Running with Scissors

by Weird Al Yankovic

Overview

Like many of Weird Al's 1990s albums, Running With Scissors is something of a mixed bag, although devoted fans will definitely find enough of interest to add it to their collections. As usual, the highlights tend to be song parodies: "The Saga Begins" is a retelling of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace from Obi-Wan Kenobi's point of view set to the tune of "American Pie," while "Jerry Springer" is a clever rewrite of the Barenaked Ladies' "One Week." Not all of them quite hit the mark, though: "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi" has the same borderline ethnic condescension of the Offspring's original, and Yankovic's mimicry of the sound of his source material on the Puff Daddy takeoff "It's All About the Pentiums" isn't quite up to his usual standards. The originals tend to come off as forced, as though Yankovic is trying way too hard to live up to his nickname; although the snarky rip of "My Baby's in Love With Eddie Vedder" hits pretty close to the mark, the 11-minute closer "Albuquerque" is interminable. Overall, there are some songs worthy of adding to Yankovic's next best-of, and some more that no one will miss. ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	06/29/1999
Label:	Bmg / Sony Music / Sony Music Entertainment
UPC:	0886919931723

Tracks

1. The Saga Begins
2. My Baby's in Love With Eddie Vedder
3. Pretty Fly for a Rabbi
4. The Weird Al Show Theme
5. Jerry Springer
6. Germs
7. Polka Power!
8. Your Horoscope for Today
9. It's All About the Pentiums
10. Truck Drivin' Song
11. Grapefruit Diet
12. Albuquerque

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Weird Al Yankovic   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background),Vocals,Accordion,Keyboards
Jim "Kimo" West   Banjo,Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Thomas "Snake" Johnson   Tuba
Mary Kay Bergman   Vocals
Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Ruben Valtierra   Keyboards
Steve Jay   Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Kim Bullard   Keyboards
Tom Sauber   Fiddle
Warren Luening   Trumpet
William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr.   Trombone
Marty Rifkin   Pedal Steel
Dan Regan   Trombone
Tom Evans   Saxophone
Lee Thornberg   Trumpet,Trombone
Joel Peskin   Clarinet
Tavis Werts   Trumpet

Technical Credits

Richie Wise   Mixing,Engineer
The Notorious B.I.G.   Composer
Doug Haverty   Design,Art Direction
Johnny Buzzerio   Photography
Tony Papa   Mixing,Engineer
Jason Phillips   Composer
Bernie Grundman   Mastering
Don McLean   Composer
David Styles   Composer
Jeff Moses   Assistant Engineer
Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie   Composer
Sean Combs   Composer
Brian Holland   Composer
Weird Al Yankovic   Composer