When you first posted the list, it seemed crystal clear - it was the follow-up discusssion that lost me.Originally Posted by punchlinemagazine.com
We're back to clear now.
When you first posted the list, it seemed crystal clear - it was the follow-up discusssion that lost me.
We're back to clear now.
Consider the horse to be dead...BUT...just for the sake of posterity, and the memory of the deceased equine that I can't seem to quit kicking, let's do a quick review...When you first posted the list, it seemed crystal clear - it was the follow-up discusssion that lost me.
We're back to clear now.
ARGUMENT TIME LINE
1) Link to list is posted.
2) Various people ask "Where's Mulaney?"
3) Dylan responds to the people asking "Where's Mulaney?" by saying "we're not done with our year-end lists. we love Mulaney (the album was great, but he's got so much more going on, that it's more about the man -- not the album -- this year)"
4) That got me to respond, because it seemed from that response like the reason "The Top Part" wasn't in the list was because Mulaney was going to be honored in a different list.
5) Dylan responds to me by saying "Mulaney had a great year in 2009. but what if our angle is that he's going to have a year like Aziz Ansari in 2009?"
Now, TO ME, that suggests that Dylan is admitting a causal link between why Mulaney's album didn't make the list and his future inclusion on another list. If this is a mistaken inference, I think it comes from the phrasing of "what if our angle is..." rather than having something more direct like "the album was good but didn't make the top 10, however, we think he'll blow up next year."
Of course, I still think THAT take is horseshit and if that's honestly what Dylan meant, then I stand by my criticism of that view. "The Top Part" is the creme of what came out in 2009... More importantly, that cd IS what John Mulaney did THIS YEAR, so I have a hard time understanding how Dylan can state that "he's got so much more going on that it's more about the man not the album this year...when he then says that the things that supposedly made "the man" more than "the album" "this year" put him on a list of comics to look out for NEXT YEAR???? It seems like THIS YEAR it was "the album"...and that NEXT YEAR it'll be about "the man".
And by that logic, to me, it's clear. THIS YEAR, the John Mulaney comedy album didn't get the props it deserved.
It seems to me that I gave Dylan an out by admitting in my previous post that I probably wouldn't have bothered posting in this thread if he'd just said "Yeah, the album was good but not top 10" and he's retconning his way into that position now, when the logic of his earlier explanations became untenable.
But, all right. Regardless of my suspicions, I've got no reason not to accept what you're saying at face value. So, if that's what you meant to say all along...that you didn't think that "The Top Part" belonged in a list of the top 10 comedy albums of the year...that you think that those albums in the posted list were each a better comedy album than "The Top Part"...and that you think that the comedy album of the year was actually Greg Giraldo's "Midlife Vices"...I'll take you at your word.
Of course, you're fucking OUT OF YOUR MIND for thinking those things, in my opinion, and, to be honest, I've lost some respect for your critical faculties if you actually listened to those comedy albums and came away with those views...but whatever...it's your opinion, your online site, you can say/do whatever you like...
I'll keep my opinion to myself and not bother to post at all in a thread about just another stupid year-end list that simply didn't jibe with what I experienced...as there's really no point in botherin--Oh, FUCK...too late!
pg--You know, it's not like I'm arguing for the inclusion of Dwight Slade's "Evil Monkey" cd (which I did happen to enjoy, actually...at least as much as Cummins or Kirshen...) I'm not tipping some sort of a personal windmill. Just joining the chorus of voices pointing out that "The Top Part" was so clearly the strongest comedy release of the year that it makes any list that doesn't include it seem foolish.--seattle
We'll just take the fact that this was too long and that you didn't read it...as read.
Dead? Fucking thing is glue by now, y'think?
Lists are made to reflect opinions and provoke conversation, so both points accomplished by Dylan and Punchline. So on that note, pg13, I'm still curious what the other nine are in your top ten (I suspect I know your #1).
Actually, I'm not sure Mulaney makes #1--although I suspect he will--because I'm still waiting on a package from the AST shop that should include Proops & Tompkins--which, I haven't heard yet.
I just got the Matt Kirshen the other day...still digesting that...
And then there's the whole matter, since this would be a personal list rather than a public list, of whether I care if an album came out in 2009 or just if I acquired it this year...because I slept on Andy Daly's "9 Sweaters" until this year, but damned if I didn't nearly wear out my copy once I got it. Or with "Chewed Up" which was delayed by last year's freak Seattle snowstorm, so I didn't really get the chance to listen to it until early 2009...
What is odd though, when I think back to the releases from this year, is how mildly disappointing so many of this year's releases ended up being... There was something fundamentally "not as exciting" about many of this year's releases...which is such an odd feeling to be left with after what was, honestly, a banner year in what was made available and who was releasing product this year. It just seems weird to be disappointed in a year when I add new comedy cds by some of my favorite comedy performers: Dana Gould, Patton Oswalt, Eugene Mirman, Greg Giraldo...but each of their releases were not as strong as previous releases. (Meanwhile, I think both Maria Bamford and Doug Benson managed to meet my expectations with their releases this year...)
Perhaps maybe my expectations were set up too high... Or, perhaps, some releases were disappointing in comparison to what else I was listening to--which I think, for example, is exactly what colors my opinion of the Dan Naturman cd...since I picked it up in the same order I got my John Mulaney.
The bottom line, for the moment anyway, is that I can't tell you what I thought the best comedy albums of 2009 are yet...because it still IS 2009 and there's more comedy left for me to enjoy and reflect upon...
pg--Honestly, the five cds that stayed in my car cd changer the longest this year, comedywise, were "The Top Part", "Chewed Up", "9 Sweaters", "Unwanted Thoughts Syndrome" and "Unbalanced Load"...of those, three of them were officially 2009 releases. That's got to be 30% of the list right there.--seattle
PS--And would I cop to how much enjoyment I actually got from Ron White and Dane Cook's releases this year? I was as surprised as anyone about that... Maybe not top 10, but better than some others...
We'll just take the fact that this was too long and that you didn't read it...as read.
Matt Braunger is one of the funniest comedians I have worked with, his album should have been on that list.
So pg, just to be clear, you liked The Top Part? Man, if Mulaney really does have bigger things ahead in 2010 you're gonna have to tie a garbage bag to your dick, because it will never stop jizzing.
I picked it up thanks to Dylan's list (along with Dan Cummins new one). The first half was silly jokey-jokes, wasn't impressed. In the second half he gets a bit more real and the album comes alive. Still needs a couple more listens.
Is this seriously any good? Still haven't picked it up yet.
Agreed. Patton's, Eugene's, Maria's, Swardson's, Gaffigan's, Doug's....all great, but not as good as their previous releases. But still fantastic.
I bought Midlife Vices upon Punchline's recommendation. I thought Giraldo's album was great; very sharp. I do not think it was the best album of '09 though. I wouldn't blame hype either; last year I bought Doug Benson's "Professional Humoredian" after Punchline said it was the best album of '08 and I agreed with their assessment.
This quote from The Serious Comedy Site nails what I think the problem is for me:
"Giraldo’s weakness is going for the easy adult humor laugh within otherwise very smart routines. I would love to know why he chooses to do that."
While I am not as upset that The Top Part was not in the top ten, I do think that it was better than Midlife Vices.
There. I beat the glue!
"You're a ghost!"- Tom Scharpling
don't miss pg13's cameo as "comedian pete greyy" in G4's THE HIGH ROAD WITH DOUG BENSON, premiering monday december 28 at 8 eastern and pacific.
(he's a dope mc!)
I should, at this time, remind casual readers of AST that Phil HATES Jimmy Pardo... Let that piece of information frame any discussion of Phil's opinions on stand-up comedy.
Having seen Matt perform live...I'd say that the cd is a good representation of what he does...and I like Matt, so "Yay!"
...and it was recorded at ACME in Minneapolis--good choice by Matt, there...
I'd rate it higher than Naturman, on a first listen anyway...but I'll go back to it in a few days and see if it has much replay value. As I said...still digesting it, myself.
"9 Sweaters" is amazing...both for what it documents and for what it achieves.
I'm pretty sure that most of AST agrees (according to this thread).
That said, I'm not sure if you'd like it or not...after all...YOU HATE JIMMY PARDO, PHIL! !?!?!?
But, going by your take on Matt Kirshen's cd--that you didn't like it until he got "more real"--then, no, I'd guess that you'd hate the (on the cd version, at least) 11 character pieces on Andrew's brilliant album. None of them are in anyway real to Andrew Daly...but he makes them each of them seem real unto themselves.
As a stand-up comedian, there's an insider's glee to be had with the "Jerry O'Hearn", "Shooter" and "Invisible Comic" tracks...
Personally? I think that it is one of the best comedy albums that I own.
pg--Your mileage, you Pardo-hating freak, may certainly vary.--seattle
PS--Speaking of Jimmy Pardo, my wife and I went to see a performance of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" at the 5th Avenue Theater here in Seattle...and damned if the guy playing the Bing Crosby role wasn't actually doing a nearly spot-on version of our good friend, Jimmy Pardo... I might have been the only one in the audience who caught that (or that the guy in the Danny Kaye role was a cross between a geeky Fred Astaire and a Blackadder-era Hugh Laurie)...but it made the night much more fun to imagine that it WAS Pardo as a true song & dance man...
We'll just take the fact that this was too long and that you didn't read it...as read.
Word!
We'll just take the fact that this was too long and that you didn't read it...as read.
For posterity
Freak Wharf #1 all the way in 2009! Next year Kyle Kinane!
this guy ^^^ gets it
Super solid list, Dylan. Great to see Laurie Kilmartin and the Bammer on there!
I haven't heard most of these but I also really like Michael Loftus "You've Changed."
Thanks Michael, I'll check your album out.
Anyway, just listened to Dan Cummins "Revenge is Near". Album starts with a Chuck Norris joke. YOWCH! Don't care about pg13 being diplomatic, Dylan's opinion is wrong and Mulaney's album is better!
Hey, let's start this fight all over again, but with DVDs! Here's Punchline's list of the top 10 comedy DVDs of 2009.
EDIT: I guess Chewed Up came out in 2008. Invalid comment)
"Even gutter hags trump pretty boys." - BabyCakes
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