South Park Albums (2)
'Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics'
Release Date 11/23/1999
Tracks 18
Label Sony
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What The Critics Say
Truly tasteless, satirical, and over the top -- from the cover to the liner notes to the lyrics -- Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics collection features more of the usual rampant obnoxiousness associated with the TV show South Park. Some of the traditional tracks are entertaining, including guidance counselor Mr. Mackey's cover of "Carol of the Bells," Eric Cartman's impromptu version of "O Holy Night," and especially Chef's paternity dilemma in "What the Hell Child Is This?" The highlight of the disc is probably Kyle Broflofsky's hilarious "The Lonely Jew on Christmas" ("I'm a Jew, a lonely Jew/I can't be merry, 'cause I'm Hebrew"), and the like-minded "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel" is inspired and funny. At first glance, the most offensive track might be "O Tannenbaum," sung by a sobbing Hitler (who sounds more like Apu from The Simpsons), but "Christmas Time in Hell," sung by a festive Satan, has mercilessly mocking lyrics that spare no one (including JFK Jr., Princess Diana, and Gene Siskel). "The Most Offensive Song Ever" features Kenny singing (and therefore muffling) the most shocking parts, but listeners will certainly get the point, and that's good enough for a Christmas album of this ilk. ~ Gina Boldman, All Music Guide
'Chef Aid: The South Park Album'
Release Date 11/3/1998
Tracks 21
Label Columbia
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
This tie-in album to TV's South Park gang of potty-mouthed cartoon cutups comes from an episode chronicling a benefit concert for resident school cook Chef (voiced by Isaac Hayes). Calling in such pals as Ozzy Osbourne, Wyclef Jean, and Elton John, Chef Aid: The South Park Album is little more than a soundtrack featuring chart-toppers du jour. But most of the guest artists are peripheral to the surroundings (although Master P's "Kenny's Dead" is a clever goof incorporating both a running gag of the series and Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead"). The real treats come from the animated characters themselves: Chef gets all funky paying tribute to his "Chocolate Salty Balls," and several of his lascivious tunes -- which originated on the show and are naturally soaked in double entendres -- are spread throughout the album. The highlight, however, is resident fatty Eric Cartman's skewering cover of Styx's "Come Sail Away." It not only inflates the original's bloated pretensions, it also mocks an entire faceless, and creatively infertile, period in music in the process. ~ Michael Gallucci, All Music Guide
