The Lonely Island
Turtleneck & Chain
(Universal Republic Records)
Saturday Night Live has had notoriously mixed results in its comedy in the last few years, but one skit that it’s gotten right is “The Lonely Island.” On one hand, nerdy-looking white guys are reciting funny lines, but the group does show that a great beat and strong delivery can make nearly any song catchy.
Because of the group’s connections, their collaborations with other artists form the album’s best tracks. Akon’s voice makes the refrain of “I Just Had Sex†easily get lodged in your mind, and Michael Bolton is surprisingly hilarious in the Pirates of the Caribbean-coveting “Jack Sparrow.†Justin Timberlake’s focus on his acting career makes “Motherlover†a particular treat, and Rihanna sounds surprisingly good on “Shy Ronnie 2: Ronnie & Clyde.â€
Some songs do suffer from lack of inspiration. I’m not sure why they need to have a song about boxing against the character Rocky or about throwing a free hot dog on the ground, but with nineteen tracks, a few duds are easy to forgive. Overall, it’s still a fun album that can be enjoyed even without the celebrity-laden music videos that have been so popular on Saturday Night Live.
