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Editorial Reviews
A regular on such venerable shows as Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, Marc Maron is known for his incisive cultural and political commentary, mystical ruminations, and neurotic insights into human nature. Considered one of the hottest alternative comics in the business, Marc has appeared on just about every television show that books comedians and has had roles in several feature films.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Tony Z
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ok, let's get this out of the way... Marc Maron is easily one of the most talented comedians to emerge from this past decade. I only recently got into him, and I can't believe I hadn't noticed him sooner. Listening to Maron brings backs feelings of listening to Bill Hicks for the first time. But the one thing that Maron has over Hicks and Carlin and other great social critics of our time is that he incorporates his rage and anxiety about his personal life into his comedy in a major way. As a fellow Leftist, pissed off, anxious screw up, I can relate to this dude in a way that I don't really get with other comedians.
So I'm a big fan of the dude. Now, on to the review.
I waited a long time to get This Has to Be Funny, because I had heard from a few people (and a couple reviews on this website) that is was a different Marc. It was less of the rage that made his other albums so perfect. My first Maron album was Final Engagement, which was a whirlwind of emotions, and after which I couldn't wait to get his first two albums. But after hearing how he sounded on this current release, I went into it expecting less than I did with Tickets Still Available or Not Sold Out.
I set my expectations low, and they still really weren't fulfilled.
The first few tracks aren't very good, with a few laughs here and there (the end of Cat Guy, in particular, is absolutely fantastic). Gone is the social criticism that has made him a legend. The tracks about his parents and being stuck in his own head are big laughs and classic Maron, as is Spite Baby. Texting While Driving is good, but nothing special. The Creationist Museum has some great parts, but goes nowhere. It drags on for 17 minutes and never builds up.
This is, ultimately, the major flaw of the album. From here on out, he goes through 3 or 4 stories that have major buildups with almost no payoffs. It continues with Earl's Rooter, Working Out Their Daddy Issues, and Stop Talking. Every one of these tracks have some good laughs, but the final jokes that he is obviously working up to just sink and never satisfy. Maybe another part of the problem is that I just don't really believe the stories. Naturally comedians embellish and exaggerate, but with Maron's past stuff, you felt every aspect of his rage and his misery. Here, some of them just seem like stories any boring comedian would simply make up.
Maron, if you can believe it, seems happier. He admits it at the beginning. He's still a mess, but it's not the same.
I recommend it to any Marc Maron fan only because any Maron is good Maron. But it pales in comparison to his previous three albums.
So I'm a big fan of the dude. Now, on to the review.
I waited a long time to get This Has to Be Funny, because I had heard from a few people (and a couple reviews on this website) that is was a different Marc. It was less of the rage that made his other albums so perfect. My first Maron album was Final Engagement, which was a whirlwind of emotions, and after which I couldn't wait to get his first two albums. But after hearing how he sounded on this current release, I went into it expecting less than I did with Tickets Still Available or Not Sold Out.
I set my expectations low, and they still really weren't fulfilled.
The first few tracks aren't very good, with a few laughs here and there (the end of Cat Guy, in particular, is absolutely fantastic). Gone is the social criticism that has made him a legend. The tracks about his parents and being stuck in his own head are big laughs and classic Maron, as is Spite Baby. Texting While Driving is good, but nothing special. The Creationist Museum has some great parts, but goes nowhere. It drags on for 17 minutes and never builds up.
This is, ultimately, the major flaw of the album. From here on out, he goes through 3 or 4 stories that have major buildups with almost no payoffs. It continues with Earl's Rooter, Working Out Their Daddy Issues, and Stop Talking. Every one of these tracks have some good laughs, but the final jokes that he is obviously working up to just sink and never satisfy. Maybe another part of the problem is that I just don't really believe the stories. Naturally comedians embellish and exaggerate, but with Maron's past stuff, you felt every aspect of his rage and his misery. Here, some of them just seem like stories any boring comedian would simply make up.
Maron, if you can believe it, seems happier. He admits it at the beginning. He's still a mess, but it's not the same.
I recommend it to any Marc Maron fan only because any Maron is good Maron. But it pales in comparison to his previous three albums.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Kawika
Format:MP3 Music
If you want open, honest, hilarious comedy from a seasoned comic, look no further. Key difference between this and his previous release (Final Engagement) is that Marc's anger has waned considerably. Marc has a lot of hilarious insight on culture and our perceptions of each other. I loved the whole show (clocks @ 1.2 hours - so it loads a complete writeable CD). Another classic.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By newmiracle
Format:Audio CD
If you like Marc Maron, what are you waiting for? Just get it already. I'm putting my review on the CD instead of the MP3 download because the artwork and packaging are nice. There's a blurb/review/prologue? by Ira Glass on the inside that is great, but it's a little bit of a spoiler so you should read it after you listen and not before.
I loved the album. It's simply more Marc Maron, and if you liked the last albums you owe it to yourself to get this one.
I loved the album. It's simply more Marc Maron, and if you liked the last albums you owe it to yourself to get this one.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Authentic. Unique Comedy Album.
This is a good, possibly great comedy album, in my opinion. It is VERY unlike other comedy albums in that it is just Marc being Marc. Read more
Published 29 days ago by TEConnor
1.0 out of 5 stars
For People New To Maron
I listen to a lot of comedy albums. A LOT. My favorites include some staples, like Dave Chappelle's sets, early George Carlin, and Louis CK. I also like everything Paul F. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mark Eremite
2.0 out of 5 stars
Rambling and ultimately boring
Marc Maron hosts a highly regarded podcast, but his own humor is simply not very concise, imaginative or funny. Read more
Published 11 months ago by David
3.0 out of 5 stars
The period after the anger feels a little watered-down
I hadn't gotten into podcasts in general until about 2008, and I did so because of the variety of topics they would discuss, the guests they featured on the episodes, and the... Read more
Published 18 months ago by noizyme
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny man
I didn't know Mr. Maron until I heard his podcast. At first he can be a little much (angry guy, complains a lot, very neurotic) but then he grows on you and you can't stop... Read more
Published 19 months ago by At The Threshold
5.0 out of 5 stars
This was funny!
Great comedy album.
I could visualize everything he said, it all seemed so real and honest.
The last half of the album had some pretty amazing laughs. Read more
I could visualize everything he said, it all seemed so real and honest.
The last half of the album had some pretty amazing laughs. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Hugh
2.0 out of 5 stars
Great interviewer, but this album just isn't funny.
I have been listening to Marc Maron's podcast for about a year, and really enjoy it. Maron does a great job getting his interview subjects to feel comfortable and open up to him. Read more
Published 20 months ago by MapMaker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marc Being Himself
If you listen to Marc on his Podcast, WTF [...], you might miss out on his "pure comedy" (i.e. the "laugh a minute" Marc Maron). Read more
Published 21 months ago by The Head Geek
3.0 out of 5 stars
I feel good about this
Marc's fourth comedy album is half-good. The first half of the routine is stuff he has said on his WTF podcast in one form or another, and it feels forced when he revisits it on... Read more
Published 21 months ago by ninjasuperstar
4.0 out of 5 stars
Maron at his self-destructive best
Been a Marc Maron fan for the past year through his podcast, "WTF?"
Never had the pleasure of seeing him live, though he's often commented on his ability to work live... Read more
Never had the pleasure of seeing him live, though he's often commented on his ability to work live... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Karl Custer
