Customer Reviews

Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am a comedy snob who is completely underwhelmed by most of the stand-up fare available to the masses. Mr. Mirman is one of those rare comics who sounds as if his perspective is entirely unshaped by anyone else in the comedy world. He's a Russian immigrant (even though he has no accent), which provides him a distinctly different eye for Americana that your typical Dane Cook-ian hacks could never attain. All those who rate this cd less than 5 stars will one day bow to Eugene.

This is an excellent sampling of Eugene's material. Slightly off-beat and very clever, Eugene's stories and observations span the humor spectrum. Harassment by a credit card company, an ad campaign promoting geometric shapes, the gut-busting tale of the Atari - the material draws you in and makes you laugh, often uncontrollably. Eugene is without question the best that communist Russia has exported willingly. (Is Baryshnikov a good dancer? Sure. But not nearly as funny, and he defected.)

The subject matter jumps around a lot and there are some jokes that fall flat. Even Eugene acknowledges it at times. If you're already familiar with Eugene's style, pick it up. If you're trying something new, go get God Is a Twelve Year Old Boy With Aspergers (Dig) for a better introduction to the comedian's better work.

Mirman's greatest flaw isn't that he's unoriginal or banal (both of which, unfortunately, he is), but it's that his delivery sounds like that guy you knew in college who would elongate or emphasize certain words to try to be funnier, but alas, it never worked out well. He's just unbearable to listen to. The kind of voice "witty" internet commenters have when they read their own jokes.

The comedy world wouldn't be the same without a voice as odd and brilliant as that of Eugene Mirman. I was lucky enough to see him perform with Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn, and Patton Oswalt on the Comedians of Comedy tour. It was the highlight of my concert-going life. His originality is a breath of fresh air. If he were in your circle of friends, he'd be the weird one that kept the conversation going down a strange, funny path. If you're a comedy fan, don't miss out on Eugene.

I hesitate to call Eugene Mirmans humor "smart", but it's of such a silliness that can only come from genuine intelligence. You don't laugh because it's clever, you laugh because it's funny. But that punchline was arrived at by a legitmate wit. Albeit a ridiculous form of wit. The accompaning DVD is in contrast to the CD, in that it is very NOT funny. But all in all, Mr. Mirman shows himself to be someone to remember to look out for.

I have never written a review on Amazon before, but after seeing this album get tragically poor ratings I decided I needed to step it up. Eugene Mirman is a comedic genius. He ranks up there with Dave Chappelle, Patton Oswalt and David Cross as one of my all-time favorites. This album is a must have for anyone who enjoys stand-up. As for all the nay-sayers on here, apparently they skipped past Track 6 "Russian and Atari" which is one of the funniest stories I've ever heard.

Did you know that 98% of America has not found your CD funny? Well, add me to that America! I now feel ashamed that adding your CD to my order resulted in my shipping savings being labelled as "super". Eugene, Eugene--wherefore art the fart jokes? Surely you jest that you can call yourself "comedian" and yet seem to have not mastered this fundamental of the comic arts. It is rather like a "magician" who can't live in a suspended box. Let me give you a basic lesson in comedy: make fun of people different than me! Until then I will be filing this CD under "A" for "Absurd, yes--funny, NO!!!!".

I appreciate what the guy is trying to do, it's just that he's not that funny. I don't have a lot of in depth criticism - his humor is just kind of dorky and average. He's very likeable, however. Like one of his jokes is:

"What if horses could talk, but all they said was just stupid, like 'I can hear the radio!' and you'd be like, 'you're magic for this?! what a waste!"

You'll probably finish listening to this CD with a feeling of ambivalence towards him.

Seventeen tracks -- but maybe three decent jokes, tops. Eugene Mirman is in the comedy business the same way a barnacle is in the overseas shipping business.