It might seem redundant for Flight Of The Conchords to release a debut album consisting only of old songs that fans can already quote in their entirety. But while the new album is disappointing in its lack of new material—all of which has appeared on the New Zealand folk-comedy duo's HBO series or previous EPs—Flight Of The Conchords is such a rock-solid collection of genre parodies that it still merits repeat listens by fans. It could also serve as an excellent initiation for the Conchords' rapidly expanding audience.
These 15 tracks offer a good introduction to the Conchords' M.O.—spot-on acoustic parodies of everything from French pop ("Foux Du Fafa") to Marvin Gaye-esque message songs ("Think About It")—and these spit-shined and expanded studio versions are vastly preferable to the ripped versions floating around the Internet. The duo are skilled enough in their musical mimicry that the songs work as more than just joke-delivery devices: "Mutha'uckas" and "Business Time" both boast incredibly sticky choruses backing up the silly stream-of-consciousness gags. ("You know when I'm down to just my socks what time it is / It's business time.") Best of all, the Conchords never force their hand, frequently letting bizarre sonic references and awkward lyrical fumbles serve as unspoken punchlines. As a result, the jokes mature over time, growing fresher and funnier upon subsequent spins, a characteristic that bodes well for the longevity of the album and the group, so long as they actually provide new material next time around.