Go Simpsonic With The Simpsons

by David A. Koran October 21, 1999

Ah… After over a year of delays for various reasons, fans of "The Simpsons" are finally treated to the sequel album to Songs in The Key of Springfield, entitled Go Simpsonic With The Simpsons. When we interviewed Alf back around its originally planned release time he shared with us some of the tracks that would be on the release - a kind of "favorites list" of Alf's, as well as peaking our own interest. Most of that list has remained intact and has resulted in a well-sequenced and paced collection. This is another tribute to those folks at Rhino that will not release a fine album before its time, and besides their upcoming Superman CD, ever more anticipated.

Some of my personal all-time favorites appear on this album, as well as some odd outtakes that didn't make the cut for certain shows (some more cultural statements than most). One of those favorites, "Canyonero" is right up my alley and was one of those that most fans wished was available on the first CD. Driving a VW Bug myself and coming across one of those "Canyonero"-type SUVs, I can only starting singing the song with more than truth in the lyrics. One of Alf Clausen's other great talents besides working well along great lyricists is his ability to parody without sounding like an exact knock-off. In "The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase" medley, the "Chief Wiggum, P.I" cue was great invention in the style of Jan Hammer's original orchestrations for "Miami Vice". After actually programming the original "Miami Vice" for an electronic music class, I know how hard Alf had to work to get in Jan's head. Another great swipe at genre parody is with the cues for "Scorpio" and "McBain" which are great John Barry James Bond-esque bits, a great alternative to The World Is Not Enough later this month.

Not all of the great music on this album was written by Alf Clausen (barring Danny Elfman's contribution to the shows theme). There's also a cool tribute to the United States national pastime, baseball, with a Bleeding Gums Murphy rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner' to my favorite, Terry Cashman's "Talkin' Softball" a perfect mirror of his own "Talkin' Baseball".

Mr. Clausen, and the usual suspects of "The Simpsons", really do "Put The Spring in Springfield" and any person who calls themselves a fan of the show needs to run out and pick up this album immediately. Otherwise, you'll run the risk of being sliced to bits by Itchy and Scratchy and their "in your face" friend Poochie!