The first time I actually started caring about David Cross was when I started watching the brilliantly written, short lived show, Arrested Development, where he played the flamboyant, in-the-closet character, Tobias Fumke. He played one of the funniest characters on a show filled with talented actors, and I couldn't wait to listen to his first album, Shut Up, You Fucking Baby!
I am no longer a fan.
David Cross' set is the epitome of cynicism. Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Bill Hicks and George Carlin both knew how to be funny while being cynical at the same time. There's a lot of comedy in being pessimistic about the world. But Cross doesn't seem to know how to do that, at least not in this CD.
The album can be more accurately titled "I'm pissed about everything". From the very start, he is complaining about his life, starting with his southern roots and Jewish heritage (he's a staunch atheist). Now, like I said, there's ways to do this, WHILE BEING FUNNY, but he's doesn't do it. It's just an angry rant. After these two long jokes, I was already anticipating the end of it. But wait, there's more.
Cross goes on to complain a little bit more about things, and he got to one track that I actually enjoyed; I'd say the title, but the track titles couldn't be more different than the jokes' subject (they are quite amusing, though). The topic I enjoyed here is concerning Los Angeles, a city all those close to me know I loathe. The style and delivery of the joke was the same. The material not particularly better than the rest. The commentary was not any deeper. But I enjoyed the joke so much more because it was something I too detest, and for partially similar reasoning. Then it hit me. To actually enjoy Cross as a stand-up comedian, I think you have to be pretty upset and angry with the world, preferably to the same degree that he is (which is no easy feat).
But to be fair, there were jokes in the album that were not chock-full of pessimism. These were also some of my favorite jokes on the CD. Cross is certainly capable of being delightfully amusing, but his attitude towards life often seems to get in the way of it. For example, have you ever thought that the last five minutes of a South Park episode often take the joke just a little too far? The whole episode builds a great satire, and then they juuuust cross the line a bit, but not nearly enough to ruin the whole joke of the episode? Take that little bit and create a 2-hour set out of it, and you have David Cross.
If you are a particularly cynical person, or if you had a beef with the way things in the world were going in 2002, you will probably really enjoy this album. But keep in mind, a majority of Cross' set is bashing religion and anything right-winged, so if you are at ALL sensitive to those issues, you won't enjoy Shut Up, You Fucking Baby!
Best Tracks: Phone Call from A Crazy Terrorist, You Go Girl,
Worst Tracks: Sex on the Internet, My Daughter's First Date
Overall rating: 3/10
No comments:
Post a Comment