In his heyday, "Weird" Al Yankovic made fun of music he loved, sometimes making better music than the artists that he imitated. The Darkness made a name for itself last year working in a similar vein. They sounded so much like 80s hair metal that nobody could really tell whether they were kidding or sincere.
Then there's Har Mar Superstar, a.k.a. Sean Tillman, who is releasing his third album, "The Handler." As with the others, it displays his love affair with R&B a la Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder.
He sounds a lot like Justin Timberlake, and is just as good if not better. His voice is Timberlake's equal on songs like "As (Seasons)" and "Cut Me Up." The hooks are just as catchy.
There's one main reason that Timberlake might be more inclined to get more video exposure. Har Mar is an overweight man with a receding hair line and a face made for radio.
This could be a turn-off for fans that might blow off his music as a joke, and fans of Justin Timberlake are probably unlikely to be attracted to Har Mar's style. While Tillman's career at first seemed like a mockery of what constitutes sexiness in music, he has reached a point where it is no longer an act entirely.
"There you are playing girls like lottery tickets," he sings on "Bird in the Hand."
Like the Darkness he is simultaneously making fun of and paying tribute to the music that he loves. The result is music that feels great to listen to; it's equally groovy and funny. "Back the Camel Up" is a perfect example of this style.
Tillman is essentially making fun of himself and it never becomes too ridiculous. Many of these songs could be slipped into a dance club mix and most would never miss a beat.
The slower songs, like the album ending "Alone Again," are slightly less appealing. Har Mar is clearly at his best when he's upbeat and in his better moments his music is just as sexy as the best in pop today, even if his body is not.
