Mirmam's odd humor resonates on new comedy album

Although the second play isn't as funny, it's worth a listen and a laugh.

By Zachary Kerns

Published Oct. 13, 2009

As he himself would put it, Eugene Mirman is a comedian. Actually, that needs rephrasing: Eugene Mirman is one of the funniest comedians I have ever heard. I am fully aware of what a bold statement that is, but I will stand behind it. Yet, I am granted limited space in this periodical, and I must get down to the business of album review.

Mirman, a staple of underground comedy for the majority of the decade, has already released a handful of albums and appeared in the influential underground stand-up film, "The Comedians of Comedy," as well as had roles in a multitude of television programs including "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," "Delocated" and "Flight of the Conchords."

He's one of those people you see in something and say, "I recognize that dude, he was funny in that one thing! What was his name again? Whatever, I'll check Wikipedia later." He has yet to break into the mainstream, but this album could be the one that finally catapults this Russian-American immigrant and his mix of hilarity and blasphemy into the limelight.

The LP runs the full gamut of topics, including angry letters to the gas company, badly worded anti-abortion banners, lost iPods, Internet surveys, misplaced luggage and the hilarity of religious epiphanies. With the wonder of a small child and the cynicism of a crotchety old man, he perfectly captures the absurdity in the mundane and eschews the norms of our world. Admittedly, jokes about why God must be a child with high-functioning autism ("Jewish people have to wear hats, but only in the middle of their heads!") and about reclaiming sections of Detroit might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I find the taste potent and intoxicating.

Unfortunately, this album cannot escape the quagmire into which most comedy albums fall — the conundrum of multiple playbacks. The first time I spun this disc, every track on the album had at least one moment that made me giggle like a schoolgirl, albeit an 18-year-old, over-testosteroned schoolgirl.

Upon taking a second listen, the sheen of the spontaneity that had originally won me over had faded. Unfortunately, unlike most music where repeated plays can reward the listener with new details every time, comedy — especially of this variety — relies so heavily on shock and awe that it takes a truly exceptional album to stand up to the test.

Regardless of quality, this is not one of those albums. Overall though, for anyone looking for a good laugh and willing to accept a little oddity, it is well worth seeking out.