Best Music of 2018 Pt. V: Comedy & Covers

TOP 18 COMEDY ALBUMS of 2018

 

1. Nick Vatterott KROCK90Q.BUZZ
(Produced by Jesse Case)
Not many things made me laugh more than this remarkable album did last year, and I don’t just mean on this list. Funnier than most movies, shows, or inappropriate jokes Uncle Frank told you when you met at the stuffing station during mom’s Thanksgiving potluck. This project, which takes place entirely inside of a (barely) fictional wacky radio station, would make a great starting point for a film, or series, too, but my big takeaway is why there aren’t more people doing high concept comedy albums these days. Hopefully this will inspire a new wave of them. Unbelievably good. Utterly refreshing. (insert slide whistle sound effect)

2. Clare O’Kane Let It Be
When it comes to traditional stand up albums of 2018, nothing beat the classically original comedic musings of Clare O’Kane. She’s so charming, and easy to listen to, I almost felt like I was hanging out with her in a green room. Her way with words is mind blowing, and nothing is better than a comic who knows how to laugh at themselves, and isn’t afraid to joke freely about subjects that others would mishandle, or consider taboo altogether. She spins sarcasm deftly, without ever sounding snobby, showcased most flawlessly when she’s using phrases you can tell she doesn’t ever use unironically. She’ll probably never be bigger than the Beatles, but I’d love to hear Paul McCartney talk about abortions while still making me feel all warm and cozy inside. I’m officially addicted to O’Kane.

3. Jared Logan The Twilight Door
Jared Logan has been one of the best stand up comedians in the world for years now. This album doesn’t even come close to disappointing. Never suffering for material, I feel like he could release a new hour every year, if he wanted to. He’s a phenomenal joke writer, and has an effortless, yet memorable vibe that should have made him a superstar years ago.

4. Dwight Simmons Sip and Pass
Dwight Simmons has put out two albums in a row of perfect stand up comedy that for reasons beyond me have flown inexplicably under the radar. He’s as unique as he is relatable. As sharp as he is easy going. As silly as he is commanding of an audience. Another of my top bets to be one of the next big things in comedy, I really wish the rest of the world would stop sleeping on guys like Jared and Dwight.

5. 12 Years of Voicemails from Todd Glass To Blake Wexler
You read the title correctly. This is an album full of voicemails. It’s so fun to listen to, and at times, it does make you feel like you’re eavesdropping, but a lovely side dish to the heaps of silliness, are the surprising moments of thoughtful poignancy, like when Todd is convincing Blake to quit comedy, because he clearly believes in him, and doesn’t want him to get stuck doing something he wasn’t born to do. As an up and coming stand up myself, that personally meant a lot to me.

6. Greg Behrendt Why Are You In Here? 

7. Scott Thompson Not A Fan 

8. Dwayne Duke Shame Flashbacks 

9. Greg Proops The Resistance 

10. Brandt Tobler Gamblin’ & Ramblin’: Live in Las Vegas 

11. Keith Lowell Jensen Bad Comedy For Bad People

12. Johnny Taylor Bummin’ With the Devil

13. Nato Green The Whiteness Album

14. Joe Starr A British Murder Robot Tries Stand Up Comedy

 

15. Kevin Tit Life… The Best Joke In Town 

16. Dan Cummins Maybe I’m the Problem

17. Emma Arnold Yes, Please

18. Mike Lawrence Mega Manchild
(not actual album cover)

 

TOP 35+ COMEDY TRACKS of 2018

 

1. Nick Vatterott – Station Identification

KROCK90Q.BUZZ Flashback

2. Brandt Tobler – Stardust (The Time I Tried To Kill My Dad)

3. Patrick Passafiume – Typhoon the Headliner

4. Jared Logan – Hotel

The Twilight Door

5. Greg Proops – I’m Just Not Feeling It
6. Dwayne Duke – Karen

7. Greg Behrendt – A Friend You Hate

8. Todd Glass – Jay Leno’s Cars (2016)

9. Nick Vatterott – D.J. the D.J.

10. Scott Thompson – Seeing Sandra

11. Dwight Simmons – Sip and Pass

Black Super Heroes

12. Clare O’Kane – Yikes

I’m Sorry Grandma

13. Greg Behrendt – You Get What You Get

14. Keith Lowell Jensen – Charlie Chaplin

15. Daniel Humbarger – Spider

16. Mike Lawrence – Married

17. Jared Logan – Zachary Taylor

West Hollywood

18. Dwayne Duke – Pangea University

Treasures of Burlesque on a Guy’s Weekend

19. Brandt Tobler – Four Queens (Porn Star Night and Morning)

20. Greg Proops – Things White People Like

Men Can’t Hear

Orange 45

Lock Her Up

21. Nato Green – A Simpler, More Innocent Time, Four Months Ago

22. Todd Glass – Todd Meets Oprah (2016)

Quit College Blake (2008)

23. Nick Vatterott – Sports Break…

24. Dan Cummins – Chuck E. Terror

I’ll Show You One Photo

Permission To Swear

25. Todd Glass – Todd Talks To a Neighborhood Cat (2014)

Todd Loves His Wife (2012)

Todd Hits His Head

Blake Crazy Dances in a Barn

26. Johnny Taylor – Sexting

27. Clare O’Kane – Aborsh

Sexual Renaissance

Catcalled

Nude Modelin’

Being…. a Woman

28. Greg Behrendt – Sobriety is Not For Everyone

My Sister Would Love This

The Spooky One

29. Dwight Simmons – The N Train

The Talk

Follow Your Dreams

30. Brandt Tobler – Imperial Palace (the Roulette Story)

31. Jared Logan – Dominos

Marriage

The Today Show

Casting Director

32. Keith Lowell Jensen – Badoinkle

Leviticus Tattoo

33. Patrick Keane – Negro Baseball Museum

Catholic Elementary Football

34. Andrew Schulz – Egypt Pyramids

35. Dwayne Duke – Chasing Waterfalls

TOP 29+ COVER SONGS of 2018

 

1. Brad Mehldau Trio – Almost Like Being In Love

2. Juliana Hatfield – A Little More Love

3. Chris Cornell – One (Live at Beacon Theatre 2015)

4. Mike Love – Lifetime Party

5. Juliana Hatfield – Magic

6. Brak – Institutionalized

7. Joey Alexander – Blackbird

The Very Thought of You (w/Joshua Redman)

8. Stephen Inglis – Wharf Rat

Standing On the Moon

Dark Star

Lazy River Road

9. Willie Nelson – Summer Wind

10. Meshell Ndegeocello – Tender Love

Don’t Disturb This Groove

Waterfalls

11. Mark Yamanaka – His Eye Is on the Sparrow

12. Laura Jane Grace – The Best Ever Death Metal Band In Denton

13. UB40 – A Place In the Sun

In the Rain

14. Titus Andronicus – (I’m) Like a Rolling Stone

15. Dead Milkmen – Lydia the Tattooed Lady

16. Josh Tatofi – About You

17. “Weird Al” Yankovic – Beat On the Brat

18. Manchester Orchestra – Blizzard of ’77

19. Anthony David – Use Me

20. Stephen Inglis – Brokedown Palace

Scarlet Begonias

21. UB40 – Ebony Eyes

22. Elvis Costello – I’ll Still Love You

23. Against Me! – People Who Died

24. Rogue Wave – Blonde On Blonde

25. Juliana Hatfield – Xanadu

26. Meshell Ndegeocello – Sensitivity

27. Ruston Kelly & Kacey Musgraves – To June This Morning

28. Paula Fuga – Song For Someone

29. Josh Groban – Bridge Over Troubled Water

On Billy’s Ocean Made of Tearz: Songs That Make Men Cry

Come to think of it, maybe Billy Ocean was right. There will be sad songs to make you cry. I just don’t know why he chose to sing about it in a song that was clearly designed to induce vomiting. (Not sure if Billy Ocean has been signed to Ipecac Records yet, or not, but I digress.)

In my younger days, I would have (and probably did) scoffed at Lord Ocean’s notion. I never experienced a song having that particular power until the fall of 1995, when none other than Tiffany McCourt put my heart through a paper shredder. So there were two firsts, knocked out all at once: First broken heart and first time having a song yank tears from my eyes. (I think it was Sting’s “Fields of Gold”. Sorry.)

It still doesn’t happen to me at an alarming rate, but the more I live and the more I see, the better chance a song with a certain mood and melody can get me at the right time and there is even one that will get me to do it pretty much anytime my ears get a hold of it. (Stay tuned)

I’ve always proudly cried at movies. I cry way more at movies than I do in real life. But it still takes the perfect tune at the perfect time to get me to weep uncontrollably. I know some men who never cry from songs (or at movies, at that rate) or cry less than me and I know men who cry more than me. I have to think that men who don’t do it force themselves not to. It can be done. You just focus on something else. I prefer to just let the art control and let the tear ducts flow, but I do understand people who try to avoid it, because sometimes crying due to the power of a song can bring out other things that you’ve been trying to keep stowed away for a reason. I admit that sometimes it’s easier to just turn away or turn something off when you start feeling a little verklempt. (Ironically, I think songs have an even better chance at tugging at my heartstrings, when they are played during emotional scenes and/or montages in films.) There are also a handful of songs that put me on the verge of tears based almost solely on how beautiful, genuine and inspiring they sound to me and many of them are not sad songs by any stretch of the imagination.

You may be wondering what made me decide to write this piece. Thanks for asking. One of my favorite publications, Paste Magazine, recently posted another of their great lists. This one listed ten songs that were most likely to make men cry. “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M. came in at number one. I had no major problems with that pick, but I wasn’t overly impressed by the rest of the list in general, as much as I adore Paste and everything that they do. I was immediately curious to know what other songs make men cry, so I sent out posts on Twitter and Facebook to my male friends and followers to find out and surprisingly, I only got a couple of smart-ass responses. Here are the real ones:

“Cry, baby, cry, make your mother sigh.” – four dudes with funny hair

AL from the UK (@NeoplasmSix on Twitter) didn’t actually admit to crying, but said that “The only one that comes close is Johnny Cash’s version of ‘Hurt'” No argument from me there. I don’t think I’ve ever cried while listening to that one, but it might be one of those tunes that is so powerful that I have no choice but to focus on something else. That rendition is the real deal.

Michael Webb from South Jersey (@spudrph) picked some showtunes, (““Empty Chairs At Empty Tables” (Les Miserables), “One Song Glory” (Rent), “You and I” (???) #broadwaygeek”, said Mr. Webb.) which was a brilliant idea. I hadn’t even considered that genre.

Dan Shrimpton (@Shrimpin) of Hitchin, Britain wrote, “My mate played Dorothy Moore – Misty Blue continuously on the jukebox at a wake. After the 14th time I was pretty close.” I hadn’t heard this particular song in a while and after hearing it again, that post made so much sense. I’m sure if I was at a funeral, that tune would have all the right moves. Here’s a cheesy clip of it:

The lovely Andy Manson (@Mansonovic) of Glasgow said, “Don’t Dream It’s Over (Crowded House) has made me cry before, as has Streets of Philadelphia.” (Springsteen) “Don’t Dream…” is one of those songs that just transports me back to my childhood, so considering that, it’s more than a fair pick. I believe that Springsteen one (understandably) made the Paste list as well, but I find some of the songs off his landmark Nebraska album to be far more effective.

Jeffrey Wright (@Professor_Snack) of DC Metro’s pick was “Where Have You Been” by Kathy Mattea

Peter Shorney (@peacockpete) of Newbury, Berkshire, UK said, “In a certain mood, Queen’s Teo Torriate has been known to choke me up.”

Juan of Long Beach, CA (@xdracco) thoughtfully shared, “mad world by Gary jules. From Donnie Darko. It was sad when it came out but now I associate with my nephews death, more sad.” Tragic indeed. I feel for his loss and this song has always been one of those that makes those kinds of memories hard to suppress. For better, or for worse. Here’s a video featuring the touching, breathtaking “Mad World”, which was originally a Tears For Fears song:

The amazing Phil Grech of St. Augustine, FL (@philgrech) is a man after my own heart and coincidentally, one of my cohosts on the Four Horsemen podcast– http://blogtalkradio.com/thefourhorsemen1 –which can be heard each Monday night at 10pm EDT. He selected “Jeff Buckley’s Lover You Should Have Come Over and Nirvana’s You Know You’re Right”. Those are two of my favorite artists. Most of you are probably tired of me talking/writing about Nirvana, so I’ll just touch on the Buckley joint. The entire album Grace is emotional in so many ways for me. It has mended broken hearts for me, but it’s so hard to listen to Jeff Buckley emote when you already know that he’s not with us anymore. Few artists have left a larger void in their absence. This one speaks for itself…

Paul Gude (@sgnp) of parts unknown proudly stated, “Grendel’s Mother by the Mountain Goats makes me cry.”

And finally, my old buddy James Kilmury (my lone Facebook participant) from Austin, TX came through in the clutch with this, “Talvin Singh “Butterfly”, Hybrid “Just for Today”, most of Johann Johannsson’s IBM 1401: A User’s Manual album”.

The MVP performance was turned in by the great Doug Tilley (@Doug_Tilley) of Peterborough, Ontario, who sent me multiple selections including, “Sufjan Steven’s “Casimir Pulaski Day” and Billy Bragg’s “Tank Park Salute” do it for me.. ; Also admit to tearing up a bit to Squeeze’s Up The Junction. ; Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me In Your Heart” ; The Jam “Liza Radley”. I cry a lot more at music than I do at movies. ; One more: Richard Thompson “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”. Wow! Thanks, Doug! Those Stevens and Zevon tunes were perfect picks in my book and almost all of the artists listed are favorites of mine, so I was blown away by Mr. Tilley’s contribution.

And now it’s time for my pick. (@sexbiscuit) This song always gets me and it gets me even more if I’m having a horrible day or I’m going through a breakup. It’s “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds. The song is also great because it makes me cry even when I’m falling in love with someone. Because usually I’m falling the way Ben fell for his wife. Here it is:

“I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you.” – Ben Folds

Well, I hope you got something out of this entry other than man tears. And if you missed my post and wanted to tell us what songs do the same thing to you (you can keep it confidential if you want, bro) feel free to tell me in the comments. Thank you. Now let’s go listen to the Top Gun soundtrack and watch some football while drinking beer. And giving Barry Manilow a reacharound. Happy Kwanzaa!

“If I leave you it doesn’t mean I love you any less…keep me in your heart for awhile.” – Warren Zevon