Make me laugh

December 12, 2007 11:16 AM

Short: What's the funniest audio album you've heard lately that I can give as a gift?

Long: I am good friends with a co-worker who is doing a lot of work that benefits all of us in my org, and he is really being run ragged by others outside our organization. Recently, he told me he is so overworked that he is beginning to lose his sense of humor. So I thought it I would buy him a funny standup comedian record or the like. Something he can listen to in his car and laugh outloud to relieve stress (and feel appreciated)

So, what is the funniest audio record you've heard recently? It can be adult, but it's a work relationship, so I would say nothing odd, but dirty words are ok for sure. Perhaps Lisa Lampanelli is over the line. This isn't a christmas gift.

posted by about_time to shopping (45 comments total)

Mitch Hedberg. I don't know the names of his releases, but really - Mitch Hedberg.
posted by cashman at 11:20 AM on December 12, 2007 [1 favorite]

Patton Oswalt's 'Werewolves & Lollipops' is pretty damn funny. And it's hard to go wrong with Bill Hicks.
posted by gnutron at 11:22 AM on December 12, 2007 [2 favorites]

I love all of the David Cross albums.
posted by TurkishGolds at 11:24 AM on December 12, 2007 [2 favorites]

My favorite is Brian Regan. More recently Daniel Tosh.
posted by inconsequentialist at 11:26 AM on December 12, 2007 [1 favorite]

If you think that Lewis Black wouldn't be too much, Rules of Enragement is great.
posted by Nelsormensch at 11:27 AM on December 12, 2007

And, yeah, throw some Mitch his way.
posted by inconsequentialist at 11:28 AM on December 12, 2007

Seconding Mitch Hedberg. Strategic Grill Locations and Mitch All Together are both sensational.

I love Bill Hicks and David Cross with a nearly creepy intensity, but they can be polarizing, and aren't for everyone. I've yet to meet someone who didn't like Mitch, though.
posted by saladin at 11:28 AM on December 12, 2007

Also, the original Tenacious D is a must-listen. Much moreso than their latest.
posted by TurkishGolds at 11:29 AM on December 12, 2007

Season One of the podcast Never Not Funny is for sale as a download, and is the funniest thing EVER.
posted by tristeza at 11:35 AM on December 12, 2007

David Cross is what I'm looking for. I should have thought of him immediately. I listened to Mitch, and he was funny, but Cross makes me laugh out loud and laugh hard. Feel free to keep posting just for the sake of others. Thanks to all that responded!
posted by about_time at 11:35 AM on December 12, 2007

True Stories I Made Up by Daniel Tosh really is a thing of beauty.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 11:39 AM on December 12, 2007 [1 favorite]

It's not new, but nothing will ever top Steve Martin's comedy albums. Anyone who fails to laugh at "Let's Get Small" has no soul.
posted by drjimmy11 at 11:39 AM on December 12, 2007

seconding Patton Oswalt's 'Werewolves & Lollipops'
posted by phil at 11:39 AM on December 12, 2007

I'm not sure if this is for sale anywhere, but the Ricky Gervais/Stephen Merchant/Karl Pilkington podcasts I got off BT are so funny that I nearly -- literally -- drove off the road the other day.
posted by luser at 11:40 AM on December 12, 2007

An oldie but goodie: This album by Lord Buckley, which includes the classic "The Naz".
posted by beagle at 11:47 AM on December 12, 2007

Demetri Martin. I can't listen to him on the bus for fear of being "that crazy girl."
posted by thisisnotkatrina at 11:55 AM on December 12, 2007

The Best Show
posted by cusack at 11:56 AM on December 12, 2007

I had to pull over once listening to Kevin Kling on NPR. His is not a biting humor, by any means, but his delivery knocks me out. He tells real-life stories such as the incredible tale of how he ran Grandma's Marathon in Duluth MN. And along the "real life, exaggerated" lines, of course don't forget David Sedaris.
posted by thebrokedown at 12:02 PM on December 12, 2007

Wow, on re-read, my Kevin Kling example doesn't sound gripping in the least. Trust me, though.
posted by thebrokedown at 12:03 PM on December 12, 2007

I would suggest Stephen Lynch. His comedy music is awesome, but a bit over the top. If you like David Cross, you would probably like it.
posted by slavlin at 12:09 PM on December 12, 2007

Everything on AST Records. Especially Impersonal by Paul F Tompkins.
posted by Andy Harwood at 12:13 PM on December 12, 2007

Also, Comedy Death Ray.
posted by Andy Harwood at 12:15 PM on December 12, 2007

If he hasn't heard it ... the Ricky Gervais podcasts have been made into an audio book you can get through itunes.
posted by R. Mutt at 12:30 PM on December 12, 2007

Seconding drjimmy - Comedy Is Not Pretty is the gold standard to me, but his first three albums (that one, Let's Get Small, or Wild and Crazy Guy) are all unbelievably funny.
posted by pdb at 12:34 PM on December 12, 2007

David Cross' best is "It's Not Funny", but there's some extended political stuff on there that may be offensive to the passionately conservative.

Patton's "Werewolves and Lollipops" is brilliant, but may be a bit blue -- there's a great bit where he's talking about how he wishes Paris Hilton would get AIDS and die, and a segment on buying the 'day after' pill so take that into account.

You can't lose with Greg Behrendt -- yes, he's known the author of the unfunny-sounding 'He's Not That Into You' (which I haven't read) -- but his "Greg Behrednt Is Uncool" album is friggin great, and probably close to as PG-13 as you can get with a decent comic.

Brian Regan, "I Walked On The Moon" (I haven't heard his most recent) is not quite as good as Cross and Patton, but is still pretty excellent, and would probably be difficult to offend anyone with .. unless he had that bit about the transexual prostitute on this album (although maybe that was Stanhoppe, see below).

Most recently I've enjoyed Doug Stanhoppe's work, but his schtick is pretty much being as offensive as possible.

then again, unoffensive comedy is pretty much bad comedy, unless it's cosby, so take that as you will.
posted by fishfucker at 12:37 PM on December 12, 2007

Eddie Izzard's shows are available as audio. "Dress to Kill" is the most accessible, but they're all quite good.
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:41 PM on December 12, 2007

Nthing Patton Oswalt. Mrs. SC and I listened to a couple of his CDs traveling to and from Boston over Thanksgiving and for the first time, I wished the ride would last longer so I could hear more. The dude had me literally crying.

(Note: Not recommended when you have children sleeping in the back seat and you're trying like hell not to wake them.)
posted by shallowcenter at 12:46 PM on December 12, 2007

I would suggest Mike Birbiglia, especially" Two Drink Mike"
posted by carefulmonkey at 1:39 PM on December 12, 2007

Dave Attell is the funniest guy around IMO
posted by Arch_Stanton at 2:08 PM on December 12, 2007

Second Mike Birbiglia. Also, if you like a little hick country comedy - Rodney Carrington.
posted by CwgrlUp at 2:36 PM on December 12, 2007

An Evening With Tom Lehrer.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 2:38 PM on December 12, 2007

Comedians: Mitch Hedburg. Eddie Izzard. Bill Hicks.

Radio shows: Firesign Theater. Harpoon. Blue Jam.

Podcasts: Ricky Gervais. It's popular for a damned good reason.

Audiobooks: Areas Of My Expertise, as read by John Hodgman (with the invaluable and brave assistance of Paul Rudd).
posted by Sticherbeast at 2:40 PM on December 12, 2007

Oh, also, in the radio show vein: On The Hour and further Chris Morris wonderfulness.
posted by Sticherbeast at 2:42 PM on December 12, 2007

The Flight of the Conchords records are pretty great. Musical comedy at its finest!
posted by wemayfreeze at 3:02 PM on December 12, 2007

The Brian Regan LIVE album is my all time favorite... and the most amazing part is he's 100% clean. My 9 year old cousin has the album memorized and leaves people cracking up with Regan's material. Take luck finding a suitable gift!
posted by hummercash at 3:08 PM on December 12, 2007

Old but not at all dated: Emo Phillips. Sample bit on YouTube.
posted by bricoleur at 4:41 PM on December 12, 2007

all of these are great suggestions. I would like to throw in a suggestion for some of the This American Life compilation cds, which have some hilarious bits. The story told by the cop about the house call to remove a squirrel from a newlyweds house (at the request of a beautiful bride) always gets huge laughs.
posted by Large Marge at 5:30 PM on December 12, 2007

Seconding Flight of the Conchords. They have a couple of albums, and they're full of catchy songs.
posted by pantsrobot at 5:35 PM on December 12, 2007

Nthing Patton Oswalt, especially 222, a two-disc set he recorded at the 40-Watt in Athens. He went up and did literally all his material in one set -- two hours and 22 minutes. The discs aren't even indexed, just cut into four solid sides of the most consistently brilliant standup comedy I've ever heard. There's no one else even in the same ballpark with that guy.
posted by futility closet at 6:44 PM on December 12, 2007

Make that two solid sides.
posted by futility closet at 6:54 PM on December 12, 2007

Ron White. They Call Me Tater Salad and You Can't Fix Stupid.
posted by fuse theorem at 8:52 PM on December 12, 2007

Steven Wright's "I Have a Pony" is ageless. Like Mitch Hedberg's uncle.
"I put instant coffee in the microwave and nearly went back in time."
posted by not_on_display at 9:11 PM on December 12, 2007

scharpling and wuster's show on wfmu. my favorite is the one with "the gorch" and "the music scholar" on it (chain fights, beer busts, and service with a grin) but "the gas station dogs" is super funny too, and that's on new hope for the ape eared.
posted by ifjuly at 9:29 AM on December 13, 2007

Bill Cosby's album "To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With" actually starts off kinda weak, but the last track, from which the album gets its title, is brilliant. It's a half-hour about sharing a bed with his little brother and I could honestly listen to it every day.
posted by Doctor Suarez at 5:08 PM on December 13, 2007

maria bamford!
posted by spooky car at 8:39 PM on December 19, 2007