Greg Giraldo, one of Comedy Central's most popular presenters on their wonderfully profane celebrity roasts, is an exceptionally polished stand-up with a real talent for insult comedy. His second album, Midlife Vices, includes some scathing rants on obesity, the '08 election, marriage, divorce, and the economy. Check it out—if you're an aspiring comedian, you could really learn a lot from this club veteran and TV star.
Kathy Griffin has made a thriving cottage industry of lampooning celebrities—herself included. Her TV show, My Life on the D-List, has proven popular with audiences and critics, earning her two Emmys. The acerbic redhead even received a Grammy nomination for her 2008 stand-up album, For Your Consideration, a record that, as the title suggests, was made specifically in hopes of attracting award consideration.
Having lost her first bid for a Grammy to George Carlin's final album, It's Bad for Ya, Griffin returns with Suckin' It for the Holidays, a record that, contrary to what the title suggests, has absolutely nothing to do with the holidays. Instead, there's loads more fan-pleasing celebrity dish, in which the cutting comedienne recounts stories of her run-ins with A-listers like T.I., Justin Timberlake, Suze Orman, and Donald Trump.
By her own admission, Griffin's material isn't for everyone, but if you want the insider celebrity scoop delivered by a polished and energetic performer, give Suckin' It a go.
When something is parodied, it's a sure sign that thing has entered the zeitgeist. But what does it mean when the parody itself becomes an indelible part of the culture as well? Since 1979, "Weird Al" Yankovic has been so successful at creating timely, ingenious musical parodies of Top 40 hits and other favorites that what people often refer to as the "MTV Era" could just as easily be called the "'Weird Al' Era." Because of his willingness to parody all styles of music and his nerd-like fluency in pop cultural idioms and trends, his catalog provides a virtual roadmap of American musical tastes over the last 30 years—refracted through a satirical prism, of course.
The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic is an impressive new collection of the master parodist's work, from the live 1980 recording of "Another One Rides the Bus" (lampooning Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust"), to 2006's "Trapped in the Drive-Thru" (a send-up of R. Kelly's epically-long "Trapped in the Closet"). Fans will find all the big hits in between, like the classics "Eat It," "Like a Surgeon," and "Amish Paradise," as well as the more recent "Canadian Idiot" and "White & Nerdy."
Parody is a tricky endeavor. Go for cheap jokes and it comes off as derivative and trite (see the countless examples of such attempts on YouTube). Go too obscure, and the meaning of the joke is lost. Somewhere in between the two, there exists a sweet spot, where the originality of the subject is at once faithfully captured and creatively spun on its head. "Weird Al" has lived in that sweet spot for decades, and if one of his most recent pieces, the Doors-inspired "Craigslist" (not included on this album), is any indication of how much he has left in the tank, then we can expect plenty more to come.
After a brilliant first run on HBO, Flight of the Conchords returned for another season in 2009, and the world rejoiced as it was treated to more unique, off-beat comedy and music by deadpan duo Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement. I Told You I Was Freaky is the second full-length album by the wacky Kiwis, and this one features songs from the hit show's second season. Some highlights include the dance anthem "Too Many Dicks on the Dancefloor," the David Bowie homage "Fashion Is Danger," the Beck-sounding "Sugarlumps," and the ridiculous rap "Hurt Feelings." With clever lyrics, fat beats, and solid production, I Told You... is pleasing both to the ear and the funny bone.
Eugene Mirman may not get the same amount of ink spilled about him as fellow alternative comics Patton Oswalt or David Cross, but the Russian-born, New York-based entertainer is about as beloved within his circle of fans as a human can be. That love is hard-fought and well-deserved, as Mirman has amassed his über-loyal following though years of gigging in non-traditional comedy venues (think rock clubs rather than comedy clubs).
On his latest album, God Is a Twelve-Year-Old Boy with Asperger's, Eugene displays more of the delicious absurdist sensibility that is his calling card. Many of his bits begin as stories about everyday occurrences that are then subjected to a withering, logic-bending assault, highlighting the inherent idiocy or intellectual laziness of situations or the people responsible for perpetuating them. The strongest tracks fit that mold: "The Questionable Polls of Russia Today" pokes fun at polls posted on a site run by a Russian TV station that are as astonishing as they are hilarious; "Classmates.com" relates to questionnaires created for Mirman's 15-year high school reunion; and the grand finale, "Sex, ??? AirLIES and Videotape: a Three-Part Play Very Based on a True Story" is an epic tale of incompetence enhanced by Mirman's revenge-driven imagination.
As a side note, when most comics record a set for an album, they usually get above-average applause and laughter, probably because those in the audience realize that they, too, are being recorded for posterity. But on God Is..., there is no faking the uproarious belly laughs that Mirman extracts from his audience—there isn't a single pity chuckle or clap. While I can't guarantee you'll react the same way, it definitely bodes well for a listen.
The past few months have been good to comedy fans, as a bumper crop of new releases included top-notch material by, among others, a diminutive dynamo, a working-class hero, an aging-but-sill-raging goofball, and an alluring up-and-comer. Napster's "Comedy Today: Fall 2009"playlist includes highlights from these and other talented comics.
Patton Oswalt (diminutive dynamo) is growing up. On his latest stand-up recording, My Weakness Is Strong, he paints a vision of his not-so-distant future as a dad and (gasp!) a role model. But he also touches on some of his signature topics, including religion ("Sky Cake"). Larry the Cable Guy (working-class hero), the hardest working former cable installer in show business, relates a tale familiar to all men of a certain age ("Prostate Professional"). Kevin Nealon (aging-but-still-raging goofball) recorded his first-ever comedy album, Now Hear Me Out, and included a bit based on "Mr. Subliminal," a character he made famous during his stint on SNL ("What You Say vs. What You Think"). And Whitney Cummings (alluring up-and-comer), fresh off her high-profile appearance as a presenter on the Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers, insists that street walkers perform a critical public service—for womankind ("Prostitutes"). Check out this playlist to hear these and other memorable recent comedy nuggets.
Unlike fellow comics Will Ferrell and Conan O'Brien, Larry the Cable Guy may never speak at Harvard University's graduation ceremony—and that's probably just fine with him. The Blue Collar Comedy Tour veteran is fiercely proud of his unrefined sensibilities and is unafraid to make himself the butt of his own jokes, many of 'em dirtier than a pig in a mud factory. But the man can write one-liners, and his latest stand-up album, Tailgate Party, delivers another batch of what his fans have grown to love about their favorite bare-armed, half-wit hero. The immensely popular entertainer, who recorded this set in front of a crowd of over 50,000, plays to his base as he talks about cars ("Truck Talk"), fat relatives ("Hot Dog Whisperer"), warehouse clubs ("Buying in Bulk"), and reality television ("Boob Tube"). This is Larry the Cable Guy at the top of his game, and while he may not appeal to everyone, 50,000 Larry fans (and then some) can't be wrong.
It's rather remarkable that Kevin Nealon's new stand-up album, Now Hear Me Out!, is actually his first. The longtime funnyman actually began his career in stand-up, appearing on The Tonight Show before scoring a gig on Saturday Night Live. He was a cast member for nine seasons there, sharing the stage with powerhouses Chris Rock, Dennis Miller, Adam Sandler, and Norm Macdonald. Nowadays, he’s known for his role as an aging goofball on Weeds, the dark suburban comedy about pot—which is ironic, because as he confesses on NHMO, Nealon doesn’t actually smoke marijuana.
The comic shares many personal stories on the album, but because of his dry wit, it’s difficult to tell how many are even remotely true. That combination of forthrightness and irony is Nealon’s hallmark, and it’s brilliantly rendered in “What You Say vs. What You Think,” a bit inspired by his SNL character “Mr. Subliminal.” Fans of the talented comic will no doubt relish the opportunity to hear his brand of humor uninterrupted for a whole set. The only shame here is that a writer and performer of his caliber waited this long to cut an album.
In the '80s, nearly every comedian had a bit about flying on commercial airliners. Cars have been an American obsession since Henry Ford rolled out the first Model T. And trains, well...all right: maybe they haven't exactly been a favorite source of comedy fodder over the years, but it fit the title, so what the heck. Napster's "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" playlist (with apologies to John Hughes' Steve Martin/John Candy vehicle) includes rants, raves, satire, and songs about the many ways we get around this big ol' country of ours. George Carlin leads off with one of his best-known routines, "Airline Announcements," a systematic dissection of the ridiculous jargon used on airplanes. The Lonely Island and T-Pain brag about their nautical adventures in the smash hit, "I'm on a Boat." Bill Cosby spins a yarn about a familiar teenage rite of passage in "My Dad's Car." Adam Sandler serenades his clunker in "Ode to My Car." And up-and-coming comic John Mulaney has an epiphany about running through train stations in "Chase Through the Subway." Sure, sometimes it's a pain to get around, but laughing about it can help you keep your cool when the going gets rough.
The brilliantly acerbic Patton Oswalt is one of the finest stand-up comics of his generation: His writing is superb; his delivery, spot-on. Thankfully, fans of the lovable little ball of hate can expect more of the same top-quality comedy they've come to expect on his latest album, My Weakness Is Strong.
Patton begins with an extended set on himself and his family. He jokes about expecting his first child (update: Alice Oswalt was born April 15, 2009) and the changes he should make in his own life for her sake. He's essentially telling us that he's growing up—at least a little—and leaving behind childish things ("Whiskey and Weed and LSD"). Then he shares a hilarious story about house hunting with his wife ("Orgy") and getting older ("First").
The latter half of the album finds Patton covering popular topics such as racism ("Obama...and Time Travel...and Coolness"), George W. Bush ("Demons"), Religion ("Sky Cake"), and flying ("Airplane"). He finishes with a personal story about his early days as a stand-up comic ("The Magician"). In My Weakness Is Strong, Patton proves that, no matter the topic—be it personal or satirical—he's capable of finding that nugget of pure comedy gold hidden within.
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