*** Too Much Joy, “Son of Sam...

*** Too Much Joy, “Son of Sam I Am,” Giant/Warner Bros. First released independently and re-released recently by a major label with three additional tracks, “Sam I Am” manages to be both hilarious and--occasionally--heartfelt, like old Replacements with the laugh meter in the distortion red zone. Covering L.L. Cool J’s “That’s a Lie” or waxing post-adolescent on dads, bums, clowns, cancer and sellout alternative bands, they’re at least as funny as Mojo Nixon desperately wants to be, and 20 times as tuneful. (Extra credit for one of the best band names of all time.)