Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that there's some sexy and violent language on this CD from the comedic HBO duo, but as obvious parody; any and all edginess is softened with goofball humor. "Mutha 'Uckas" and "Think About It, Think About It" are two examples of songs that make loving fun of contemporary pop music with ridiculous comic twists.
Families can talk about whether or not you'd "get" this CD if you weren't already a fan of the HBO series. Are these songs all inside jokes, or do you think people who don't watch the show would like them, too? Do you think humorous commentary is more acceptable when it comes out of parody?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Tongue planted firmly in cheek, the FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS CD delivers equal-opportunity send-ups of just about every genre of pop music, with the hilarious lyrics and deadpan earnestness that fans have come to love on their popular HBO TV series. Any project that delivers lines like "sweet sixteen, not M-16s" or "they call me the hiphop-potamus/my lyrics are bottomless" with such irresistible, absurdist sincerity, is certain to appeal to families familiar with the TV show -- and may even attract some new fans as well.
Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement's intense wall of acoustic-guitar mush, backed by some kick-ass session players, create the perfect ambiance for lyrics that easily beat out most pop music in the cleverness department -- as in the droll, witty, and bittersweet "Inner City Pressure" ("Counting coins on the counter of the 7-Eleven from a quarter past six till a quarter past seven/the manager starts to abuse me/hey man, I just want some muesli"). The thing about the Flight of the Conchords' new CD is that, despite all the goofball sarcasm, it's really good.
Fans (and their parents) will also enjoy other musical parodies like This is Spinal Tap and The Rutles, but younger siblings might want to stick with Weird Al.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentThe sexy lyrics are so funny that they don't really count. ("Business Time" has stuff like, "Next thing you know we're in the bathroom brushing our teeth/that's all part of it/that's foreplay.") |
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ViolenceSome violent imagery, with an absurdist twist: "There's children on the streets using guns and knives/taking drugs and each other's lives/killing each other using knives and forks/and calling each other names like dorks." |
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Language"Mutha'uckas" walks a thin line with repetition of "mutha uckers" and "s--t" ("Too many mutha uckas/uckin' with my s--t"), but it's mostly fake swearing. |
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Social BehaviorSome accidentally poignant commentary on the hardship of being a starving artist in the big city on "Inner City Pressure." Subtle message about the importance of humor and not taking ourselves too seriously. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoA couple of funny, mild references to drinking and drug use. |
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