Reviews (3)

This man has been looking in my window!
Steve McGrew has the incredible talent of identifying with people in all walks of life.After listening to this CD I honestly felt he had been staring in my window and watching my family and how we handle situationsfrom day to day.He deals with everyday subjects with such a uniqueperspective that you simply have to laugh... (and feel relieved that youaren't the only person going through these things... WOW! I am normal!!) From beginning to end this comedy CD is simply hilarious.Buyer bewarethough... you will experience serious pains in your tummy and face fromlaughing so hard and so long.

Original, honest, true to life, and uproariously funny!
I had the pleasure of seeing this comedian in Florida. He is by far the funniest I have ever seen. His original banter on marriage, men and women, and life left me in stiches. His spirited take on relationships isenlightening and on target. I cackled with delight. His comedy isdistinctive and bold. I couldn't stop laughing! You won't find a bettercomedian today.

Funniest comedian and material ever. Real life comedy.
Very, very funny. Have seen Steve Mcgrew and heard his tape. May be the funniest comedian you'll ever hear. Comedy about parents, kids, his wife and about himself. Male/female interaction comedy. If you don't laugh, call911. You need a paramedic to help you find your funny bone. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

It May Not Be Pretty, But It's Still Funny
For 1979 Steve Martin returned to The Boardinghouse nightclub in San Francisco for his third comedy LP, even though according to Steve when they got the tape they took to to the studio and erased it.

Comedy Is Not Pretty, and admittedly this third LP isn't quite as good as Let's Get Small and Wild & Crazy Guy, in part because at points it is cruder, particularly in Steve's somewhat embarassing sketch on Jackie Onassis. It nonetheless does hold up well, from his accident with a drinking glass onward. His Sound Effects gag is quite funny, and he brings out his Wild & Crazy trademark when he growls that the audience thinks he's A Rubberhead.

Googlephonics, dealing with a subject one usually doesn't think about for comedy (stereo systems), is the most interesting track, in large part because it is almost a botch. Steve blows his lines repeatedly during the sketch, and it is here that the laughs come.

Steve's banjo gets work in two tracks. Cruel Shoes is the title story from the contemporaneous book he authored, while his deft deployment of the banjo shines brightest in the delightful Drop Thumb Medley.

From the taking of histages (the Iran hostage crisis gave the album an eerie topicality at the time of its 1979 release) through Steve's tips on becoming a millionaire, Comedy may not be Pretty, but it is still funny.

Steve's been Prettier and Funnier
All of Steve Martin's comedy albums are funny. It's just a question of which of the four are the funniest. If you're looking for his best, they are "Let's Get Small" and "A Wild and Crazy Guy" (in that order). On his final comedy album, "The Steve Martin Brothers", a full side of the album is just Steve's banjo playing (the other half obviously comedy). You'll only get half the comedy you expected on that one.

Steve Martin Classic
I first listened to this on 8 track when I was a kid and found this a classic rightaway. Martin shows that his witty humor can last into the ages. I highly recomend this to anyone looking for a good laugh. I've gone through some of my old comedy tapes and some were not as funny as I remembered, but Steves comedy is timeless and sophistication of the 90's can't ruin this. a definate must get, humor that doesn't requiring swearing and all the other acts today in order to be funny.

Wow!
I bought the c.d. a year ago from a local record store. They had it playing and I asked what it was. Luckily, I found the only copy they had. I bought it, took it home, and I was amazed. I laughed my butt off. I haven't heard his other albums, but I just thought this one was hillarious!! If you enjoy comedy, BUY THIS RECORD NOW!

Excellent
Steve martins style of humor continues with this collection of routines. My favorite is Cruel Shoes, in fact I think it is one of the funniest bits he has ever done. Buy it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's come to my attention that the Presidents of the United States of America really seem to piss-off some people. Seems the Seattle trio are just not depressing and dour enough for those who have become accustomed to the miserable angst polluting MTV and radio stations nationwide. Well, if the PUSA have their goofy, little way, everyone will loosen up a bit and stop taking everything so seriously. When did music stop being about entertainment?

It hasn't in the Presidents' tweaked, adolescent world. Like their political counterpart, Bill Clinton, these happy-go-lucky boys just want to make everything OK in the world. What better way to do so than the welcome handshake of "Ladies and Gentlemen Pt. 1" to start things off right? "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, are you prepared to rock?" they inquire and then repeat quite definitively, "Let's rock," just so you know they mean business.

And let there be no doubt, the Presidents are dead serious about not being serious. We find the usual assortment of odd character's ("Froggy," "Little Indian Princess," and others) and wacky scenarios ("Tiki God," "Puffy Little Shoes," "Bath of Fire," and "Lunatic to Love"), but the best lyrical webs spun by frontman Chris Ballew are trivial little vignettes turned into irresistible anthemic pop songs.The PUSA are the finest proponents of mindless escapism of the strangest variety. So, leave all your worldly troubles behind when you pop this baby in the CD player, and take a trip to the Presidents' world as they beckon, "This is the show, we are the band, sometimes it just takes you by the hand." --Adem Tepedelen ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The title 'II' says it all
The name 'II' depicts this album perfectly. This is the Presidents' second CD; and in turn is their second best. And although their self-titled debut may be slightly better than this release, II is still an excellent album. A lot of people criticize it for being too unoriginal or too similar to the first one. But that's the reason the band entitled the CD 'II'. Even though they use the same basis for success, that doesn't mean the songs aren't good. The lyrics are new; the sounds are new, but the band stayed the same. You have to appreciate this album in its entirety; follow-up albums are one of the hardest things to create in music. Especially when they're after a widely successful debut. With that being said, here's a synopsis of the 14 songs:

Part I of the "Ladies And Gentlemen" songs is a great start. It's short, it's sweet, and it's directly to the point: 'this is the show / we are the band / sometimes it just takes you by the hand' says it all. Track two, "Lunatic To Love", has very fast lyrics. And with it the CD has a very fast start. I'd actually say it's one of the CD's best. A single off II was "Volcano", which is an excellent song. The '...happy campers who poop in their pampers' line always makes me laugh. Of the two singles, "Volcano" and "Mach 5", I think "Mach 5" is the better one. The success of the song was similar to the success "Lump" had, but the two are very different. It's more similar to "Lunatic To Love". Next there is "Twig"; which is probably one of the CD's hidden gems. It's one of the more fun songs on the album. The first five songs are excellent, but "Bug City" is more average. It has a creative start, but never really amounts to much; the chorus was a bit weak. Still it's very likable. The opening guitar sound on "Bath Of Fire" is very reminiscing of their debut (mainly "Dune Buggy"), yet it's pretty original and very catchy.

On the album's second half, we start with "Tiki God". The song was another single, but it's definitely the weaker of the three. I like it, but it's rather simplistic. "L.I.P." is a weird track, and I'm not too sure where its origin is from. "L.I.P." stands for Little Indian Princess; which still doesn't say much about the song. It's nothing special, but on the other hand it's not at all bad. "Froggie" is also quite weird, and is sort of a mix between "Body" and "Feather Pluckn". It's good yet a little repetitive. "Toob Amplifier" is another short song, and is also another great song. I love the talk about the bertha driver and the '300 yards!' shout in the background. If there's a second hidden gem on II, this is indeed it. The song "Supermodel" cites some neat names, including anyone from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Darth Vader. It's very good, and probably the most original on the CD. One of my personal favorites is "Puffy Little Shoes". The song is (as far as I know) the band's longest song at five minutes. The highlights of the song are the 'shoe oo oo oo oo oo oo oos' chorus and 'soft shoulder salamander up close and alone' line. It's really an amazing song. As for the album's closer, "Ladies And Gentlemen Part II", it's somewhat weak. It's just a longer version of part I with less lyrics. And nothing can be said about the hidden track; it's utterly unentertaining.

In conclusion, the Presidents' II is an excellent release. Maybe not as good as their debut, but still a very good follow-up release. In fact, it did make my listmania list for the best 25 CDs ever. It's just that good. Songs like "Froggie" are reminders of the debut; whereas songs like "Mach 5" and "Lunatic To Love" offer new sounds with fast-paced music and lyrics that everyone can enjoy. Anyone who finds this album clichéd and unoriginal doesn't understand the Presidents Of The United States Of America or their music. They're funny, they're smart; but most importantly they are rock music missionaries... so to speak.

It's Even Better The 'II'-nd Time Around
The wackiness of The Presidents is fairly obvious from the first guitar lick of their second effort, 'II.' With a rousing intro asking us if we are 'prepared to rock,' we are sucked into a chaotic, twisted world of fun punk-rock that the Presidents enjoy so very much. With the clever, dare we call it a love song, "Lunatic To Love," we are introduced to the fast-paced three chord powerhouse we have come to enjoy. Lyrics abound and silly little na-na-na's in the choruses, the Presidents make this record sound amatuerish and hilarious. This could be the most amusing record ever, with songs not about depression or drugs addiction...songs are about dune buggies, tiki gods, supermodels, singing frogs, shoes, volcanoes, crazy lovers, and bug cities. This is not your ordinary album. This is what makes 'II' such a beautiful record. Amusing, touching, and brilliant. This record brings tears to my eyes. Songs like "Bug City," are so funny because the Presidents take it so seriously. Other times you know they're just having fun ("Froggie," "Toob Amplifier"). The songs are nice, short lil ditties, that aren't too long, and aren't too short. This could very well be one of the finest records of all-time. It's short, not-too-serious and very heartfelt with tear-jerking emotion. (That last part was a joke.) But, in actuallity, 'II' is, in fact, a wonderful, fanciful record. It's like the first puppy you get. You get so attached to it and never want to let it go. Sometimes you hate it, but you know that in truth, you love it more than anything.

...
I must have listened to this CD more than 20 times in the past week. The Presidents' music just makes you happy. Most of their songs have no meaning, and it's refreshing to listen to them and let go of all your worries and have a good time. A bonus for Washington residents is that a couple of the songs are about or at least make references to places in Seattle and the state. Excellent music, fun to sing along to, and I can't seem to get tired of it.

The Best PUSA Album
This is definately the best PUSA CD...here's the lowdown:

1.Ladies & Gentlemen Part 1: 9/10-A great way to welcome the audience to the album!
2.Lunatic To Love: 10/10-A very funny tongue twister song!
3.Volcano: 9/10-Catchy lyrics and great guitar sounds.
4.Mach 5: 8/10-It's okay,but at least the video's pretty funny.
5.Twig: 100/10-In my opinion the best song ever written by PUSA, the lyrics are so funny and the guitar sounds are hillarious!
6.Bug City: 9/10-Another great song....but sometimes i skip it.
7.Bath of Fire: 7/10-Eh, the lyrics are kind of funny.
8.Tiki God: 10/10-Another one of my favorite PUSA songs. Na na na na na na!
9.LIP: 10/10-The chorus to this song is very catchy.
10.Froggie: 8/10-Again the lyrics are clever, but the song gets somewhat boring...this is another one i sometimes skip.
11.Toob Amplifier: 10/10-A short and sweet little song about their equipment!
12.Supermodel: 9/10-I personally like the Supersonics version better.
13.Puffy Little Shoes:9/10:Longest PUSA song ever...and funny...especially when the crowd screams ROCK AND ROLL PLACE!
14.Ladies & Gentlemen Part 2: 10/10-A great way to end a great CD! I like the harmonizing by Dave and Jason.
15.Basketball Dream: 9/10-Clever 15 second bonus track featuring Chris' nephew Tony.

This is definately PUSA's best CD. It features so mant great songs.

What wasThe World Thinking!?!
I'm sorry, but I dissagree with just about the rest of the worlds population...This is a great album. Sure I got bored with the first album after it was seriously overplayed, but in 2002 I started listening to Naked and Famious again. I played it on my own show and people began to rave about the Presidence once more. Then I picked up II and it was GREAT. The songs haven't lost their touch, although Puffy Little Shoes isn't that great of a song; if you need an album to just jam to, and you're not looking for anything serious...This is tha album for you! Although you can catch the agony of the one-hit-wonder in Froggie, and sure singing about getting a golf club (Toob Amplifier) is goofy, but this is a good buy! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

short tracks
the problem with these co. is they only play a few seconds.and that is not enough to deside if you want to buy an album or songs. i think that they should play more than they do. ... Read more

Album Description

In his native England, Eddie Izzard has been called, "the greatest British stand-up comedian...of his generation," The LA Times Says: "He walks onstage to the roaring tumult usually reserved for rock stars and soon has the audience busting a gut about the Spanish Inquisition and chaos theory. Such is the phenomenon of Eddie Izzard, funniest man, in, well, pretty much all of the known universe." Now you can catch Eddie Izzard on DVD with Circle a comedy concert film you'll never forget! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Genius with a monkey and a gun!
With the entire Eddie Izzard catalog inherently being compared to "Dress to Kill" by fans everywhere, the performance made by our favorite Executive Transvestite in "Circle" definitely gives D2K a run for it's Oscar money.

At the very beginning, a catchy bit of theme music sets the attitude for the beginning of the show. Eddie's irreverence shines brightly in the very first seconds of his dialogue ("Hi, welcome to New York... you probably live here...?") What follows is a cataclysmic roller coaster that takes you from Pope Man (and his sidekick Alter Boy, armed with Holy Water and Jesus Disks) to a universe that is awesome like a hot dog!

Eddie's delivery isn't close to perfect, which is what makes his performance perfect. His free-flowing thought keeps you captivated for the entire show. To go from organ players at Baseball games to the meek deciding that they don't need to inherit the Earth? You'll wonder how you ever got there, but you'll laugh the entire time.

My only recommendation would be to see the DVD of this show first. It's not a big deal (the show is incredible either way) but to understand all the physical segments beyond audio comprehension, the DVD is a must. Either way, "Circle" is a seamless performance that is, simply put, "awesome" (like a hot dog.) ... Read more

Amazon.com Music Reviews

Has there ever been a rock band more unjustly maligned than Spinal Tap? Accused of everything from heralding the demise of heavy metal to being the very raison d'être for alternative rock, they suffered their greatest indignity at the hands of director Rob Reiner (cowardly hiding behind the moniker Marty DiBergi), whose 1984 "rockumentary," This Is Spinal Tap, muckraked its way through the band's courageous, tragedy-strewn history in service of a few mocking laughs. Reiner/DiBergi even stooped so low as to employ a heartless, mercenary band of Hollywood writer/comedians to burlesque the band's core members--David St. Hubbins (played by mendacious Michael McKean), Nigel Tufnel (callow Christopher Guest), and Derek Smalls (haughty Harry Shearer). But the great ones just won't be denied; Spinal Tap reached deep down in 1992 and let loose with Break Like the Wind, another potent blast of the very stuff that made their legend. Featuring an all-star supporting cast (the title track alone boasts Slash, Steve Lukather, Joe Satriani, and Tufnel look-alike Jeff Beck), the Tap gallantly tried to stem the tide of flannel and tattoos with thundering odes to gender enlightenment ("Bitch School"), mystic quests ("Clam Caravan"), and its own glorious rock-fest legacy ("Stinkin' Up the Great Outdoors"). Pop diva Cher and St. Hubbins share a vocal tryst on the uplifting ballad "Just Begin Again," while even Steely Dan's reclusive Walter Becker pens technical notes, praising the album's pioneering use of the Crosley Phase Linear Ionic Induction Voice Processor System. Sadly, they just don't make albums like this anymore. --J.D. Swift ... Read more

Reviews (18)

The best thing Spinal Tap has ever produced.
I got into Spinal Tap when I saw the hilarious "rockumentary" for the first time a couple of years ago. I soon bought the video and memorized almost every line. The comedic genius of Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Christopher Guest could be clearly seen in the movie and the original soundtrack... but their real talents come through every note on this album. They outdid themselves by showing that they can still poke fun at mainstream metal bands while, at the same time, rivaling them in songwriting. These songs, while at times intentionally off-key a bit, are extremely well made.

The songs are, in my opinion, funnier and catchier than the ones on the original soundtrack. "B**** School" starts off the album, wallowing in male-dominant lyrics. "The Majesty of Rock" comes in with a sweeping melody and beat, and lyrics such as "And it feels so real, you can feel the feeling!". "Diva Fever" is a faster song with amazing solos by Dweezil Zappa. And what would a good parody album be without a ballad? Nothing, exactly! "Just Begin Again" is a beautiful (chuckles) and uplifting (laughs hysterically) song. The appearance of Cher really adds a lot to this song. Just listen to David and Cher try to harmonize, you'll be rolling on the floor. "Cash On Delivery" is just an awesome song. Its classic hard rock, with great riffs and a great beat. "Rainy Day Sun" is the obligatory hippie song. Its pretty good, not the albums best, but pretty cool. Things build up to what could be the album's highlight, "Break Like the Wind". The title track really shows off what Spinal Tap can do. There are some awesome solos in this song by about 4 different people, including Slash and Jeff Beck. There are so many guitars going at the end, it starts to get really distorted. Amazing song. "Stinking Up the Great Outdoors" is a great Southern rock tune, complete with harmonicas and slide guitar. Along comes the albums strangest song, "Springtime". Nigel Tuffnel comes in with what sounds like a cross between Louis Armstrong and Johnny Rotten... its hilarious. He then commences with a guitar solo made with his voice, I guess through some kind of effects thingie. Thats also hilarious. The ending is very disjointed. "Clam Caravan" could also be the albums highlight, very soothing Eastern-sound, and a horrible sitar solo (this is intentional, of course). "Christmas With the Devil" is another great hard rock tune. Track 13, though not listed, is a great little filler track, and it actually has something to say! And the album ends with the classic "All the Way Home". All Spinal Tap fans should remember this song from the fast food scene in the movie.

Well, this is a long review, but all I want to say is that, if you think this can't possibly be as good as the film or the original soundrack, give it a good listen to. You'll grow to love it.

Tap surpass that which they mock
Astonishingly, perhaps, Break Like The Wind was one of the best heavy rock albums of its year (92), despite being a "spoof". I think the reason is fairly obvious; they actually seem to enjoy being a heavy metal band, and put as much work into this as any real band would. These are well written songs; and where the parody "bad" element comes in, e.g the tuneless Clam Caravan sitar solo, they're deliberately, masterfully bad. It's a fine demonstration that comedy parody only works when the parodists have a regard for that which they parody, and do it seriously.

As I said, this is good music. It's not a comedy album you'll listen to once for a laugh, it's a fine rock album you'll listen to again and again, with excellent songs you'll find stuck in your head. Highlights for me: The Majesty Of Rock is a glorious rock anthem, and the title track is simply awesome, while Bitch School is a wonderfully mindless headbanger you won't be ashamed to listen to (because you can pretend you're just being ironic).

Don't get me wrong; you'll laugh too, but with, not at, Spinal Tap. The humourous lyrics are beautifully, intelligently crafted; 3 intelligent guys playing idiots trying to be deep "..we are the thumbs on a stranger's hands" croons St Hubbins on BLTW, while on Majesty wondering "When we die do we haunt the sky, do we lurk in the murk of the seas? What then, are we born again, just to sit asking questions like these?". And The Sun Never Sweats (another fabulously strong track) muses, "We may be Gods, or just big marionettes"... and so on... and so on...

Simply brilliant, and an essential part of every rock fan's collection.

One more thing; the production is superb too. A must buy.

Wisen Up
Yeah for all you people saying how This is Spinal Tap "disgraced" the band, there was no real band Spinal Tap. This is Spinal Tap invented the band. The movie made up the band to make fun of other bands.

Some people are really stupid.

But its a good CD (4 1/2 stars)

**
For those that remember an immortal phrase from the original film, I thus dub this new soundtrack:

S_ _ _ sandwich.

It takes real talent to sound THIS bad!
To master an art, you have to learn every possible way to get it wrong. By that definition, Tap are the masters, and they prove it with this disk. Spinal Tap finds more ways to suddenly and unexpectedly veer away from excellence and toward sardonic awfulness than any other individual or group I have ever heard. It takes real talent to sound this bad.

The reason for the four stars is that, after a certain point, bad is just bad. My CD gets one listen a year. I doubt if I could stand more. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Never mind the weak material he was relegated to on Saturday Night Live: Upon leaving the show, Chris Rock suddenly became the funniest man in America. Roll with the New, his sophomore album, mixes a variety of elements--song parodies, skits, even one of those hokey routines where a reporter's questions are "answered" with clips from records. But most of the of the album consists of Rock's stand-up act, in which he fearlessly takes on the subjects of the day--Marion Barry, O.J., and "niggas vs. black people." It's devastatingly funny, and sufficiently thought-provoking to earn Rock comparisons to predecessors such as Richard Pryor and Paul Mooney. Rock's bit on "tossed salad" in prison will probably make you toss your cookies. But it's hilarious nonetheless. --Daniel Durchholz ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Chris Rock - Comic Genius
This collection of Chris Rock's incredible sense of humor is yet another reason why he has so dominated comedy in the past years. Chris once again includes incredibly funny material and puts some of his best bits ever (i. e. niggers vs black people) on this must have album.

How funny is he?!!!!
Chris Rock ROCKS! Only he can make these life observations! He's not afraid to push buttons nor is he afraid to broach subjects that other comics dare not speak about.

Jokes you must NOT miss on this CD are about Marion Barry, OJ Simpson, and his Black People comparison.

Buy this CD and you won't be disappointed.

Little new in "Roll With the New"
Let me preface this review by saying that I am a huge Chris Rock fan, having bought nearly everything that he has done on both DVD and CD. But "Roll With the New" is little more than select excerpts from "Bring the Pain" with a few sophomoric Ren & Stimpy style toss-ins, which really aren't up to Chris Rock's normal level. Somebody at Dreamworks figured they could make a boat load of extra money by tossing in 20% original though mediocre content with regurgitations of the best parts of BTP.

Do yourself a favor: Save your money and get more laughs by buying "Bring the Pain" and "Bigger and Blacker" instead.

Hilarious, but some falls short of expectations
I have laughed many an hour away with this album. However, some of the short bits fall short of the standup maestro that he is. Variety? Sure, there's variety, but something just doesn't work with the non-standup bits. They are funny, just not as top notch as aforementioned. I do agree that Chris Rock -is- the funniest man in America. Enjoy!

I am sure he sounds better on stage
Chris Rock is surely one powerful comedian, but this CD does not do him justice. There are too many studio-mixed tracks, too much auxiliary stuff beside his straightforward stand-up act, but it is Chris Rock talking that you want to hear, not annoying interference of second-grade content that is equivalent to warm-up artist at a superstar's concert.

His texts are impeccable, delivery is powerful with finely judged rhytm. It is this rhytm that captivates and brings you to the climax of laughter. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Stan Freberg released The United States of America in 1961, it was one of the first comedy concept albums ... and perhaps the funniest musical comedy never performed onstage. With a cast that included Jesse White and June Foray (as well as a dead-on Orson Welles impression by voice-over master Paul Frees), Freberg presented a madcap version of history that began with Christopher Columbus's insistence that "It's a Round, Round World." His crew, however, was unconvinced:

Crazy kind of scheme
It's a cockamamie dream
If we don't sight land we're gonna scream.

Later, a cautious Ben Franklin would express suspicion of the declaration Thomas Jefferson brought by for him to sign: "You go to a few harmless meetings, sign a few harmless petitions, and forget all about it.... Ten years later you get called up before a committee. No thank you! I'm not going to spend the rest of my life writing in Europe!"

For decades, fans were frustrated by the lack of sequels that would carry the story beyond the Revolutionary War. (After attempts to turn the material into a real Broadway musical were ruined by heavy-handed producer David Merrick, Freberg went on to a lucrative career in advertising.) Finally, in 1996, Freberg went into the studio with the surviving members of his original cast--as well as stars David Ogden Stiers, Sherman Hemsley, Tyne Daly, Lorenzo Music, and John Goodman--with a new batch of songs and skits that covered the period from the founding of the United States government in 1789 to the end of World War I.

Volume 2 is not quite as strong as volume 1, but that's like saying that Babe Ruth didn't hit as many home runs as Hank Aaron. There's still plenty of great material in "The Middle Years," like Francis Scott Key's first draft of his most famous composition: "Rumplemeyer's horseshoes are the best you can use, what so proudly he's nailed onto all kinds of horses."Or Ulysses S. Grant demanding a drink so he can keep on...

Pursuing the South
Over the hills
Fearless and brave, minus a shave
And crocked to the gills.

The two-CD set includes the original liner notes from the 1961 release; a 1989 CD reissue of the first volume; and the notes by Freberg, Dr.Demento, and Ray Bradbury for the sequel. It also contains a complete lyric sheet. Although some of the jokes on the first CD may be too arcane for younger listeners, The United States of America can still be called, without overstatement, a work of genius.--Ron Hogan ... Read more

Reviews (16)

HA to the power of 10
"As you listen to this album you'll soon begin to understand why Stan Freburg flunked American history in high school."

So begins the insert for The United States of America Vol. 1 & 2. The first volume (The Early Years) is a classic, named by TIME as the best comedy album ever! The stories are almost beleivable, Freburg does them so well. Every track is hilarious, especially "Yankee Doodle Go Home" and "Declaration of Independance." The best clean humor ever!

The second volume, the Middle Years, is a different story. As soon as you hear the first track about Jefferson, Franklin, and Osbourne, you know that this album doesn't carry the same innocent, raw humor as the first. The time periods are too spread out, creating a confusing and disoriented atmosphere. The songs stink. The only really funny track is "Steven Foster, Beloved Songwriter," which could be the funniest sequence in both the discs.

This stuff is great, especially if you know your US history before you listen (you'll appreciate some inside jokes if you do).

History never sounded like this before
Stan Freberg is undoubtedly a master satirist-Volume 1 of his "United States Of America" was originally released in 1961 & became an immediate classic-Thirty-five years later in 1996,Freberg decided to put out his long awaited sequel:"The United States Of America,Volume 2"-Both volumes are equally hilarious & memorable-My favorite routines are "A Man Has To Be Careful Of What He Signs These Days" (Declaration Of Independence),"Take An Indian To Lunch This Week" (The first Thanksgiving),& "The Appomatox Bar & Grill"-Freberg is ably assisted by a fine supporting cast:The late Paul Frees & Jesse White on Volume 1 & David Ogden Stiers,Sherman Hemsley,& Tyne Daly on Volume 2-It's a known fact that most students are turned off by history-However,if teachers were to play this album in their classes,I think the students would change their minds in a heartbeat-If you're a major league Stan Freberg fan like myself,don't hesitate to purchase this outstanding 2-CD set.

First half a comedic classic, second half a disappontment
I've been familiar with Freberg's twisted take on American history most of the my life (released the same year I was born) and it did wonders for my love of the subject in school. I was delighted to hear he was finally making a sequel to it, but said delight fizzled soon after Corey Burton's fine opening takeoff of Paul Frees' immortal voice. Freberg, David Ogden Stiers and company do their best, but bottom line is, they just aren't funny (The Lincoln, Grant and Bell tracks sound downright desperate.). I may have been impossible to please after loving the original for so long, but I don't think so. In all fairness, maybe you who have never heard either will have a better time.

Five stars for Vol. 1, two and a half stars for Vol. 2
I remember listening to Volume 1 as a child, remembering fondly those great one-liners that could only come from the mind of Stan Freberg. So when I heard that "Stan Freberg's the United States of America, the Early Years" was on CD, together with the recently recorded "Volume 2: The Middle Years", I jumped at buying it.

The good news is that Volume 1 is just as funny and fresh as it was when it was first released on vinyl some 40 years ago. The not-so-good news is that Volume 2, on the second CD, creatively and comedically falls far short of Volume 1. The Madison, Jefferson, Franklin and Osbourne ad agency and Frances Scott Key bits are pretty good, but the material loses steam after that. In fact, much of the second CD is tedious to listen to, especially the part with Lincoln and the psychologist. Volume 2 lacks the punch and wit of Volume 1.

Were it not for Volume 1, I would have been generally disappointed with this CD set.

An American Classic
Packed with stylish song-writing and wry wit, "The United States of America" is sure to be a favorite in anyone's CD collection. This album is a perfect example of the timelessness of Stan Freberg's comedy--not over-the-top, and certainly not beneath one's intelligence. With only a few references that might be lost on those whose knowledge of history and pop culture is limited to what they have seen on Oprah, this collection clearly demonstrates why it deserves to be an American classic. ... Read more

Album Description

Every Saturday, just before 5 p.m., the crowd in the Fitzgerald Theater settles down and the ON AIR light flashes red and "A Prairie Home Companion" goes out live coast-to-coast on the radio airwaves into the homes and cares of its countless fans, including the signature "News from Lake Wobegon" monologue, a Guy Noir Private Eye thriller, a western episode with Dusty and Lefty, and much more – gospel star Jearlyn Steele, jazz sweetheart Inga Swearingen, killer country band BR549, the distinguished Guy’s All Star Shoe Band with piano wizard Richard Dworsky, plus the timeless Tim Russell, insouciant Sue Scott, and sound-effects genii Tom Keith and Fred Newman, and hosted by Garrison Keillor. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Absolutely the best. I was there for the live performance.
Jerry Clower is one of the funniest people ever. This was literally his last live recording and his best. Having been there to hear it live makes it all the more special. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Baltimore’s greatest filmmaker has demonstrated a deep appreciation for that very American crossroads of kitsch and sensationalism since the late ‘60s, at least. Of course, quirky Christmas anthologies abound already – the three best probably being Christmas Party With Eddie G, American Song-Poem Christmas, and Where Will You Be Christmas Day. But the songs on A John Waters Xmas are novelty songs for the true connoisseur, including recordings so saccharine and horrifying you wonder how the engineers did not run from the booth screaming; "Happy Birthday Jesus" by the precocious Little Cindy is likely the scariest thing you will ever hear in your life. Not everything is so "Outsider"-y and thrift store score; there’s the rocking, funny "Fat Daddy" by Fat Daddy, a delightful song by the Coctails with the singing saw as the lead instrument, and a gorgeous obscure doo-wop number called "Christmas Time Is Coming (A Street Carol)" by Stormy Weather.--Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Very funny, but for the eternal adolescent in all of us
I listen to Bob and Tom every morning. Yes, they're very funny,
but not exactly adult. The humor is almost always adolescent,
sometimes childish. And they are usually very, very funny. If you're into highbrow humor, skip them. But if there's a naughty little kid inside you, then you'll love them.

Great Diversion For Men at Holiday gatherings
My brother bought Bob and Tom's Cd's for my son's 18th birthday present, because my son loves comedy sketches. Saturday Night Live fan...big time. He brought it for Thanksgiving...so he could give it in person. While dinner was cooking and the women were catching up...(we had friends from out of state)instead of hearing..."when's dinnner going to be done."(every 5 minutes) My brother told my son to play it...my Dad, my husband,my brother from Indy and my brother from Hawaii,and all 3 of my sons sat in the livingroom laughing their butts off...for over an hour before dinner. I mean really laughing...we could hear them from the street. It was so much fun for the women to have private time...at the same time loving hearing all the laughter

The Funniest CD Ever
This is the funniest cd i have ever purchased. I just started listening to them on the radio (KSHE 95, 94.7 FM for those not in the St. Louis and surrounding areas) and their skits are the funniest skits you could ever hear. When I found out that they had a greatest hits cd out i immediately rushed out and bought it. When i put it in my cd player, i couldn't take it out.

Buy this if you enjoy low class humor.
The lyrics in many of the songs were more disgusting than entertaining. The copy I purchased ended up in the fire.

Funniest guys on the radio
This is by far the funniest CD I own. They should have a new one coming out soon I hope! They have the cleverest humor. These songs and skits are the type that stay with you. Everytime I see an orange barrel the song just pops in my head. Bob, Tom, Chick & Christy rock! The FCC must be going crazy! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very funny, but not Clower's best
More Good 'Uns is indeed full of plenty of good 'uns, but you won't find anything of Greatest Hits quality here. This is not to say the album isn't funny because it most certainly is. The Maddest Man I Ever Saw gets the album off to a great start and You're On My List leaves 'em laughing at the end. In between, there are several hunting stories, including one about good old Hi-ball, the best coon huntin' dog to ever live; according to Jerry, Hi-ball was so smart that he wouldn't even bark when he wandered on to someone else's land chasing a coon. One thing that distinguishes this recording from other Jerry Clower albums is the inclusion of several stories about New-gene Ledbetter, known for his meanness and propensity to lie all the time. At one point, Jerry expounds upon the fact that Southerners are just born funny, giving two examples of how something deadly serious is innocently transformed into comedy by Southerners. Oddly, a few of these stories wander outside the confines of Jerry's normal fare and come across as slightly odd; Computer Pilot is an excellent example of this. Once or twice, the story seems to end abruptly, leaving you waiting for a zinger of a punch line that never comes. In the end, though, this is Jerry Clower telling stories, and Jerry Clower telling stories guarantees the listener wholesome, incredibly funny country humor sure to bring a smile to the lips of even the most incorrigible of party poopers. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

A "Weird Al" CD worth buying!
"Weird Al" is one of the most creative people on the face of the Earth, and this CD is one example to back up my theory. With hit songs like "Eat It", "I lost on Jeopordy", and "The Rye or the Kaiser: Theme of Rocky VIII", this CD is worth getting. I was a little dissapointed in "Nature Trail to Hell". Some of the lyrics were funny, but I couldn't imagine Weird Al singing such a profane song. Also "Midnight Star" wasn't as great as I heard it was, and neither was "Buy Me a Condo". But some pretty good songs like "That Boy Could Dance", "Polkas on 45" and "Mr. Popeil" can fill in the dullness gaps left behind by these surprisingly mediocre songs. Just the same, if you are a big "Weird Al" fan you'd probably like most of the songs on this "Al"-bum just like I did!

Just buy it! Buy it! No one wants to be without it!
This is "Weird Al's" second album and home to his first major hit (in Australia anyway) Eat It (parody of Beat It). Other great parodies are Theme From Rocky XIII (parody of Eye of the Tiger) which is about the thirteenth rocky movie which at the time Al like everyone obviously else assumed would be made. It portrays Rocky as a fat overweight, but no bum fighter who has retired and is running his local deli. Extremely funny. King of Suede and That Boy Could Dance are other great parodies but I am unfamiliar with the actual names to those songs.

Some of the original song's background music are a bit dated but you would expect that from an album written in the early 80's. Their lyrics however are hilarious especially the second track Midnight Star. Midnight Star is about tabloid newspapers and all the garbage they contain such as Alien's from outer pace are sleeping in my car and eat jelly doughnuts (donuts for those in USA) and lose twenty pounds a day. This is one of the funniest songs ever written. Other great tracks are Nature Trail to Hell which is about Horror Movies and I lost on Jeopardy about Al's performance on the game show Jeopardy.

This album is a must for all "Weird Al" fans and contains Al's first polka medley Polkas on 45.

One of Weird Al's Best Records
This is one of Weird Al Yankovic's best cds. It starts with a really cool parody of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" called "Eat It", then it is the best song on the record: Midnight Star. A wonderful song about the crazy lying magazine "Midnight Star". Next, its a parody of Men at Work's "The Safety Dance", called "The Brady Bunch", a catchy song about how Al doesn't want to watch The Brady Bunch. Then, its "Buy Me A Condo", which is not the best, but ok. Then "I Lost On Jeoprody" a very good song about Al losing on Jeoprody.Then, the polka, "Polkas On 45" another medley. Then, "Mr.Popeil", another ok song. Then, King of Suede, another ok song. Next, "That Boy Could Dance", another ok sopng. then, "Theme From Rocky XIII(The Rye or the Kaiser)". Finally, Al ends the album with an awesome "Nature Trail To Hell".

Against all odds, "In 3-D" is still a fave of mine
Thanks to my changing taste in humor-- and not finding much to laugh at in his two most recent albums-- I'm not nearly as big on "Weird Al" Yankovic as I used to be. Now instead of finding most of his tunes side-splittingly funny, I just listen to 'em and wonder what I ever saw in 'em. There are a few that still have high comedic impact on me (such as "The Night Santa Went Crazy" and the immortal "Fat"), but otherwise I've pretty much lost interest in the Weird One. A shame, I know. But life goes on, ya know?

Despite my flagging enthusiasm for Al and his music, I still have a soft spot for his breakout Al-bum, "In 3-D". While the "Eat It" is kinda dorky, and "I Lost on Jeopardy" is fairly ludicrous, these ain't the tunes that make this CD my fave pick of the Al catalog. And it ain't the ridiculously corny "Nature Trail to Hell", either. "Midnight Star" is still reasonably amusing, although not quite as much as some of the more sensational tabloid headlines it makes fun of. "That Boy Could Dance" still grabs a smile or two from me mainly because I can relate to the subject of the song. Well, except for the dancing part that is. And settin' up a dance studio. And ownin' half of Montana. And-er now that I think about it, I guess I really don't have much in common with the song's subject...

Anyhoo, I found myself pretty irked by "Polkas on 45", which was the first of Al's annoying polka medleys of various pop song lyrics which became an obligatory feature of almost all subsequent al-bums. Although I used to enjoy this and the other polkas, nowadays I'm glad my CD player has a Skip Track option, if ya know what I mean...

But when it's all said and done, track that really makes it all worthwhile is... the "Theme from Rocky XIII", also known as "The Rye or the Kaiser", a take-off of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" from the Rocky III soundtrack. It's one of the small handful of Al tunes (along with "Achey Breakey Song" and "Fat") whose lyrics I fully know by heart, and never get tired of listening to. And thanks to rumors of yet another Rocky sequel possibly being made in the near future, it's as relevant a tune today as it was when it first came out over two decades ago. Relevant to what, I haven't a clue...

'Late

Watch this... I mean listen to this... In 3D!
Weird Al's second album shows him in great form. The food songs, songs on TV, and song send-ups, social commentary, silly lip music, and silly noises, are all there, but there is also featured a Weird Al standard present in nearly every album. I'll get to that later.

"Eat It" is the first Michael Jackson song to be sent up--"Fat" would be done on the Even Worse album. Here though, the booming synths and guitars are replicated by Al's group of musicians instead of the accordion: "Eat it/eat it/get yourself an egg and beat it/have some more chicken have some more pie/it doesn't matter if it's boiled or fried." There's a great approximation to Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo here.

Bright 80's keyboards start "Midnight Star," about the nonsense found in supermarket tabloids, such as one's pets being extraterrestrial and most important, the story of the man born without a head, that the Incredible Frog Boy is on the loose again. I myself wonder what makes people want to read this rubbish in the first place. They can't have much circulation, but if they do, small wonder the average IQ of this country is in double digits.

Al's observations on TV shows and the stunning variety of programmes is a constant theme in his music. "The Brady Bunch," which is a send-up of Men Without Hats' "The Safety Dance" mentions Mr. Rogers, Three's Company, Barney Miller, MTV, the Addams Family and sundry others before later singing the theme song to the Brady Bunch in the later verse. His comment: "You can watch TV till your eyes fall out of your head" and "television is taking its toll" is a well-known observation on how much TV Americans watch.

"Buy Me A Condo" is Al's poke at reggae, about a Jamaican guy who decides to give up island living, go to New York, cut off his dreads, wallet full of credit cards, get the T-shirt with the alligator on, and basically conform to what Randolph Bourne referred to as the tasteless grey sludge, i.e. the melting pot.

"I Lost On Jeopardy" is another TV song, but this time from the point of view of a game show contestant. Why bother humiliating oneself? As the spoken voiceover says, "You lost and let me tell you what you didn't win: a 20-volume set of the Encyclopedia International, a case of turtle wax, and a year's supply of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat, but that's not all. You also made yourself look like a jerk in front of millions of people and you bought shame and disgrace on your family for generations to come. ....You're a complete loser!"

"Polkas on 45" is the first Weird Al polka medley, with accordion, silly noises, taken from key verses from well-known songs and strung together. Here's what he does: Devo's "Are We Not Men: We Are Devo", Deep Purple's "Smoke On the Water", Berlin's "Sex, I'm A...", Beatles, "Hey Jude", The Doors' "L.A. Woman", Iron Butterfly's "In A Gadda-Da-Vida", Jimi Hendrix's "Hey Joe", Talking Heads' "Burning Down The House", Foreigner's "Hot Blooded", The Police's "Every Breath You Take", The Clash's "Should I Stay Or Should I Go", The Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash", The Who's "My Generation."

"Mr. Popeil" is another TV song, about those commercials introducing those brand new time-saving gadgets, like Vegematics. "Please no CODs, don't miss out on these deals."

"King Of Suede" sends up The Police's "King Of Pain" with a clothing sale motif. Instead of "That's my soul up there" refrain, we get "Is my size up there?"

"That Boy Could Dance" has a great rhythm and some funny lyrics. "Theme From Rocky XIII" is a parody of Survivor's "Eye Of The Tiger" and with three Rocky movies done by 1984, is a look at a future Rocky Balboa, who "sold his gloves, threw his eggs down the drain", and runs the neighborhood deli. "But you just can't go wrong with the rye... or the Kaiser" goes a sample refrain.

"Nature Trail From Hell" is a song built around a movie trailer for cheesy teen horror films. Al evolves from his debut with silly and funny results. Next up, my personal favourite Weird Al CD, Dare To Be Stupid. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Down-home country humor at its very best
Everyone knows Andy Griffith from The Andy Griffith Show, but many today may not be aware of the range of this man's talent as an actor, comedian, and all-around entertainer. This album collects a number of Andy's funny stories and songs taken from a series of recordings he made in the 1950s and early 1960s. The material itself is an almost vaudevillian mix of memorable treats. Griffith's natural penchant for telling hilarious, down-home stories actually jump-started his whole career. The most familiar Andy Griffith recording was his first one, recorded live at an insurance convention in 1952; as the story goes, he essentially thought up the whole routine during a 45-minute drive from Chapel Hill to Raleigh. "What it Was, Was Football" is classic Southern humor that had his audience rolling in the aisles, and it is as funny today as it was decades ago. Colonial released the recording, it sold over a million copies, and Andy Griffith soon found himself working for the Columbia label, putting out a number of albums over the next twelve years. What It Was, Was Football is simply hilarious, as Griffith assumes the role of a country bumpkin describing his first experience watching the game of football. Explaining things in simplistic, countrified terms went over big up North of the Mason-Dixon line, but Andy never forgot, betrayed, or belittled his North Carolina roots.

The strength of this CD is the comedy bits, but there are also several songs included for your enjoyment. The album opens up with The Fishin' Hole: yes, there are actual lyrics to the theme song of The Andy Griffith Show, and you can hear them right here. Cindy and Flop Eared Mule are bluegrass-oriented tracks meant to entertain, while The Midnight Special reveals the kind of true singing talent this man has always possessed. Of course, Griffith's ingenious storytelling is the star of this collection. I suppose much of this would be called stand-up comedy, but Andy tells his stories as if he is sitting on the porch at home entertaining a few good friends. Two of the better tracks found here consist of Andy's unique, folksy recounting of Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet, but he also tickles the funny bone explaining opera in Opera Carmen and ballet in Swan Lake. He goes on to describe the history of The Discovery of America and Andy and Cleopatra in a manner you surely won't find in any textbook. He also offers up two love poems, one called Togetherness and the other dedicated To The Lovely Juanita Beasley. If you need some help sparkin' that sweetheart of yours, you might want to try a few lines from these poems yourself (although they should prove much more effective down here in the South than up North).

The roots of Mayberry's Sheriff Andy Taylor can be found right here in these early comedy recordings of one of America's premiere storytellers, so everyone who loves The Andy Griffith Show (and who doesn't?) should really enjoy this CD. Andy Griffith truly was and is an American Original. This is good old country humor at its best, an album the whole family, from the youngest lad to the oldest gentleman, can heartily enjoy.

Terrific material
We used to listen to the comedy bits on a weekly radio program that plays in the D.C. area, and the whole family loves them. The Shakespeare retellings are the best -- funny, yet actually quite close to the actual plots. And What it was was football is a perfect deadpan southern dimwit parody. I'm so glad these are out on cd.

What it is, is hilarious
Andy Griffith, a complex and intelligent fellow, is NOT a country bumpkin. He has only portrayed one, better than anyone I can name, on stage, screen, television and, in the medium that got him noticed, on record. If you're not familiar with Mr. Griffith's recording career, brother, you are in for a real treat.

Andy stomps the pomp and pretension out of opera, ballet and Bill Shakespeare, using his pocketknife-sharp mother wit to whittle them down to their soap-opera cores and retell them, in his amiable mule-eating-briars way, masterfully and hilariously. He even pokes gentle fun at Mt. Airy, North Carolina, his hometown, in a bit Mayberry fans will find especially amusing. Andy wrote most of these classic routines himself, including the million-selling "What It Was, Was Football," which hasn't lost a smidgen of its timeless charm since "Deacon Andy Griffith" (as Capitol Records dubbed him) first performed it in 1953. (I once played "Football" for a group of Cub Scouts. Bless 'em, they "got it" completely and laughed like hyenas.)

Andy sings, too, in his own boisterous style: full-throttled bluegrass ("Cindy"), prison blues ("The Midnight Special"), even mock gospel ("The Preacher and the Bear"). A special treat is the seldom heard "The Fishin' Hole" - the vocal version of "The Andy Griffith Show" theme - which Ange sings with all the jocularity of a kid playing hooky. There's also a fully-orchestrated version of the TAGS theme, complete with finger snaps and composer Earle Hagen's familiar whistling.

If you love Andy, if you love Mayberry, you will love this CD.

Hilarious!
Any fan of Andy Griffith should love this CD. For those that aren't sure of the track listing, it has everything that's on the Wit and Wisdom of Andy Griffith plus more tracks. Here's the complete listing: 1. The Fishin' Hole 2. What It Was, Was Football (Part I & II) 3. Cindy 4. Love Poems: "To The Lovely Juanita Beasley" 5. Make Yourself Comfortable 6. North Carolina, My Home State 7. The Preacher And The Bear 8. Romeo & Juliet (Part I & II) 9. Love Poems: "Togetherness" 10. Swan Lake 11. Flop Eared Mule 12. Hamlet 13. The Discovery of America 14. Don't Look Back 15. Opera Carmen 16. Andy And Cleopatra 17. The Midnight Special 18. The Andy Griffith Theme

andy griffith american originals
My question if the same as Mr. Bernard's. What is on this cd/audio tape. If I knew, I might also want to purchase it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Adam Sandler plays an immature 32-year-old who adopts a son to prove to the girlfriend who just dumped him that he can be responsible. Those familiar with Sandler's Saturday Night Live shenanigans won't be surprised by his behavior, and several of the movie's bits are interspersed throughout the soundtrack. For the music, it's a mix of straightforward rock (Garbage with "When I Grow Up," which sounds suspiciously like Vanity Fair's "Hitchin' a Ride"), unexpected covers (Sheryl Crow refining Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine," Everlast and the White Folx tripping out on Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"), '70s kitsch (Styx's "Babe" and Yvonne Elliman's disco anthem "If I Can't Have You"), and inquisitive singer-songwriters (Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Mullins, who asks the George Harrison question "What Is Life?"). Melanie C (Scary Spice) surprises with the rock-oriented "Ga Ga." Just in case things seem too serious, Tim Herlihy ends things with the Mr. Rogers-like "The Kangaroo Song." --Rob O'Connor ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Adam Sandler has outdone himself¿
I saw the movie "Big Daddy," I found it extremely funny, I loved it, and I decided to buy this CD. My favorite songs from the CD are "When I Grow Up," "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," and "If I Can't Have You." The whole soundtrack is worth listening to unless you're easily biased against the Kangaroo Song as kiddie happytime stuff. This was a soundtrack from a movie geared for adults, and it would have been even better if they had left the Kangaroo Song at home. There are some special tracks on this CD containing original dialogue from the movie. I especially like the funny track "Smelly Kid" with Sonny saying, "What the [heck] is the matter with me?" He obviously knows little of how to be a parent, and Julian is an only-average child. I do have to say, kids under 12 shouldn't watch the movie because it is filled with sexual situations and language. With its childish and unnecessary "The Kangaroo Song" at the very end, I give this CD a 4 out of 5.

A lot of great songs, a few mediocre ones. Great overall.
All right, I admit: I`m partial towards this album especially because it has a song ("When I Grow Up") by Garbage, my favorite band. However, there are many more great numbers on it, and I`m sure you will enjoy it even if you aren`t as Garbage-obsessed as I am. Sheryl Crow does an incredible remake of Guns and Roses' "Sweet Child of Mine", Limp Bisket rocks the album with "Just Like This", Shawn Mullins (of "Lullabye" fame), appears with "What is Life", and Melanie C. (whoever she is ;) does a cute little number called "Ga Ga". The last track, "The Kangaroo Song", will give those of you who've seen the movie smiling memories of that adorable little boy demanding to watch his favorite movie. My favorite parts of the album, though (except for Garbage's number, of course) are the dialogues from the movie that are inserted between the songs. They are laugh-out-loud funny no matter how many times you listen to them. If Adam Sandler and "Big Daddy" make you laugh, buy this CD to keep the laughter coming, and enjoy great music at the same time.

melanie c. is sporty spice, not scary spice
love the movie, love the soundtrack

Decent album from a decent movie
I bought this album b/c after watching the movie at the end I heard what i thought was gasp Guns N Roses! But it wasn't the original track b/c i have heard that many times so i thought maybe it was axl roses' NEW MATERIAL! finally but after buying the album i realized it was only sheryl crow. It's a decent cover of the song but ur better off just downloading some of the very hard to find guns n roses new stuff or just buying Appetite for Destruction if ur into Guns N Roses. the other stuff on the album is decent and makes this album worth about half of what i paid for it. It's also missing the Styx song from the movie.

Missing the best track of all
I planned on buying this soundtrack for one key track - Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) by Styx. Is it on here?

Of course not.

Soundtracks have this thing for always omitting the best song(s), and this is no exception. Don't get me wrong, most of the other songs are excellent (the covers of Sweet Child Of Mine, What Is Life, and Only Love Can Break Your Heart are just plain awesome,) but I can't forgive the omission of the movie's best track! ... Read more

Reviews (45)

This is Al's first and Best album
you gotta get this album becaus if ya don't, you'll get them buckingham blues!!!...

okay now that the weird intro is done,i'll start the review! finally
RICKY: 3/5 funny when im in the mood,but is that really al singing??

GOTTA BOOGIE:1/5 lame, but its okay

I LOVE ROCKY ROAD:5/5 His Masterpiece!! my personalfavorite

BUCKINGHAM BLUES: 3/5 kinda funny

Happy Birthday:5/5 Hilarious, i almost fellover laughing

spop draggin my car around 5/5 stop tryin to turn it off

my bologna: 4/5 fast pased, COOL

the check's in the mail:3/5 its good, but could be better

Another one rides the bus:5/5, this is why i wanted thei album

i'll be mellow when i'm dead: 5/5
Reminds me of myself hahahahahahahahahahaha

such a groovy guy3/5 i guess it's okay

mr. frump in the iron lung: 5/5, trust me,you'll like it

Pretty Good
Ricky:a funny parody of "Mickey" by Toni Basil,about the two characters, Rickey and Lucy from the "I Love Lucy" show. Apparently they are arguing. Gotta Boogie:an okay song about al having a booger on his finger and he can't get it off. Its a tad annoying, though. I Love Rocky Road:great song, parody of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. It's about al loving Rocky Road flavored ice cream. Buckingham Blues:boring,about the life of Prince Charles and Princess Dianne (before the divorce). Happy Birthday:an okay song about someones birthday happening juring a bad time (like war and stuff). Stop Draggin' My Car Around: parody of "Stop Draggin My Heart Around" by Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It's okay, but a little slow. It's About 3 different situations where al gets his car towed away. My Bologna: A fast, funny song about al loving bologna. It's a parody of The Knack's "My Sharona". The Check's in the Mail: a dumb song about al oweing someone money and he's trying to make excuses and change the subject. Another One Rides the Bus:A parody of "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen. It's a really funny song about al riding the bus and its really full and more and more keep coming on. I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead:a wierd song about al saying he should be hyper right now because he'll be relaxed when he's dead. It's one of his few songs I haven't memorized because I always skip it. Such a Groovy Guy: in my opinion, this is the worst wierd al song. Its about a guy who thinks he's the greatest person in the world. Mr.Frump in the Iron Lung: a funny but short song about Mr.Frump, al's friend,who's in an iron lung, and dies.
This album is pretty good. I like the fact that every song has accordion in it, unlike any other album.

One of his best, which is saying a lot
For my money, this is Al's best. People rip his originals a lot but I find them funnier than his parodies most of the time because he has free rein to make his lyrics as insane as he wants (which is often quite extreme). As far as the songs go:

Ricky: You gotta love this, except for that annoying Lucy singing. To fully appreciate it, however, you need to see the video and Al's facial expressions as he portrays Ricky Ricardo (especially preparing for his club performance).

Gotta Boogie: People rip this one to shreds but I love it. The first time I heard it I was unfortunately driving on the highway, and when he first sang the entire opening line I almost crashed! It's totally unexpected and completely insane, the entire song. Who hasn't had such an experience?

I Love Rocky Road: Decent, notable for Al's skilled accordian (as are most songs in his early career). I prefer this to the original but I don't like the original very much...still, I enjoy this from time to time.

Buckingham Blues: Instantly forgettable.

Happy Birthday: Fantastic song, this. Al doesn't seem to mind that his voice is sliding all over the place as he screams the lyrics, but that just makes it all the funnier. You can't help but get wound up listening to this song, despite it's gloomy prospects for humanity (they are accurate, though, aren't they?).

Stop Dragging My Car Around: I haven't heard the original of this but how could it get better? The only complaint is Al's vocals, for one of the only times in his career, gets rather annoying after about four lines.

My Balogna: Ups the tempo of the original with fabulous results, Al's first parody (I think it was originally from the late 70s) brilliantly skewers My Sharona (I dare you not to laugh at the burp at the end of the accordian solo).

The Check's In The Mail: Not great...listenable when you have the time.

Another One Rides the Bus: I don't think I've ever heard a more underproduced song, but it is absolutely hilarious. Like "Happy Birthday," Al lets his voice do whatever it wants as he sings over instrumentation stripped down to his accordian, some horns, and a guy banging on a box in the place of proper purcussion.

I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead: A great song about Al's (then-current) outlook on life, and why not live like this? It is funny now to hear him skewer vegetarianism (right on!) when now he is a vegan...I wonder if he regrets this song now?

I'm Such a Groovy Guy: Judging by the reviews, this song can make you laugh or make you annoyed depending on whether or not you get that he is KIDDING. I think it's safe to assume he is, and his vocals are priceless.

Mr. Frump in the Iron Lung: People like it, but I just don't get it.

Final assessment: buy this album instantly. It's the perfect prelude to Weird Al's great career (in addition you should get his video collection).

I love Rocky Road, so have another triple scoop with me!
How can I forget to write a review for America's favorite spoof artist, Weird Al Yankovic? For over 20 years, he has lyrically torn apart every pop, rock, and rap artist on MTV, and his 10 albums are hilariously wholesome time capsules that are well-preserved in a world of sex and violence. Weird Al's 1983 debut album is quite unique in itself because of its minimal production value. Back then, had just received a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture and his band members had little money to spend. What dominates the record's 12 tracks are Al's trademark accordian, Rick Derringer's lead guitar, Steve Jay's bass, and John Schwartz's drums. One should also notice how raw and rugged Al's vocals are on here. It's perfectly clear that he wanted to poke fun at himself so that audiences wouldn't take him too seriously as a singer. Despite its low budget sound, this album still indicates that the group is versatile in their material. Is anyone ready to rumba?!
Cult fans will greatly enjoy the album's unforgettable parodies. "Ricky," which alters the lyrics of Toni Basil's cheerleader hit "Mickey," is a duet between Al Yankovic and Tress MacNeille. In addition, the song pays homage to the 1950's sitcom, "I Love Lucy." The now famous single, "I Love Rocky Road" is a Joan Jett spoof that will make ice cream fanatics lick all 31 flavors! "Stop Draggin' My Car Around" is a melodic Stevie Nicks alteration that lets Al complain about the annoying tow trucks that lurk around parked vehicles. Oscar Meyer will grin from ear to ear thanks to the tune "My Bologna," a classic Knack parody that Al first recorded in a college bathroom! "Another One Rides the Bus," which rips apart Queen's funk hit, is as cheap a recording as it gets. Featuring just Al's accordian and John Schwartz's banging on a suitcase, this particular song was performed live on the Dr. Demento Show in 1980.
Mainstream listeners will also be impressed by Yankovic's original, wacky tunes. "Buckingham Blues," which pays tribute to the British monarchy, is a country song that features a hot harmonica. "Happy Birthday" is a wild and funny ditty that puts candles, cake, poverty, and nuclear war in a blender. During "The Check's in the Mail," Al adapts the role of a selfish, sneaky lawyer who does everything he can to dupe his clients. This track can best be described as a soft mix of jazz, tap dancing, and a banjo. "I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead" encourages every breathing adult to indulge in as much recreation as possible before ending up six feet under. In "Such a Groovy Guy," Yankovic plays a handsome hunk who turns out to be an abuser towards women. The only two mediocre tracks on this album are the gross "Gotta Boogie" and the morbid "Mr Frump in the Iron Lung." Still, the album's overall quality is quite a treat to hear; it is as much a guilty pleasure as a hot bowl of Chef Boyardee!
If you have never heard of Weird Al Yankovic, the Prince of Parody, then this album is naturally the perfect introduction. I recommend you purchase this zany time capsule while you still can. And remember: don't leave your sandwich in the backseat!

Good Debut
This is a Good debut
Heres The Track Rating
1.Ricky 7/10
2.Gotta Boggie 4/10
3.I Love Rocky Road 10/10
4.Buckingham blues 8/10
5.Happy birthday 10/10
6.Stop Draggin My car around 9/10
7.My Bologna 8/10
8.The Checks In The Mail 9/10
9.Another One rides The Bus 9/10
10.Ill Be Mellow When Im Dead 7/10
11.Such A Groovy Guy 8/10
12.Mr Frump In The Iron Lung 10/10 ... Read more

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Pure guano will be the reaction of most, but there's a certain primative charm about the straight-to-tape musings of these whacked-out dilettantes with a drum machine. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (34)

PERHAPS THE BEST ALBUM EVER!
Some time during my high school career, my friend introduced me to a band called Ween. He only had one album, Pure Guava, their third major release. After hearing many of the tracks, I bought it for myself. I locked myself in the basement every day and listened to it a few times through... and I now know that this is the most beautiful piece of music ever crafted. This is the pinnacle of mankind. This is the gem in our crown. This is Pure Guava. How can I explain the greatness of this album? From the happy-go-lucky I Saw Gener Cryin' In His Sleep to the sickeningly sweet Springtheme; from the sad yet courageous Loving U Thru It All to the lazy doldrums of I Play It off Legit; from the haunting, drug-induced Little Birdy to the soft and tender Sarah; from the excited, insane Pumpin' 4 the Man to the grooviness of Big Jilm. There's the classic, The Stallion Pt. 3, a beautiful song that takes you to emotional heights. Push th' Little Daisies is a wonderful pop tune that won't get anybody down. Flies On My D*ck holds the key to the best guitar solo ever. The pathetic Touch My Tooter, the amazingly creative Mourning Glory, the nasty Hey Fat Boy (A**hole), the folky, dreamy Don't Get 2 Close (2 My fantasy), the perfect ending... Poop Ship Destroyer. And who could ever forget... not the best song ever, but the most creative, most amazing, most inspiring, most impressive track ever recorded... you cannot realize the full beauty of this song until you have emmorized each and every little sound that comes through your speakers... Dean and Gene are geniuses. Because of Reggaejunkiejew. That is all I can say.

This is not a parody
If you like weird alternative rock, or alternative alternative rock, you will probably like this album. This album got me interested in Ween. The first three songs seem to have the most emotion put into them (Little Birdy, Tender Situation, The Stallion Pt.3). After that Gene and Dean sound more silly for the most part (with the exception of 'Sarah', which sounds like a pretty ode). The silliness works best in the tune 'Don't Get 2 Close 2 My Fantasy' (which sounds similar to a song by the seventies band Bachmann-Turner Overdrive). Overall, there is something interesting about each song on this album. It is a work of creativity.

messed up
if you ever trip, this album will make you trip 10 times harder because it is so screwed up. If you don't believe me, try it.

sentimental review
I got into Ween back in college, listening to Pure Guava, GodWeenSatan and The Pod with friends. We were repulsed, intrigued, and finally, disciples. It was an great alternate to drugs, or enhancement for some.

Pure Guava is the last album from Dean and Gene that feels like the essence of an altered state of mind, a kind of inside joke genius between friends.

When Chocolate and Cheese came out, and everything else since, I've been put off by the cleanness of production. It's been different kind of "brown". While the boys have always "aimed to quease", from Chocolate and Cheese on, the queasiness has been more from relation to parody of commercial music than the more elemental queasiness of the first three albums. Not to say the follow-ups aren't great albums, I've even gotten to like the country one. It's just a different kind of music with different strengths.

Pure Guava stars Ween's screwy drum machine more than in previous albums, and focuses more around experimenting around the beats. It reminds me of Hal in 2001 as his circuits begin to fry. If Hal was a musical genius, he might have written Poopship Destroyer in his last dying moments.

Listen to Mourning Glory a few times even though it is difficult. What is intelligible is really funny. Stallion part three is my favorite Ween song. Even my wife likes Big Jilm.

So take a ride on the poopship! If the Devil has a sense of humor, buying this album could be your best way of getting used to it.

PROOF that there is tons of uncharted territory in music!!!
A lot of people in music will say they feel like rock has gone as far as it can, and that every note has been played by somebody else. Here is proof that u can take the same chords/vocals and twist them to make it sound like something completely fresh.I just recently got into Ween, and probably wouldn't have understood this back in 92-when it was released.In fact -i hated Push the Little Daisies back when it was on the radio!! (But now LOVE it)For people like me who have fairly normal tastes, but are uninspired by the lack of originality in today's music-THIS IS 4 U. It sounds like a lot was done on the spot-just keep the ideas flowing in completely different directions, but all at the same time.Touch My Tooter sounds like a Jimi Hendrix B-Side.Goin gets Tough from the Getgo-sounds like they're trying to rap-but it works-kinda like the current band the Streets(way before the Streets existed).Think of Primus when u hear Pumpin 4 The Man.They're making fun of the fact that you can't put out a song that sounds like 10CC-and have it accepted by the masses unless you alter it a little(Speaking of which-they're album "White Pepper" seems to be their take on 10CC.)The Mollusk is probably my favorite CD of theirs(especially the song "She Wanted to Leave")-but The Stallion pt3 could possibly be the greatest song ever!!!!Probably the most endearing thing about this band is the decision if they really have musical talent or not-if u decide NO-listen to Spirit of 76(AL GREEN would like this), the entire Mollusk cd or the White Pepper CD.Any of their cd's will renew faith in the power of endless creativity!!! P.S. a fan on the internet did a video for The Mollusk a couple years ago with lego-animation-it is INCREDIBLE ... Read more

Reviews (27)

George is making a comeback
George Carlin has slipped a little in the past few years in terms of his comedy albums. BACK IN TOWN was his worst one with way too much diss on religion and government, and YOU ARE ALL DISEASED failed to cover any real new ground, (Containing an even now ironic piece on having too much airport security).

THANKFULLY we are given COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES and Carlin has improved vastly. Getting back to basics, he has slimmed down his attacks on government and religion and moved towards what he does best, fun observations and as he even said once, "Goofy S**t". Carlin stabs at people who wear visors, "Why buy half a hat? Either get a hat or don't!" Honor Student bumper stickers, carrying babies in backpacks, Answering Machines with (...) music or children on them, and my favorite, and for anyone else who works retail, people who make small purchases with credit cards "Cheese Doodles are NOT a major purchase!!" It doesn't stop there, Carlin does the impossible and sides with the US Govt and offers a suggestion for wiping out terrorism with a new form of chemical warfare; farts, particularly from 200 lb football fans.

Anyone put off by Carlins last two albums (like me) will find this a bit of fresh air and harkins back to better, earliar times. Put this one behind JAMM'IN IN NEW YORK and before WHAT AM I DOING IN NEW JERSEY? It's hilarious. I hope Georges next one is just as good.

(...)not his best
I was expecting a lot more from this album than I actually got, mainly because I thought Carlin would talk at length about the WTC terrorist attacks. But, this subject is just kind of glossed over. About the only thing he talks about is his 'chemical warfare' solution, which was kinda funny.
Then he goes on to traffic accidents which is ok, and then on to peeling various things (such as scabs) off of his body, which was completely unfunny. This is definitely the low point of the album. At this point during the 'scab' routine, obviously sensing that the audience was getting sick of it, he says something like "maybe I went a little too far" and then goes on to something else.
However, the album starts to pick up after this point as he goes into people that should be killed (great!) and the ten commandments (pretty good).
It seems that Carlin can't make up his mind whether he wants to do disgusting 'bathroom humor' material or witty & disturbing social commentary. Though I am a fan of both when it comes to comedy, Carlin just doesn't seem very capable of mixing the two the very well.
If you are a Carlin fan, this may make for a decent listen if your expectations aren't too high. If you're not a Carlin fan, this will do little to change your mind.

The "dirty old man" guise wears thin
George can do SO much better than this. In fact, his prior album, You Are All Diseased, was largely brilliant. This new one provides a Carlin as distant from (for instance) the Carlin on the insightful, provocative Jammin' in New York as the one who did Toledo Window Box was from the Playin' With Your Head guy.

I don't think he's out of material. I think he's far from the end of the line, and should now surprise everyone by re-blossoming the way he did in the '80s.

But Complaints & Grievances is not terribly funny, thought-provoking OR insightful. There's nothing here that you can't get from any other cable comedian, and this is quite a difference from the Carlin of just a few years ago.

The only bit I like occurs at the end, when he talks about how ill-suited to real life the Ten Commandments are. Other than that, he talks about saving things you've picked out of your bottom, threatening molestation when leaving answering-machine messages for toddlers, and other things that display how he's pushing too hard for the "perverted old man" part of his repertoire that only the small segment of his fanbase representing drunk frat boys could possibly laugh at.

You haven't let me down in 33 years, George. Don't turn the brain off now, for godsakes.

The AOM is at it again.
I have been a George Carlinite since I was seven (and busted by my father for listening to the LP 'Class Clown'). I really admired Carlin for talking about, and intelligently making fun of, the things in our everyday lives. Alas, ever since "What am I doing in New Jersey?" his humor has gone from being intelligent to being only somewhat humourous at best, and downright stupid at its worst. He's become angry now and when he makes fun of things in our everyday lives, its sometimes unfunny.

The lion's share of this CD is rather unfunny, although it does have its moments. The abridgment of the Ten Commandments was to me, a semi-lasped Catholic, to be a stroke of genius but it's a day late and a buck short when held in comparison to the rest of the CD.

I have tried and tried again to like his later works ("Jammin' in New York" and "You are all Diseased"), but I have eventually sold the CDs off because they just didn't make me laugh like his earlier works. This is in the "To Be Sold" bin even as we speak.

Sorry, George.

Speaks truth!
This is Carlin at his best and my favorite routine is hearing all his complaints. It's very true about boy's names. For example, where did "Trey" come from?! It's also true about holiday newsletters and women with hyphenated last names. It's very irritating. I agree 100%. He is the best comic around, and he speaks the truth, especially about religion. I can't wait to catch his next album. ... Read more