Poodle Hat [Import, Enhanced]

Still... I couldn't give it any less than four stars, because it's still Al, and it still has some brilliant moments. Two tracks, in fact, I think are at least as sophisticated and intelligent as anything he's done before: 'Bob' is a very clever tribute to Bob Dylan. The lyrics sound like Dylan lyrics, but they have no apparent meaning - listen very carefully though, with the lyrics in front of you, and try to figure out exactly what Al was doing there. It's brilliant. Al's Dylan impression is also excellent. The other song I love is 'Genius In France' - a tribute to the one and only, Frank Zappa, obviously a major influence on Al, and guest starring Dweezil Zappa, the master's son. The lyrics are pretty basic Weird Al humor, but the delivery and arrangement are totally Zappa. For Zappa fans, it's hilarious. It's also great if you just hate French people.

Other notable tracks - Couch Potato, the Eminem parody, is obviously funny, and the impression is terrific, but enough with the TV jokes already! 'Cable TV', 'I Can't Watch This', 'Syndicated Inc.'... These are all the same bloody joke! A good, funny parody video would have made this song more justifiable. I loved 'Ode to a Superhero' - partly because I love Spider-Man, and partly because it's the only song on the album that parodies a good song. It has very funny lyrics, and Al's delivery is great, but of course it's the exact same joke as 'The Saga Begins' from 'Running With Scissors' and 'Jurassic Park' (parody of McArthur Park) several years before. 'Wanna B
Ur Lover' isn't that funny really, but it's a funny - thinly disguised - parody of Prince's singing style. 'Why Does This Always Happen To Me' is classic Al, harmlessly and nastily funny. Finally, 'Angry White Boy Polka' - because he just has to do that polka bit on every album. Unfortunately, I've never heard almost any of the songs he performs here! The ones I did know were of course very funny, especially the 'Real Slim Shady' polka (still, two Eminem parodies on one album? That's pushing it...)

Unfortunately, 'Hardware Store' is pointless and just a repeat of old songs of his, both musically and lyrically, and just isn't funny. 'Trash Day' and 'E-Bay' are parodies of songs that are so obnoxious, I just can't stand listening to them. 'Complicated Song' has good lyrics, but it's nothing to write home about. If you're a Weird Al fan, there's no reason you shouldn't buy this album, but don't set you hopes too high.

1. Couch Potato--Somehow, Al always manages to make hip-hop sound not as craptacular as it really is...probably because he uses REAL instruments to create it. The lyrics in this are perfect. Parodic masterpiece. 'But I only watched Will and Grace one time, one day! Wish I hadn't, 'cause TIVo now thinks I'm gay.' A

2. Hardware Store--One of my favorite originals I've heard yet. This, for me, is ranking up there with Harvey the Wonder Hamster or the Night Santa Went Crazy. Once again, Al displays his articulate nature and lyrical prowess, especially in the bridge section, where he just starts spitting them out rapidfire. A+

3. Trash Day--Now, this was a stupid, ridiculous, shouldn't-have-ever-been-written song in the first place, and Al tears it to shreds. Well done...not the best song on the album, but hey...there's been a LOT of crap worse than this in the past 4 years since Running W/ Scissors. B+

4. Party at the Leper Colony--Classic Bo Diddley-style licks with fun lyrics. One took me a while, but gets me every time, now. A

5. Angry White Boy Polka--Need I say more? A+

6. I Wanna B Ur Lovr--Okay, now, this one just floored me completely when I first listened to it. Al is not only creating a style parody, or even a very specific artist style parody, but a double whammy...This is perfect emulation of Beck during his Midnite Vultures phase...parodying Beck who was parodying (in his own Beck-ish way) Prince. A++++

7. A Complicated Song--iffy subject matter, but just hilarious, when you come right down to it. A+

8. Why Does This Always Happen to Me--Holy returned favours, Batman! Ben Folds guests on this track. Contains the line 'So I turned around/ And stabbed him in the face.' How can you go wrong? A++

9. Ode to a Superhero--Picked a great song to parody, big movie...I didn't like the movie, but that's just me...great song, though. Piano man/Spider Man...it's a natural segue. A

10. Bob. A+. That's all I have to say.

11. eBay--Poking fun at Satan is FUN!!!! Taking out the Backstreet Boys while your at it gets you a (no pun intended) A++

12. Genius in France--Dweezil Zappa joins Al to pay tribute to his old man (Dweezil's, that is). It sticks it to the French, too. People have, unfortunately, labeled this song as an 'Albuquerque' wannabe, but it's completely autonomous. It's another homage...and well played, too. A+