Categories : Miscellany, Music Reviews.
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Rating: 4 / 5 Reviewer: Greg Hutton |
There aren’t many surprises on David Cross’s first album of stand-up in six years, as his favourite topics, including politics, religion, drug-use/abuse, and being forced to live amongst the wilfully ignorant are all tackled in his sarcastic, often painfully blunt style. This is not to say that Cross is necessarily repeating what he said on 2002’s Shut Up, You Fucking Baby! and 2004’s It’s Not Funny, as the dynamic nature of American political and sociological climates provides ample opportunities for the Cross treatment. Instead, Cross’s characteristically unapologetic observations of life, including the burgeoning Tea Bagger movement, come across as vibrant and necessary by drawing on the frustrations he shares with his audience and momentarily turning it into laughter. While Cross is undoubtedly preaching to the likeminded, directing most of his vitriol at right-wing America, he maintains a level of intelligent discourse that shows he’s done his homework and isn’t just contributing to the din of talking heads and pundits who make a living spouting opinions.
Cross offers an early litmus test for anyone who needs to sample his brand of humour before delving into the album with the opening song ‘The Sultan’s Revenge.’ Not only does Cross take the opportunity to showcase his impressive (?) vocal range, but he also delivers fair-warning to listeners who may be offended by any number of the jokes to come. Without spoiling any material, it is sufficient to say that the topics covered on the album and certain punch lines do indeed “get a little nasty, they might get a little mean.” All told, Cross has delivered another impressive, funny album that is only slightly hampered by the repetition of familiar topics.
