Duo hits comedic nerve with music, on television
Some things are meant to go together, like wine and cheese or mullets and Member’s Only jackets. Other pairings, such as a favorite of mine, music and comedy, are unusual. Last week, the comedy duo Flight of the Conchords released their newest record, and it’s divine. The group, from New Zealand, has a show on HBO where they showcase their talent in both music and observant comedy. Their new album, "I Told You I Was Freaky," features music from the show’s second season. The basis of the show is simple. The guys of Flight of the Conchords, Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, are struggling musicians in New York City, who are trying, sometimes not hard enough, to build their "fan base." It’s like a musical television show. As things happen to the guys, they transition into hilarious songs. No genre of music is safe from being used to showcase the Flight of the Conchords’ irreverent humor. On this release the team tackles musical styles like techno, hip-hop, folk and new wave. The best songs this time around are the spoofs, by far. It’s about time somebody other than Weird Al Yankovic got in the parody game. One song mimicked is "Same Girl" by R. Kelly and Usher, it’s overhauled as "We’re Both in Love With a Sexy Lady." The other is "Roxanne" by the Police, Flight of the Conchords retooled the classic into the amusing "You Don’t Have to Be a Prostitute." The quality of music is great. The group is talented in acting, singing and writing. They are a triple threat not seen since the likes of J-Lo. If comedy didn’t work out, they could have simply transferred their skills to mainstream music. The only negative of this album is that it may be hard to appreciate if you haven’t seen the television program. Some of the jokes are too reliant upon plot points covered in the show. If this is the first time hearing of Flight of the Conchords, watch the HBO series before buying the record. Just a warning: these zany New Zealanders aren’t for everybody. The humor is different from what most American audiences are used to, but if you like to laugh, give it a shot. Either way, this album is an adventure. It winds in and out through all types of music. I’ve listened to it several times, and keep catching new things to laugh at and vibe to.
