Comedy

Stand-up comedy albums are always difficult to review, especially when it’s the first time you’ve heard the comedian in question. Often they make the most sense to someone who is already familiar with a comedian’s act - a souvenir of a great performance or a way to take your favorite taped performance on a road trip. Like any live entertainment, part of the magic of the event is lost in hearing disembodied cheers coming from speakers and that holds especially true for comedy.

For those embracing the golden memories the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, a new Broadway release from Sony might be the perfect post-holiday present to purchase. A collection from 1909 to 1939 covers the comedic aspects of musical theatre with 16 tracks that (for the most part) hold up just swell. If that old time Jazz is not your cup of sarsaparilla, this album might actually convince you otherwise. Both the harmless ditties and scathing social satire still ring loud and clear and while you might not get the direct connotation, their purpose is clear.

First of all if you aren't watching "Raising Hope" you should be. It has an original and eclectic voice which makes it stand out in a crowd of new shows. And it is pretty damn funny. Morever, it manages to sneak in touching storylines about character, family relations and life while you're laughing away.

The always outrageous king of vocal comedy has returned for another installment of comedic performances. "3 Balloons" takes Lynch's comedy to an even more bizarre level than previous albums. Before listening to a Stephen Lynch album, remember to try to have an open-minded attitude without taking too much offense. This comedic performer makes it very obvious that he is joking, and a very serious listener may not enjoy any of his work.

The first track begins sort of mellow with Lynch talking about anticipation of something important.