CHRIS GETHARD – My Comedy Album
(Don Giovanni Records)

By John Ambrosio

For years, critics have been calling Chris Gethard a “comic to watch”, but with the release of his debut standup album, My Comedy Album, even those who aren’t into his brand of high concept improv might want to start paying attention.

While it has some ups and downs, My Comedy Album does a great job of answering an important question that Gethard has often asked others: “what’s your deal?” Much like his personality on his late-night public access show, the Chris Gethard Show, Gethard’s standup voice is remarkably honest and sincere. He’s anxious, uncertain, and prone to oversharing, but at the same time endearing, relatable, and, most importantly, well defined.

While some of his jokes are straightforward, the more memorable ones hinge less on one-liners and witty observations and more on well crafted and often depressing stories. In his “I Survived” bit, for example, Gethard describes in gruesome detail an episode of the T.V. Show “I Survived” and the inappropriately upbeat commercials that ran during it. Gethard not only finds a way to interestingly recount a Bio Network reality show, succeeding where many boring co-workers/relatives have failed, but also makes the audience just uncomfortable enough to keep them anxious right up until the satisfying punchline.

While he doesn’t showcase it much on this album, Gethard is often at his best when he’s improvising. His only improv-driven bit is his “Animal Game”, in which he asks for the audience to name animals so he can decide whether he’d hang out with them. While it’s not the funniest joke on the record, Gethard’s quick wit and oddball persona turn the goofy, throwaway concept into a genuinely funny bit. Gethard jokes that knowing if he’d hang out with an animal is his only “natural talent”, but what’s clear is that his ability to improvise, be it natural or trained, is one of his greatest assets as a comedian.

All that being said, the album has a few low points, as well. Most disappointingly, his Alan Rickman story, which takes up a whopping 11 minutes of the 44-minute album, feels bloated, unfocused, and confusing. It has its moments; Gethard’s crappy Alan Rickman impression and references to antiquated search engine Dogpile make for some great laugh-lines (references to Dogpile are always funny). Ultimately, however, it’s disappointing because it seemed to be going toward a much funnier conclusion than the weak—even limp—ending Gethard settles on.

After this rocky start, however, the rest of the album is remarkably solid throughout. Between more traditional jokes like his extremely funny J Crew bit and the more long-winded and depressing ones like his Bonnaroo story, Gethard manages to offer enough with My Comedy Album to keep the album fresh and funny throughout—even during its more self-loathing moments. Whether you’re a devoted TCGS fan or just someone who enjoys standup, My Comedy Album definitely deserves a listen.

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