Holidays are supposed to inspire hugs, but stress may leave you feeling more like wrapping your fingers around loved ones’ necks, or, at the very least, weeping in your eggnog.
There’s hope: 2007 has yielded a healthy crop of comedy CDs and DVDs to lift your spirits — many of them laugh-out-loud funny, as opposed to merely chuckle-worthy.
If you’re feeling more blue than red and green this season, here’s a stocking full of releases to tickle ye olde tinsel.
Patton Oswalt, “Werewolves and Lollipops” Sub Pop
You may know him as the voice of Remy in “Ratatouille” or from “The King of Queens,” but Oswalt is an indie comedy hero. This two-CD set captures him at his razor-sharpest, playing to a friendly crowd at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Ga., with flawless timing and inflection. Easily the best stand-up album of 2007.
Larry the Cable Guy, “Christmastime in Larryland” Warner Bros.
The Blue Collar Comedy star employs his folksy, aw-shucks pipes in service of the usual seasonal topics (family friction, omnipreset annoying music) on his second Christmas-themed CD. The jokes are obvious and button-pushing, with oddly distracting piped-in laughter, but the variety show approach harks back to the radio specials of yesteryear.
Michael Showalter, “Sandwiches and Cats” Jdub Records
Most people who saw Showalter’s recent tour probably thought he was kidding when he said his new CD was called “Sandwiches and Cats.” The sketch-comedy veteran tends to ramble here, but the stand-up/pre-recorded combo presents a fairly cohesive version of Showalter’s humor, which ranges from conceptual to personal.
Michael Ian Black,”I Am a Wonderful Man” Comedy Central
Black has proved himself a deft sketch comedian in the past, but this tight set showcases his conversational, devastatingly sarcastic side. Like fellow “State” and “Stella” alumnus Michael Showalter, the observations range from pedestrian to revelatory. “I Am a Wonderful Man,” recorded in July at Chicago’s Lakeshore Theater, mostly captures the latter.
Scharpling and Wurster,”The Art of the Slap” Stereolaffs
Music geeks will fawn over this best-of collection, featuring long-form radio cons on legendary New Jersey/New York station WFMU. Host Tom Scharpling and frequent partner Jon Wurster (drummer for Superchunk and other acts) get all meta on us with extended bits like “Jock Squad” and “Mother 13 The First Rock Band on Mt. Everest!” Subtle never hit so hard.
Chris Rock,”Cheese and Crackers: The Greatest Bits” Geffen
Rock’s vitality is unquestionable, but this hits collection reminds us why he was originally hailed as one of the medium’s saviors. Recorded in Washington, Atlanta and New York, these 19 tracks span Rock’s career and all the familiar themes, including racy/racially charged topics.
Zach Galifianakis,”Live at the Purple Onion” Shout Factory
Last week Galifianakis announced a string of dates opening for Will Ferrell, and it’s easy to see why on this DVD: His calm, vaguely unhinged one-liners twist disdain and self-deprecation into the sublime, particularly when confronting audience members or playing his meandering, pastoral piano.
Demetri Martin, “Person” Comedy Central
Frequent “Daily Show” contributor Martin released this DVD as a companion to last year’s “These Are Jokes” CD set, a reprise of similar material but showcasing his calm, measured timing and colorful stage show. Some bits border on prop comedy, but fortunately avoid overt cutesiness.
The Comedians of Comedy, “Live at the Troubador” Image Entertainment
This sprawling, 135-minute set captures more than a dozen of today’s best and most edgy comedians at the storied L.A. rock venue. Creator Patton Oswalt is joined by tour regulars Brian Posehn, Zach Galifianakis and Maria Bamford, plus indie comedy royalty David Cross, Sarah Silverman, Morgan Murphy, Bob Odenkirk, Doug Benson, Eugene Mirman and others.
Maria Bamford,”How to Win” Stand Up! Records
and Comedians of Comedy veteran Bamford possesses a surreal vocal range, hilarious mother, cute dog, string of professional failures and delightfully sick mind, as we learn on this excellent CD. At once comforting and insane, Bamford tunes and plays the audience the way Sonic Youth does guitars.
Brian Regan,”Standing Up” Comedy Central
The King of Clean and tireless tourer showcases his myriad expressions and general-audience material on this DVD, which hits slow patches but overall succeeds through Regan’s genial personality.
Mike Birbiglia, “My Secret Public Journal” Comedy Central
Birbiglia’s scruffy, everyman delivery and nostalgic themes play to his strengths on this confessional CD, which includes good-hearted bits like “The Old Mill Pond Story,” “Landfill Pretzels” and “Porno for Parents.”
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com
