Weird Al Yankovic – The Essential Weird Al Yankovic (2009) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Weird Al Yankovic – The Essential Weird Al Yankovic (2009)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 02:33:10 minutes | 1,74 GB | Genre: Rock, Pop
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Volcano – Legacy

Two disc career-spanning collection of tracks hand-picked by Weird Al himself. Yankovic is a true artistic genius in the classic sense of the word. No other artist can parody a song or a music video without being directly compared to the maestro. Throughout his career, Al has offered up an alternate reality of sorts to the history of pop music, lovingly re-casting hits of all genres into bizarre and hilarious songs and videos that themselves have become hits.

More times than not, Columbia/Legacy’s Essential collections are stellar overviews. Boasting a two-and-a-half-hour running time and 38 songs hand-picked by Al himself, The Essential “Weird Al” Yankovic is yet another well-executed title in the series. Encompassing 12 albums, the double-disc set starts from the beginning of Al’s career, with “Another One Rides the Bus,” his live “Another One Bites the Dust” parody from the Dr. Demento show in 1980, and it gradually chronicles up to the R. Kelly-influenced “Trapped in the Drive-Thru” from 2006’s Straight Outta Lynwood. Most of Al’s big parodies are highlighted here (“Eat It,” “I Lost on Jeopardy,” “Yoda,” “Like a Surgeon,” “Fat”) — as well as some choice deep cuts, like the ripping accordion medley “Polkas on 45,” the opening theme from UHF, and a smattering of absurd originals (“Albuquerque,” “Dare to Be Stupid,” “You Don’t Love Me Anymore,” and “The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota”). All of these could be deemed essential for fans, but nitpickers will wonder about the whereabouts of “Ricky,” “Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies,” and two of Yankovic’s best food parodies, “My Bologna” and “I Love Rocky Road.” These songs aside, not much is missing, considering the depth of his discography. The exhaustive four-disc Permanent Record has 50 songs, but it stops at 1994. Al may have hit a rocky patch for a spell toward the turn of the millennium, but he had some of his best work just after, including the geeky rap satires “Amish Paradise,” “It’s All About the Pentiums,” and “White & Nerdy.” For nostalgic fans who just want a quick taste of the ’80s, Greatest Hits is the best bet, but those seeking a deep-rooted summary that’s both comprehensive and extensive should look no further than this. ~ Jason Lymangrover

Tracklist:
1-01. Weird Al Yankovic – Another One Rides the Bus (02:35)
1-02. Weird Al Yankovic – Polkas on 45 (04:19)
1-03. Weird Al Yankovic – Eat It (03:20)
1-04. Weird Al Yankovic – I Lost on Jeopardy (03:27)
1-05. Weird Al Yankovic – Yoda (03:56)
1-06. Weird Al Yankovic – One More Minute (04:03)
1-07. Weird Al Yankovic – Like a Surgeon (03:30)
1-08. Weird Al Yankovic – Dare to Be Stupid (03:24)
1-09. Weird Al Yankovic – Dog Eat Dog (03:42)
1-10. Weird Al Yankovic – Lasagna (02:47)
1-11. Weird Al Yankovic – Melanie (03:57)
1-12. Weird Al Yankovic – Fat (03:36)
1-13. Weird Al Yankovic – UHF (Single Version) (03:49)
1-14. Weird Al Yankovic – The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota (06:47)
1-15. Weird Al Yankovic – Trigger Happy (03:46)
1-16. Weird Al Yankovic – Smells Like Nirvana (03:44)
1-17. Weird Al Yankovic – You Don’t Love Me Anymore (04:01)
1-18. Weird Al Yankovic – Bedrock Anthem (03:41)
1-19. Weird Al Yankovic – Frank’s 2000 TV (04:04)
1-20. Weird Al Yankovic – Jurassic Park (03:54)
2-01. Weird Al Yankovic – Since You’ve Been Gone (01:23)
2-02. Weird Al Yankovic – Amish Paradise (Parody of Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio) (03:19)
2-03. Weird Al Yankovic – Gump (Parody of Lump by The Presidents Of The United States) (02:10)
2-04. Weird Al Yankovic – Everything You Know Is Wrong (03:47)
2-05. Weird Al Yankovic – The Night Santa Went Crazy (Extra Gory version) (04:01)
2-06. Weird Al Yankovic – Your Horoscope for Today (03:58)
2-07. Weird Al Yankovic – It’s All About the Pentiums (An adaptation of It’s All About The Benjamins by Puff Daddy) (03:34)
2-08. Weird Al Yankovic – The Saga Begins (Lyrical Adaption of American Pie) (05:29)
2-09. Weird Al Yankovic – Albuquerque (11:23)
2-10. Weird Al Yankovic – eBay (Parody of I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys) (03:35)
2-11. Weird Al Yankovic – Bob (02:29)
2-12. Weird Al Yankovic – Hardware Store (03:44)
2-13. Weird Al Yankovic – I’ll Sue Ya (03:51)
2-14. Weird Al Yankovic – Canadian Idiot (Parody of American Idiot by Green Day) (Main Version) (02:23)
2-15. Weird Al Yankovic – Pancreas (03:48)
2-16. Weird Al Yankovic – Don’t Download This Song (Main Version) (03:54)
2-17. Weird Al Yankovic – White & Nerdy(Parody of Ridin’ by Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone) (Main Version) (02:50)
2-18. Weird Al Yankovic – Trapped in the Drive-Thru (Parody of Trapped In The Closet by R. Kelly) (Main Version) (10:50)

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