Personally, it's my second favorite song off the album, and one of his most popular hits:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uj-JflMMKpk


'Cavity Search' is based off U2's 'Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me' Originally he was going to spoof 'Numb', and spin it into the song 'Green Eggs and Ham', but the estate of Dr. Seuss put the nix on it.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2U-WxYmv4UQ&feature=related


My personal favorite off the album, is 'Alternative Polka' which is a medley of some of the most popular alternative hits of the times accompanied by an accordion, ranging from Beck's 'Loser', to 'Blackhole Sun' from Soundgarden. No parody here, he does the songs lyric for lyric, but it's the way he does them is what makes it for me:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ni632sTHZWU&feature=related

'Since You've Been Gone' is a very short, and kinda cute breakup song. It carries more weight if you've ever been dumped:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4x0jcfIN-pU

'Gump' is a parody of Presidents of the United States 'Lump' which pokes fun at Forrest Gump. It's one of the best songs on the album, simply because no remembers the Presidents of the United States. They aren't coming back, not even in pog form:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Efyx8gfuaB4


'I Remember Larry' is another Weird Al original, where describes an asshole neighbor making his life a living hell. The way Al does it straight, makes the song, especially the end:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wP4ahXgRUik


'The Night Santa Went Crazy' is one of the forgotten Weird Al songs, but it's also one of his best. As the title suggests, it's about Santa going postal, and it's pretty graphic. It's easily one of his sickest songs, but shame on you if you don't laugh your ass off:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HTGlUMvbhSw

Overall, this is one of his best. there was a period when Al kinda faded out of the spotlight, and I kinda consider this his comeback album.