You might think that a year in which a comedy album receives my vote for album of the year couldn’t have been a very good year for music, but that’s where you’re wrong. ‘Turtleneck & Chain‘, the second album from American comedy group THE LONELY ISLAND, is a tour de force; an album where almost every track is pure gold, and an album which garnered them a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album. Funny business aside, I would say that this album is not just COMEDY album of the year, but ALBUM of the year, and here’s why:
1. It’s Funny.
Well, duh. Of course it’s funny, it’s a comedy album. But seriously, this album is laugh-til-you-choke funny. It truly raises the comedy bar, and not always in a gross, offensive way. A prime example of this would be a contender for Best Track, ‘Threw It On The Ground’. Now, a lot of people say that the video is what makes this song so funny, I disagree. I bought the album almost as soon as it came out, and when I first heard this song, I hadn’t seen the video. Nevertheless, I was howling with laughter after listening to it for about 45 seconds, much to the dismay of the people on the train with me. Here’s a little taster of the genius that is ‘Threw It On The Ground’:
‘Some poser hands me cake at a birthday party. What you want me to do with this, eat it? Happy Birthday to the grounddddddd! I threw the rest of the cake too! Welcome to the real world, jackass!’
2. It’s Better Than The Stuff They Are Parodying
Seriously. I challenge you to listen to this album and not think that these tracks could be played in clubs. They might be taking the piss out of the gangsta rap/dance music/R&B tracks that we hear every time we turn on a radio, but the sad thing is that these tracks are catchier, well-thought out, and better written than the songs they are parodying.
3. Work With THE LONELY ISLAND = Instant Credibility
Justin Timberlake was in N*SYNC, you say? Well, you can be sure that at his funeral, they won’t be playing ‘Bye Bye Bye’ ; they’ll be playing ‘Motherlover’. Think his movie career is based on his acting? Nope, it’s based on how god-damn funny he is with Andy Samberg (although I will admit he was great in ‘The Social Network’). Akon? Please, that guy’s a joke. ‘Sexy Bitch’ was one of the worst musical crimes EVER, and not just because he absolutely failed to describe his lady without being disrespectful. However, his collaboration with TLI, ‘I Just Had Sex’? Genius. It’s gotten to the point where celebrities aren’t doing the guys a favour by guesting on their songs; they’re (probably) swapping their first born children for a chance to work with Samberg and Co. I mean, even MICHAEL BOLTON got in on the act. MICHAEL BOLTON! AND IT WAS SO CREEPY!
4. You Can Be Funny Without Making Gross Jokes (Although They Are Also Funny)
Don’t get me wrong, TLI can do gross. ‘We’re Back!’ is amazing, but with lyrics such as ‘my dick looks like the fat that you cut off a steak, smashed in like my balls went and stepped on a rake’, I wouldn’t recommend you giving it to Granny as a Christmas present. However, they have nailed that elusive skill of being funny without being offensive. The aforementioned ‘Threw It On The Ground’, and the often-overlooked but still funny ‘Japan’ aren’t rude or crude; they’re just plain amusing.
Seriously, if you haven’t heard this album, you need to. You’ll never think of Mother’s Day in the same way ever again.
