Beneath California - Retox

This is the junior full length album by California's punk band RETOX. Now I've known about these guys since the announcement of the release of Ugly Animals Ep on Ipecac Records, back in 2011. I haven't yet heard all of YPLL which was their sophomore album released in 2013. Something I wanna try and do is do at least an album a month, for which it was released that month. Now I have a fair idea of what to expect on this album.

1. Die In Your Own Cathedral: The way this song starts out the album shows that if the songs are anything similar to this track it's a a lot of the same.
2. We Know Who's The Prick: This sticks to the angry punk noise sound that if you know them, you'll know.
3. The Savior, The Swear Word: I like the way the riff in the song kind of reminds me a little of a Mastadon song. I can't quite think of it but I'm gonna go with my gut and say Iron Tusk or Blood & Thunder.
4. Let's Not Keep In Touch: I like how this song kind of has a different rhythm to it than the last tracks.
5. Disappointing Grade: This is a song that I like, and I actually understand what he's saying.
6. The Inevitable End: This track doesn't really do much for me.
7. This Should Hurt A Little Bit: This is another track that doesn't do much for me.
8. Death Will Change Your Life: For whatever reason this track reminds me of the Dead Kennedys. At least the intro does a little of like Holiday In Cambodia. This track has enough variation within for me to dig it. I think it's the best track here, but you know... that's me.
9. Without Money, We'd All Be Rich: ...........
10. You're Only A Crook If You Get Caught: ............ While I was listing to this track I played my bass and honestly think I thought of a more interesting bass riff to play to this track, but who know. I like the tone of the bass on there though.
11. Wooden Nickels: This intro vaguely reminds me of the Sex Pistols' track Pretty Vacant.
12. Strong Wrong Opinion: I love the change of pace, this is a noise piece that I didn't expect.... well that is until that part ended. While I'm digging the track.... why not give me that noise piece. Or at least started and ended with it, or the continuation of it.

Overall I have to give this album a 5.5/10. It's only 22 minutes long, and to be honest the only real difference here is the lengths in tracks, but the tracks on their last album were longer too. I did end up liking this and song of the tracks here, but as a whole there were more parts that I just felt neutral on.I think I'll just stick to their Ep and Ugly Animals.

Straight Outta Lynwood - "Weird Al" Yankovic

This is the 12th studio album, 13th overall album including Peter and The Wolf, by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released on September 26th, 2006. Now I can't honestly say this is the first Album, that goes to Running With Scissors, that i remember by him. That album from 1999 was the first CD I ever got. But since my last review was the dirty Al why not do the clean Blowfly. Both kings of parody, but both in different worlds. Thought I think Al's better since he's able to do such a good job and its more that goes into it and it's also smarter. I also did he last album, Mandatory Fun, this last summer. One thing I will admit is I only listened to this album once for this review, but I've heard the songs enough to know how I feel about them and what not. Actually I could probably do it with out listening to the album at the same time as the review, but hey.... why not :)

1. White & Nerdy: This is the song that I remember it coming out. I remember the song it spoofed Ridin' Dirty coming out. There was a kid who really like that song and I remember this was before I like hip-hop. Not that I like that kind of hip-hop but I am a different person than I was in 7th grade. And while the rapping is more spit fire than Amish Paradise, this just isn't as much of a classic. Another way I can connect the two is the intro from this and the original you could easily mix the two up. I think the music video has great parts and lyrically my favorite part is the M.C. Escher line. I wonder if this is the song that made it cool to be a nerd. Now I'm not a nerd, I love Star Wars, but I'm a "I really don't care". I do have a love a this guy's music though, so that might mean something.
2. Pancreas: Much like Genius In France being a homage to Zappa, this is  homage to The Beach Boys. One thing you gotta love is the intricacies that he puts into these tracks. There is so much going on, instrumentation wise, it makes me wanna get tons of money just so I can play with all those instruments sounds. Even if you don't like this track listen to everything going on. You need head phones and even look at the instruments in the credits. I love the harpsichord part and the toy piano string solo.
3. Canadian Idiot: This is a parody of American Idiot by Green Day. I'm not huge on this song, original, or the group in general. This is kinda funny, but you know..... I'm just not nuts about this. 
4. I'll Sue Ya: This is a style parody of Rage Against The Machine and it's about this guy who sues people over stupid things. The think they did good job at sounding like them, and the best part is that fact that this is has some lawsuits that I wouldn't doubt are real.
5. Polkarama: To be honest, one of my least favorite polka medleys. It could possibly be my overall least favorite. I'm not nuts about Hot Rocks Polka because it's sole Rolling Stones' songs from the compilation album it gets it's name from. I also am not nuts about the basically polka cover of Bohemian Rhapsody. Maybe it's that those song in this one remind me of a time in music when it was kind of terrible. But there are some songs I like in it.And maybe it's the Chicken Dance that's played at the beginning too. But then again it isn't really played with a tone of energy that makes the other ones intoxicating. I mean there are songs that I didn't even know existed until I heard Polka Face but I still love the hell out of that. maybe because it's fricken. This really does very little to nothing for me. Which for a polka medley is shocking. Some artist's in this one include Kanye West's track Gold Digger, Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand (love the gun shot at the end of their part), Speed of Sound by Coldplay, also Beverly Hills by Weezer, Float On by Modest Mouse, Slither by Velvet Revolver. These are all good song, minus the first.... but parts like Candy Shop come one........... Ehhh
6. Virus Alert: I assume this is a Queen style parody. But this kind of reminds me of Love is Your Weapon Of Choice by Flight of the Conchords. Now the other track came out about 3 years later, but you can tell which I heard first. But the "one liners" in this song are pretty wacky and they make me laugh every time I hear it. I looked it up and it's a style parody of Sparks who I know too little about to hear it. This is certainly flamboyant enough to be a Queen song, and I mean that in the best way possible. 
7. Confessions Part III: This is a parody of Confessions Part II by Usher. It's kind of silly, in the Weird Al way. And you know some of them are funny and some of them aren't. Like the "Shirley Temple" line does nothing for me but the sink thing or the tooth brush thing too make me smile. Maybe he's being a little to honest, but that's also the joke.
8. Weasel Stomping Day: I think the best way to enjoy this is from the Robot Chicken skit. This song probably would get annoying after multiple listens unless you really like old 60's Claymation specials music. 
9. Close But No Cigar: There is a line in here that makes me giggle when I hear it. It's the line about why he broke up with first first girl. It's kinda like the precursor to Word Crimes. This is also a style parody of the 90's group Cake. I really dig the beat to this song, and think the references are great in this track. I really like the way the bass is being played, like in terms of rhythm. I love the Buddy Rich reference, and the Mama Cass one too. I also think this, along with other references on this album, make for the album to be more enjoyable if you get it.
10. Do I Creep You Out: This is a parody of the Do I Make You Proud by Taylor Hicks. Now I don't care for this song much, and I care even less for the original. It sounds like a song from the 90's. The guy that is portrayed in this song is kinda creepy, but it just isn't that funny. I don't understand why the original track even matters. I think it's kinda weird that he cares if he makes anyone proud. But whatever.... that's just me.
11. Trapped In The Drive-Thru: I'm from Chicago, well the suburbs, so I'm aware of R. Kelly. I'm niot crazy about the guy, and about his "actions" but I do like this. Yes, I'm admitting I've sat through all like 50 chapters so far. I the original it was kind of a stretch, but by chapter 13 it just tunes into a "lets just throw shit together, I don't care any more". In fact the only time the music changes is in like chapter 40 something and it's pretty good. The thing about this is that it literally sounds like the original. The best part of Amish Paradise is you can't really tell the difference at the beginning between the spoof and Coolio's original. This track is just like that. Now I can't say the entire track is like that, but the beginning is good enough to where you could mix them up. This is a pretty funny thing because it's like an melodramatic version of something that just happens every day. But I also love that little song he plays on the radio. If you don't what I'm talking about the nI don't want to spoil it but I'll give you this much. It's by this artist. Watch the music video of this on YouTube if you get a chance. It makes the song that much more enjoyable.
12. Don't Download This Song: This is a spoof on the style of song that has existed ever since We Are The World. This song is funny in both lines, wording and what not. Now the song it's self isn't that amazing. But I love the references to the sites. I doubt any of those are still up today, almost 10 years after this albums release. To be honest, the best WATW style parody I think there is is Feel Inside by Flight of the Conchords. The line that a I love in this is where he says "Don't take money away from artists like me, how else can I afford another solid gold Hum V. And Diamond studded swimming pools, these things don't grow on trees".

Overall I have to give this song a 6/10. I love a good Al review, and I love putting in all the links that I need to in order to make it the best I can. There are a lot of references on this album that I don't think my little brother would ever get. With that said, I think you should do what I did with Zappa. If he said something I didn't get, I'd look it up. Instead of letting jokes pass you up, why not take this as an opportunity to educate your self a little on things they don't teach at school. This isn't meant as in insult, it's just meant as a way for you to look at this and say, maybe next time I'll get the jokes without having to look it up.

The Weird World Of Blow Fly

This is the debut album by original dirty rapper Blow Fly, possibly better known by the decent few in the world as Clarence Reed. Now his whole discography, prior to about 1984-ish is weird. By that some sites say that Butterfly came out in 1973, which was when it's phonographic copyright is dated, but some say it's from 1976. Even odder his official site says it's from 1981, which production wise and everything else wise I don't believe for a second. This album has been said to be from 1971, butg his site says 1973. I already mentioned this on the On T.V. review, but a debut does one of two things. It either establishes you, and gives you footing on the ground. The first is you'll always have to live up to the album, 36 Chambers, the second is you will always be improving until you reach you're sound, Iron Maiden and Killers. Now this review is going to be done during the Super Bowl, I don't care for sports and don't care who knows it. So with that said I decided to do this because I've been listening to this album a ton lately. I didn't finish it during, but I did most of it during.

1. Intro: This track is also known as Weird World. This opens with a groove and the groove is played at the end of each track while he announces the next track upcoming. There is a line he usese "guys and girls" that he used in Rap Dirty.
2. My Baby Keeps Farting In My Face: This is a spoof of the B.J. Thomas classic Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head. This is actually a funny song that, well think about it. The lyrics kind of give what the songs about.
3. Hold On It's Running: This is a spoof of Hold On! I'm a Coming by Sam & Dave. This makes me laugh because he's sings about his penis. I mean it isn't that amazing of a concept but it makes me laugh.
4. Hole Man: This is a spoof of Soul Man by Sam & Dave from 1967. I think that this is the original also. I prefer this to the original. This is a classic that would appear on re-recordings and other times in his discography.
5. The Eating Song (Yum-Yum): This is one of two Otis spoofs. This is a spoof of The Happy Song (Dum-Dum) from 1968. This is another song that I enjoy the original, but Blow's version is the best. And honestly, the eating he's talking about... well I can "dig it".
6. Shitting On The Dock Of The Bay: This is a spoof of (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Reeding. This, according to Henry Stone was the song that Blowfly played for him and he told him to record it and come up with other track. And you know, I love this track. He took one of the most introspective songs (while I'm listening to it I always do that) and most heartfelt tracks I can think of and turned into into a track about turds floating away.
7. To-To-To-To-To (The Fart Song): This is a spoof of Um, Um, Um, Um, Um by Major Lance from 1963. This is a funner version of the song. And you know, it perfectly compliments it's previous track. At the end of this track he talks about the players on the album, except he uses other names.
8. I Don't Want No Woman To Give Me Nothing: This is a spoof of I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing by the Godfather of soul James Brown from 1969. This is a song about "getting it" yourself. And this track closes side 1.
9. The Eater: This opens the second side, and starts the "second show". This is a spoof of The Cheater by Bob Kuban and the In-Men from 1966. But the track opens with a reprise of Weird World theme song.
10. Spermy Night In Georgia: This is a spoof of Rainy Night In Georgia by Brook Benton. This was originally by Tony Joe White though. I think this idea is kinda hilarious.
11. Odd Balls: This is the only original track I think that's on this album. On the CD reissue he even says so before the track this is an original. For the sole original this is probably one of the best albums here. Even if you look past the lyrics this is a pretty solid track, and the way he sings I like a lot. The best part is the "prechorus" part towards the intro. And then is followed by that oh so great intro theme.
12. Baby Let Me Do It To You: This is a spoof of a track of the same name by Tyrone Davis from 1967. This song is okay, if there are any tracks I can say I've not huge on it's maybe this one.
13. It's A Faggot's World: This is a spoof of It's A Man's Man's Man's World by James Brown from 1966. Progressively I've learned to love the original, I finally get why it's so good. Thought I prefer the 1970 Oliver Nelson arranged version from Soul On Top I still love the song. That opening line just makes me laugh, especially since there is laughter in the background. This song isn't limited to "faggots" thought, it also talks about "bulldaggers".
14. A Child's Dick: This is a spoof of With A Child's Heart by Stevie Wonder and written by Ray Charles (I believe).Even thought the title, at least now a days, brings to mind pedophilia... this is about a guy with a small penis. It's funny because if this inded did come out in 1973 MJ did a version that year of the original song. It's kinda like a prediction of Michael's future controversies... Just saying.
15. The Sperm Is Gone: This is a spoof of The Thrill Is Gone by B.B. King from 1969. This was originally by Roy Hawkins from 1951 though. Go Little Beaver Go! This happens to be, right next to Lucille, my favorite BB track. So this cover makes me laugh when I hear it.
16. Outro: On the behalf of Cunt Man, Pussy Willar, Dickhead and Blowfly himself they wish to see you again...

Overall I have to give this album a 7.5/10. I noted in the Blowfly's Butterfly review that I didn't like that repeating theme throughout so much, but it's grown on me. I mean, in reality there isn't a bad track here. Some of his albums have tracks that aren't good. There isn't one track here that I think is bad.