Anticipation

Lewis Black | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 5, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Comedy Central Rec.
• ASIN: B001APM3YA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,639 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Back from his Grammy Award win for Best Comedy Album 2006 for "The Carnegie Hall Performance", Lewis has a whole new set of what's setting him off. From the insanity of golf and losing his virginity to a skipping album to his favorite time of year - Christmas in Vegas - "Anticipation" could just be his best album yet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Less topical, more timeless. A great album., August 7, 2008

By 

Marco Antonio La Manno - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Anticipation (Audio CD)

I had the pleasure of getting an early peek at this material when I went with a friend to see Lewis Black on New Year's Eve of 2007; the material on the CD was almost identical to what I heard. However, I had forgotten all the exact jokes, so I bought the album anyway. I laughed just as hard now as I did then.

Many of the jokes revolve around anticipation and how the anticipation of any event is better than the event itself. He talks about the anticipation of losing your virginity, how gamblers and golfers live their lives in anticipation, and he throws that theme in during his Santa track is a hysterical moment. A lot of these jokes are great because, as Bill Maher would say about Carlin, if you remove the punchline, the comments he makes are great material anyway. But even in some of his less "philosophical" stuff, he's still hilarious; any Lewis Black fan knows his mannerisms by themselves are worth quite a few laughs. But there are many to be had in this album regardless.

One thing I noticed was the nature of the jokes -- there are less political jokes. His Santa material deals with politics, but it doesn't deal with issues that happened recently. Even though his commentary on today's news is usually hilarious, the problem I've always seen with those jokes it that they're topical and don't age well; they can't find new fans. These jokes, however, about Christmas, golfers, and his losing his virginity are jokes that new listeners can hear 20 years from now and still understand. That's one thing I've always worried about with Lewis Black, but this album is one of his performances that'll age very well.

Another reason why I'm giving this album five stars is due to the fact that it never seems to sag. His Carnegie Hall Performance was great, but I felt it slowed down once it got to the topic about his performance at the White House dinner; it didn't help that his material on that was close to 20 minutes. This one doesn't seem to ever sag, which makes it well worth the money. Buy it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Black is back...., September 18, 2008

By 

David Alterman "whatwhome?" (Sykesville MD USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Anticipation (Audio CD)

Mr. Black's "anticipation" is a very sly title for an album. One of the routines of the album has to do with that subject and it is a great one to discuss. There are also very funny routines about losing his virginity, santa claus, Channukah etc... many of the other topics being tied in to the main theme of anticipation. In doing that he shows the hallmark of a great story teller.

Also not mentioned is Mr. Black's great talent of the art of speaking, whereas he has great timing, delivery and knows the art of highs and lows that are needed for a long dialogue.

One thing that I noticed, in the photo on the inside jacket there is a picture of Mr. Black on the inside. If one covers each half of his face one side looks like he is smiling the other looks sad. That might really say a lot about this great man and comic. He is able to take the sadness and frustration of the world and make me laugh and smile about it, which really is a wonderful gift to give the me and hopefully the world.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ANTI is AWESOME!, August 5, 2008

By 

Brian B. Paillette (Roseburg, OR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Anticipation (Audio CD)

After listening to this gem by Lewis Black, it is with little doubt, his best work yet. Lewis losing his virginity to a LP record is hysterical and his funniest is "Blueberry Pancakes". Will make any man think twice before he makes pancakes for his wife. Buy this today because it is worht it!! By Brian Paillette