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Off the Deep End

Weird Al Yankovic - Off the Deep End Audio CD

A fair review of the Weird Al Yankovic "Off the Deep End" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Weird Al Yankovic reviews here, or go back to the Weird Al Yankovic tabs.

Band: Weird Al Yankovic
Title: Off the Deep End
Rating:

Release Date: 1992-04-14
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Smells Like Nirvana 2: Trigger Happy 3: I Can't Watch This 4: Polka Your Eyes Out 5: I Was Only Kidding 6: White Stuff 7: When I Was Your Age 8: Taco Grande 9: Airline Amy 10: Plumbing Song 11: You Don't Love Me Anymore

A Major Influence To The Upcoming Artists of Today
" I think they were influenced by Weird Al, because "Smells Like Nirvana" is a grungey song, and Crossfade seem to be a bit grungy and nu-metalish. I know that Crossfade made a song called "The Deep End. Anybody who can sing with marbles in their mouth is quite talented.

TAKE THE PLUNGE!!!
Many have tried, and many have taken the punch hard, by losing much of the respect of fellow reviewers. In the world of Amazon reviewing, there is nothing more frowned upon than a serious look at a Weird Al record. This happened to me once before, when I attempted to review Weird Al's 1984 mega hit "In 3-D". Although I still stand by my opinion of it being one of the landmark albums of the eighties, my reputation around these parts took a major downfall, with my reviewer rank plumeting into the octruple digits.

For a long time I decided never to review Al's second best offering, 1991's OFF THE DEEP END. . . even though I consider it a bonafied classic, in the parody/novelty song genre. And one that begs to be discussed. So here goes. . .
Perhaps it came around at such an important era of popular culture. When the mass eighties scenes were making way for inovative pop, like the alterna-scene, and a more sophisticated brand of MTV. (remember Kurt Loder?) Times were a-changin', and Weird Al knew that in order to stay relevant, he would have to switch some gears, and this time around instead of parodying the likes of Madonna and Michael Jackson, he would need to extend into parodying more modern trends like Nirvana and REM. The results were brilliant. The opening song SMELLS LIKE NIRVANA shows that no matter what sort of new sound was coming around, AL could still make it hillarious. His further take on alternative culture is displayed in the medley POLKA YOUR EYES OUT. This wasn't the first or last time AL strung pop toppers into a polka medley, but definately the most satisfying, as it shows exactly how we were on the cusp of pop revolution. The Medley flies rapidly from REM, to The B-52's, to Metallica, to Warrant, to Motley Crue without a hitch. Throwing in some Humpty Dance, some Touch Myself and some Ice Ice Baby to cool things down.
More great parodies follow, such as THE WHITE STUFF, a New Kids On The Block sounding jam about Oreo cookies. THE PLUMBING SONG, one Milli Vanilli could lyp synch to (B-b-b-baby; don't forget my plumber!) And who could EVER forget how awesome it was to hear AL take some shots at the Latino-rap community with the song TACO GRANDE, an unmistakable parody of the smash Gerardo hit Rico Suave.

You must also remember that Weird Al was at his best original writing here also. With great numbers like I WAS ONLY KIDDING, in which Al confesses to one of his many lovers that when he told her that he loved her and would always be true. . . he was in fact "Only Kidding baby- whats the matter with you anyway!" The song blends tender ballad with punk rock style. Genius! The surf rock sound of TRIGGER HAPPY is also worth mentioning, and the gritty rock of WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE and of course my personal favorite, the close out ballad YOU DON'T LOVE ME ANYMORE, in which Al is heartbroken at his girlfriends decision to "pluck out his chesthairs with an old pair of pliers" or to "Call him ugly and cheap, and shave off his eyebrows when he is asleep", or how he lost some self esteem when she "made it with the whole hockey team. " Greatness.

So, I may take another rank plunge for this one, but I figured whatever. This album is to awesome not to pass on. Take that plunge yourself friends, Off The Deep End is one hell of a ride!.

Smells like Nirvana
I haven't had a CD of his that hasn't made me laugh over and over again. Weird Al is the King of Parody. Cannot say much to add to the bulk of this testimonial, but if you have enjoyed his work this is one of Weird Al's best CDs of contemporary music. .

Almost The Best
But anyway, let me get to my review. Like you can see in the title above, this is my second favorite only to Running With Scissors.
Smells Like Nirvana is a parody of Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. It is about two minutes shorter than the original, but I still give it a 4/5.
Trigger Happy is a Beaach Boys style song, and might just be the best original tha Al's ever done. I give it 5/5.
I Can't Watch This is a parody of M. C. Hammer's U Can't Touch This. It;s a pretty good parody, opening Al into the rap region. I give it 4/5.
Polka Your Eyes Out is another polka, just another chronicle to the series. But, it does have a small drum solo and also is very catchy. It gets a 4/5.
I Was Only Kidding is a funny original about Al lying to his girlfriend about getting married etc. Pretty godd, 4/5.
The White Stuff is a parody of New Kids On The Block's The Right Stuff, it's just a normal parody about Al loving the oreo filling so much he spreads it on toast. 4/5.
When I Was Your Age is another original about a grandpa telling his grandkid about how rough his childhood was. 4/5
Taco Grande might just be one of the best parodies Al has ever done. It parodies Gerardo's Rico Suave, and is very catchy and tasty. I love it, it gets a 5/5.
Airline Amy is an original about Al falling in love with an airplane stewardess. 4/5
The Plumbing Song is a Parody of Milli Vanilli's Baby Don't Forget My Number and Blame It On The Rain. Al fits the extra part very well into the song. It gets a 5/5
You Don't Love Me Anymore is an anti-love original about Al's spouse getting angry and doing weird stuff to him. Completely distasteful, 3/5.
It's a pretty good CD, with good originals and parodies and ultimatley relaunched Al's career. I give the CD a 5/5.

Still a master of his genre
I have been known to listen to it on repeat many times because not only are the titles so funny i started laughing just reading them, but the music is top notch. Pure genious, well silly genious! Weird Al has been a favorite of mine since i was much younger and this album is no letdown. Yes Al does write original material as well as parodies and songs "in the style" of artists; I must say each attempt at those 3 approaches on this album is pure gold. I am a music student as well so i know talent and polish when i hear it. This album will delight the comedic enthusiast as well as a "Weird" newcomer to his work. It brings you back to the music scene of that time and reminds you why it is good to make music fun and light-hearted. I fully recommend this cd!.

You can see a complete list of all Weird Al Yankovic discography, or go back to the Weird Al Yankovic tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.