Customer Reviews

Bo Burnham (CD/DVD)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I watched Bo's first YouTube vid over two years ago and laughed like hyenas on nitrous oxide, with tears in my eyes, I turned to my wife and perdicted this kid will be famous. Unfortunately I'm not prophetic, Bo's just an exceptional talent who's acclaim and fame is well deserved. The material on this album is worth more than five stars. The intelligent and clever lyrics mixed with showmanship and contempt of politically correctness results in brilliance; hence the five stars.

What I find disappointing with this release, is the lack of studio tracks. The overwhelming majority of the tracks are live recordings from a Tempe Improv performance. I was at that show, and I'm not suggesting the performance wasn't great. Rather, the mix quality is sub-par, and not exceptionally better than some of Bo's bedroom recordings. If all the tracks had been studio recordings or had the live mix been as polished as the existing studio tracks, this release would have been a full win.

Don't buy it if you get your feelings hurt easy, and don't think you can play it at work, or in front of half your friends or more...

but I laughed, a lot.

Saw Bo Burnham on BBC FOUR one night and split my sides with laughter. He is so very talented, dashing debonair, charismatic, cool, hip, aesthetically pleasing that he even put me in mind of a young Tom Lehrer, who became renowned for writing some very naughty and exemplorary songs during a period in American history which would have made him black listed surely, as Lehrer became famous during the McCarthy witch hunts; "I Got it from Agnes" springs to mind and Burnham has a similar quality, a gift for word play and a real sparkle in his eye which leads me to suspect that he has an old head on young shoulders and I think there will be more from him one day, he is not some flash in the pan but a real comic genius. I was happy to see that the DVD includes the home recordings which appeared on YouTube and a whole lot more, which reveal more about his broadening talents.

If you buy this you won't be disappointed, you may listen to it only with your head phones on, as parents may do a double take if they listen to this or you may want to shock them with your taste in music and turn your speakers up loudly, but maybe not too loudly ...!

Bo Burnham is certainly not PC. But neither is he as lowbrow as some of his critics charge. Indeed, I think that he is often smarter than most members of his audience, judging by how many of the informed jokes and cutting parody fly over their heads. Its refreshing to see a young performer who can provide an unabashed mix of intelligence, vulgarity, absurdity, and iconoclasm. Add to that a talent for writing and performing songs, and you have an act that works. I think that if he matures a bit more and becomes more confident on stage and loses the need to try and explain things to the audience (let them catch up or drown on their own, kid), he could very well be his generation's answer to Weird Al Yankovic. Brilliant.

Yes, Bo Burnham is fun, irreverent, witty (most of the time). He can also sing.... and sing well, and seems innately musical. He's not really wholesome but weirdly real. Bo is unpredictably coherent..... where is he going with this you ask; he takes you there with a chuckle, skewering the ennui you thought would shroud his song. His career is about the most contemporary and his success the most authentic one can imagine: spawned by youtube it only proves that real talent still wins. One would hope it becomes colossal. Without knowing it, he is probably and refreshingly the truly genuine, unmanufactured, anti American-Idol, young rising star. Enjoy him. Buy his CD (with bonus DVD). This guy will give you much pleasure, and deserves success. We want more.

I heard about Bo on Comedy Central so I had to run out and buy the CD as soon as it came out today! It's hard for me to describe how funny it really is, you've just got to go buy it and check it out for yourself!! You definitely won't be disappointed :)

He's the anti-eminem. Intelligent and well written. He'll make you laugh all while driving an honest opinion about life in general. His skillz are sexy...

I love Bo Burnham. Hes just hilarious and so amazing with words, especially for being so young! I have both his cds and dvds, love them all. This cd/dvd combo isnt a let down at all. Like alot of others I discovered Bo a few years back on youtube, but im very happy for him for all his success. He deserves it.

I first became aware of Bo Burnham via Twitter and have quickly become a great admirer of his comedy. The man is funny, plain and simple. What's more is that it all seems to come very natural to him. I'm also grateful he chose this path because he obviously has a good voice and instrumental talent as well. Rather than just be another blip on the vast music industry radar screen, he went the route of comedy and genuinely makes people laugh. I also like the fact that he pushes the envelope, and quickly pauses after some of his more bold comedy to let the audience know "hey, I'm just kidding" in his own way. I've heard some say they are offended by his humor, and I don't get it. Don't they understand he's not promoting the stereotypes, he's actually making fun of them? And why is that it so important to take things personally rather than laugh at ourselves? Anyhoo...

The CD was great, though I rarely listen to CDs anymore so I probably should have just downloaded the MP3s. Then again, I wouldn't have had the chance to also get the bonus DVD, which was far more than I expected, and worth the $10 by itself. His Comedy Central special, a video of him at the Improv, a music video of High School Party, and some other fun, funny and even behind the scenes material.

I would definitely recommend this and any of Bo Burnham's work. My next step is to see him live. Seriously - buy this. It's a good price and you'll laugh a lot. If you don't, well, hey, it's not the first time you've pi**ed away a few measly bucks, right? ;-)

Do not listen to this unless you are intelligent and able to handle humor that pokes fun at a variety of stereotypes. If you can do that, you will laugh a lot.