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a special thing

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Andy Kindler Finally Releases a Debut Album “Hence the Humor” (and Of Course It’s Great)
May 8, 2020
News
a special thing, andy kindler, ast records, comedy album, debut album, meta comedy, stand up comedy

Over his multi-decade tenure in comedy, Andy Kindler has become comedy’s own venerable Internal Affairs department. Kindler’s roasts of any and all comedy that has become rote has earned him a permanent slot at JFL Montreal where he pokes fun at every corner of the art and business of comedy that he can with his State of the Industry “address”.

Yet, despite such status, Kindler has yet to release a full length comedy album. Well, he had yet to release such a thing until Hence the Humor came out today. Kindler has actually even released a special I Wish I Was Bitter long before this, but, leave it to a freewheeling deconstructionist like Andy to put out a debut album after everything else he has achieved in his storied stand-up career.

To that point, Andy shows off he what he does best with digging himself in holes and then nimbly jumping out them with such mastered ease. Kindler has jokes, then jokes about his own jokes, then asides about why he has to make jokes about said jokes and it all comes so fast, ricocheting from every angle, it’s one hell of a satisfying ride (that we’ve taken several times and we’ll take several times over again).

We wish we didn’t have to wait for Kindler to release a comedy album, but, it was worth the wait (even if you didn’t know you were waiting).

Andy Kindler “Hence the Humor” is out now from AST Records.

Jamel Johnson’s “I Think It’s Good” Is a Hot, Hilarious 21 Minutes of a Comedy Album EP
February 13, 2020
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The crackling energy and attitude of Jamel Johnson starts from the very first second of this EP, I Think It’s Good.

As such, we were laughing, giggling, slapping our knee, and definitely cackling throughout the entirety of Jamel’s 21 minutes on this debut EP. Johnson can rant about the most innocuous minutia and make hysterical bits that feel so live and are very satisfying (as well as a fun morsel of sketch mischief tagged on the end). 

Jamel Johnson’s I Think It’s Good comes out this Friday, Feb. 14th, fresh off the presses from AST Records.

Please Get and Enjoy Eric Dadourian’s Oh So Jaunty Debut Album “Nebraska 2″
December 12, 2019
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It seems like eons ago that we had one Eric Dadourian on our handpicked compilation album, Comedians of Interest Vol. 1. Yet, Dadourian is as spry and mischievous as ever in his first full length comedy album Nebraska 2 and we absolutely love him for it.

Eric not only dives head first into the notion of tall tales made taller for comedic effect (it is being sold physically as a cassette tape w/digital download FYI), but he sells all of his stories, asides, riffs, etc. with such fervor that it’s a really jubilant ride the whole way through (no matter if you believe him or not). Truly, life is so damn short and Eric relishes every fraction of a second of it with abandon in his comedy as showcased in this hour. 

Also, Nebraska 2 has one of our favorite closers to a comedy album/special this year (and probably in recent memory). 

So, get Eric Dadourian’s Nebraska 2 fresh off the A Special Thing Records presses here.

Please Get Dave Ross’ Fantastic Album “The Only Man Who Has Ever Had Sex”
August 23, 2019
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Dave Ross was one of the first comedians that we saw in the LA scene (back in 2009) when we first started dipping our toe into comedy (even before we created TCB). In that time, it has been a hoot seeing Dave meticulous craft his material over several years into this one very, very good album, The Only Man Who Has Ever Had Sex.

In fact, we have heard all of this material plenty of times, but still thoroughly got a kick out of it hearing in this particularly wonderful performance (that’s playful, loose, self-aware, lightning-in-a-bottle-esque as stand-up comedy recordings should be). Dave’s deconstruction of masculinity is so spot-on and hysterical from every angle. Even the notion that he is dissecting the old idea of what being a man is with a traditionally very manly voice is inherently very funny. The name of the album The Only Man Who Has Ever Had Sex, track titles (I Attack Strangers, I Am God, I Am A Truck, I Scream at Children), and the album’s website http://sex.guns.beer/ also accomplish this goal and makes you laugh no matter how you engage with this album.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s a 152 pg. flipbook that enhances said experience with the same irreverence.

The Only Man Who Has Ever Had Sex is out today from AST Records and you very, very, very much should go get into all of it here.

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Please Get and Enjoy the Very Sweet Sean Jordan’s Album “The Buck Starts Here”
May 29, 2019
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For those unfamiliar with Sean Jordan or uninitiated to All Fantasy Everything podcast (where he is a regularly recurring member of the podcast), you’re in for a sweet treat if you (and you should) give Jordan’s new album “The Buck Starts Here”.

Jordan himself is a sweet, sweet man that happens to also contain an encyclopedia’s worth of colloquialisms (perhaps he has made up a few?). All of that is put lovingly on display in this new hour. His stories of his life and the uniquely playful way he goes about telling them are undeniably delightful. In fact, we’ll be that whatever idea you had of someone who loves skateboarding that grew up in Sioux Falls, SD that went on to be a comedian will be changed for the better from The Buck Starts Here.

The Buck Starts Here is available now and you can (and, again, you should) get it on Apple Music here.

Please Get and Enjoy Kara Klenk’s Debut Album “Undefeated”
March 8, 2019
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Over the course of several years, Kara Klenk has honed her great comedy chops both in NYC and LA and subsequently became beloved in both scenes. 

The energy of the two scenes are undoubtedly present in this album Undefeated as Kara presents a tight hour of personal observations and stories that pack plenty of punch, but also flow beautifully with nuance (as well as go down some weirdly specific and fun rabbit holes). Also, Kara is so self assured in her delivery, you do truly feel like your hanging with one of your funniest friends (but one who is naturally so as opposed to one who tries really hard to “be on” all the time).

Undefeated is her debut album, fresh off the presses from AST Records. You can (and very much should) get it on iTunes or on CD now.

Please Get and Thoroughly Enjoy Clare O’Kane’s Debut Album “Let It Be”
August 10, 2018
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A combo of laid back breeziness and having a bite is a rare find in comedy, but that is what you’ll find with Clare O’Kane and her debut comedy album Let It Be, fresh off the presses over at AST Records.

Clare has spent a significant amount of time honing her comedy chops in SF, LA, and NYC and the result is an hour that hits that sweet spot between loose, sharp, personal, silly, flippant, and sweet (the intro by Megan Koester sets a perfect tone for the album by the way). There’s such an great easy going energy for this album, it almost feels like it wasn’t being recorded and you’re a fly on the wall at a really cool indie show. 

So, go get Clare O’Kane’s Let It Be on vinyl or iTunes already. 

Please Get Jared Logan’s Damn Good Sophomore Album “The Twilight Door”
June 4, 2018
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a special thing, ast records, jared logan, stand up, twilight door
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Like any art form, stand-up comedy needs its torchbearers, practitioners that are such experts they can always show you “how it’s done”. 

Jared Logan, for a long while, has been such a comedian who blends tight, concise, personal writing, delightful flourishes of the absurd, and flawless, confident delivery with ease. This is especially true of his latest hour The Twilight Door. It’s such a well crafted hour of stand-up that it flows effortlessly, (even though it’s clear great care has been taken in assembling it). 

Oh yeah, Jared’s opening joke is one of the best opening jokes we’ve heard for an hour of stand-up in years.

So, we strongly urge you to get The Twilight Door fresh off the presses from AST Records here or iTunes here.

Please Get Debra DiGiovanni’s Album “Lady Jazz”Out Today
April 27, 2018
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Ever since Debra DiGiovanni arrived in LA, she has destroyed stage after stage often prompting many other comedians on the line-up to not want to follow her. Debra’s undeniable charm and rapid fire cadence pretty much has every watching her busting up from the get go. She’s absolutely one of the best folks to come down from Canada

Lady Jazz, her latest release fresh off the presses from AST Records, showcases these abilities and more in a big theater and definitely is worth a listen (probably more than a few actually).

Get Lady Jazz from AST here.

Paige Weldon’s Debut Album “Girlfriend at the Time” Out Now
March 21, 2018
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It came out almost a month ago, but that doesn’t mean you should forget that the sneaky delight that is Paige Weldon just had her full length debut comedy album released on AST Records.

On “Girlfriend at The Time”, Weldon goes into a deep dive on the finer nuances of the title in a specifically low key way that has you surprised with her charm through every bit. 

So, with that said and without taking up any more of your time here, go get and enjoy Girlfriend at the Time on AST Records or iTunes.

Goodrich Gevaart’s Debut Album “Portrait of a Young Weirdo” Doubles as a Zine
February 16, 2018
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a special thing, comedy album, goodrich gevaart, stand up, zine
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The debut album from Chicago-to-LA transplant Goodrich Gevaart has just released today and, in the spirit of disrupting traditional distribution models, Goodrich has opted for a digital copy of the album Portrait of a Young Weirdo to be accompanied by an actual limited edition 48 page zine. In the zine, you’ll get “timestamped commentary about the jokes in addition to lots of pictures and stories, and an interview with Rhea Butcher, whom Gevaart started comedy with six years ago.”

Also, it’s photo-copied if you’re somehow questioning its legitimacy as a zine.

It’s a great pairing to the album as both weave through Goodrich’s stories and observations of the quietly weird place that is the Midwest, specifically Indiana, with spryly delivered colorful detail.  

By the way, this is one of our favorite pages of the zine.

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You can get the zine/album Portrait of a Young Weirdo from AST Records here or just the digital album here.

Please Get and Enjoy Jamie Lee’s First Album “I Mean…”
January 21, 2018
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a special thing, ast records, comedy album, jamie lee, stand up
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Jamie Lee has been, in our opinion, prime to release an album quite for some time. So, with that in mind, you’re getting a great collection of Jamie’s best over the last several years, which are seamlessly stitched together on “I Mean…”.

Jamie has a great eye and ear for detail in her life for her comedy and also has a deft talent for wordplay and metaphor that are quite enjoyable. Also, Jamie will occasionally flaunt a sort-of syncopated timing on some of our favorite jokes from her that highlight how great Jamie is at crafting her brand of humor.

You can hear all of that on her very first album “I Mean…” fresh off the presses from AST Records. Get it on Apple Music here.

Get Brent Sullivan’s Debut Album “Barf City” Out Today
December 15, 2017
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a special thing, ast records, brent sullivan, comedy album, lgbtq, stand up
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On his debut comedy album, Brent Sullivan displays the marvelous juxtaposition of his dulcet voice and cadence and his anxiety ridden life that seems to be hilariously unraveling at every turn, kind of like what an actual Barf City would be like.

Seriously, we’d wager you won’t hear a more soothing sounding story about a sexual identity crisis from anyone else.

So, pick up Barf City fresh off the presses of AST Records (also available on iTunes and Amazon).

Pick Up Married Couple Cameron Esposito & Rhea Butcher’s Album “Back to Back”
December 11, 2017
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a special thing, ast records, cameron esposito, comedy album, rhea butcher, stand up
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Sure, plenty of comedians talk about being married. There will always be plenty of material to mine from matrimony.

However, very few, if any, actually do stand-up together and release it as an album. Even if both spouses are indeed comedians, the majority of the time, they’d want an entire hour to themselves. 

Leave it to one of comedy’s most affable couples Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher to delve into pretty much uncharted territory. Together, they give a delightful look into their lives, between two people that happen to be wondrous, introspective stand-up comedians, as a happily married couple in 2017 via their album Back to Back. 

Much like their live show/podcast Put Your Hands Together, they start off the hour together, then do separate sets, highlighting their individual comedy stylings and their playful back-and-forth as a duo on stage. 

Don’t be surprised to see if this starts a trend of hours from married comedy couples.

You can get Back to Back now off of AST Records with buttons or shirts (or both) or off of iTunes.
October 18, 2017
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a special thing, ast records, comedians of interest, james austin johnson, stand up

One of our “Comedians of Interest” that you’ll have to keep a close an eye on for on our upcoming Comedians of Interest Vol. 1 album is the endlessly clever James Austin Johnson.

Here’s a track of Johnson’s straight from “our” files. 

FYI, Comedians of Interest Vol. 1 comes out this Friday, October 20th via AST Records. You can pre-order the record in advance here.
October 16, 2017
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Oh yeah, we are releasing our very first compilation album Comedians of Interest Vol. 1 this Friday and throwing ourselves a 7th Anniversary Show/”Staff” Fundraiser on Sunday!

You can (and really should) pre-order the album here on AST Records and buy advance tickets for the show here.
September 16, 2017
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Alex Hooper has been a fun fixture in the LA scene for quite some time now, working very hard for every single thing he’s gotten or built like his wins on Roast Battle, his secret show Crave, and way more.

Now, with so much under his belt, he’s ready to record an album a week from now. You can attend free of charge just by RSVP’ing here. 

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Please Get Mike Bridenstine’s Debut Comedy Album “The Hungry Wolf Hunts Best”
August 11, 2017
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a special thing, ast records, brido, comedy album, mike bridenstine, stand up
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Often in comedy, people mistakenly assume that just being honest makes for the best comedy. Honesty is a great source and motivator for comedic material, but comedians still have to do plenty of work and exhibit a high level of craftsmanship to make honest stories from their life into refined bits of comedy.

Mike Bridenstine indeed draws from the well of his own life, whether it be being married to a black woman as a white man or witnessing one of the greatest bull fights of all time, but has also spent many years working on those stories like a fine aged whiskey on this debut album, The Hungry Wolf Hunts Best. 

You should also note that Mike recorded this album on a single night with no edits like you were there. Such things are increasingly rare in comedy albums these days, but this hour from Bridenstine seems to be all the better for it.

The Hungry Wolf Hunts Best comes out this Friday, August 11th from AST Records, but you can pre-order it on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play now.

P.S. these promo videos for the album are pretty sweet.

Watch Laurie Kilmartin Kill It on Conan, Then Go Buy the Album Version of Her Special “45 Jokes About My Dead Dad”
June 9, 2017
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45 jokes about my dead dad, a special thing, ast records, conan, late night, laurie kilmartin, stand up

Laurie Kilmartin absolutely lit it up last night during her latest late night set on Conan.  

If you’ve seen her special 45 Jokes About My Dead Dad, you’d probably know that she was going to kill it. If you didn’t get a chance to see it because you never got Seeso, you can now get it as an album off of Tunes thanks to AST Records.

Basically, just budget an hour and change to enjoy some fantastic work by Laurie Kilmartin.
June 2, 2017
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A delight within the LA scene, Paige Weldon, is recording a whole comedy album about two weeks. 

It’s free to attend AND you’ll get to sit in pews within a Chinese restaurant. Also, they’re so great guests on the show as well as you can see above.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Laurie Kilmartin’s 45 Jokes About My Dead Dad Coming Out as an Album on AST Records Next Week
June 1, 2017
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Last year, Laurie Kilmartin made a terrific special following the passing of her father called 45 Jokes About My Dead Dad. It was one of our favorite things all year long from 2016.

If you have the unfortunate luck of not having a subscription to Seeso or Amazon Prime, you probably haven’t gotten a chance to enjoy it like we have. 

However, that will all change next Friday, June 9th when 45 Jokes About My Dead Dad will come out as an album off of AST Records. We’ll be sure to remind you again next week so you can enjoy one of the best hours in comedy on dealing with death. 

You can pre-order it off of iTunes here.

Following Up a Whole Album About Death, Sean White Makes a Great Case for Anger and Loneliness with “Angry & Alone”
May 12, 2017
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Exactly two years ago, we told you about Sean White’s bold debut album Dead & Gone that centered on death, both in his experiences with it and conceptually. Bold though it may be to essentially do a comedy album on death, Sean delivered and carved a really great hour.

This latest album, Angry & Alone, continues Sean focusing in on concepts through his own dark comedic lens. In a way, Sean delivers a hilarious new hour that makes a great case for the usefulness of anger and the value of being alone. His personal experience and carefully made observations make the pair of anger and isolation seem kind of fun and unique to himself as opposed to the many angry, lonely comedians that are out there these days.

Here’s a small morsel to show you what we’re talking about.

Get Angry & Alone now from AST Records as a CD or off of iTunes.

John Roy’s Latest Album “Everything’s Burning” Out Now
April 8, 2017
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While the title is timely, John Roy handcrafted a pretty sweet hour with his latest album Everything’s Burning.

Roy’s pinpoint observations on the world and himself are distilled to their purest essence and dripped for all their worth. Also, John’s execution is, as it has been for quite some time, flawless as well.

This album, if anything, gives a nice break from seeing everything burning. Get a taste of it here.

Get Everything’s Burning from AST Records as a poster by the amazing Barry Blankenship w/download code or on iTunes.

Myq Kaplan’ Latest Album “No Kidding” Might Be His Best Hour of Stand-Up Yet
February 17, 2017
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a special thing, ast records, comedy album, myq kaplan, no kidding, stand up
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Over the years, we hope you might have been as lucky as we have been in seeing Myq Kaplan evolve as a comedian. His latest album, No Kidding, is, thus far, the pinnacle of that evolution. 

Starting from his early years with impressive feats of verbal and linguistic acrobatics, Myq has now worked his way to presenting a very colorful, dazzling tapestry of who he really is a person, comedian, and artist. He has got a big following in the autistic community, defends not having kids, and explores the virtues of certain drugs. That’s just the tip of the ice berg that you get off of No Kidding.  Of course, there are still plenty of threads of top shelf wordplay and clever callbacks that tie that tapestry together. 

This might just be, as we mentioned up top, his best hour yet.

No Kidding was just released today off of AST Records (recent Grammy Award winners by the way) and you can get it on iTunes or on CD.

Patton Oswalt and Carol Burnett Win at 2017 Grammys
February 13, 2017
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From last night’s Grammy Awards, Best Comedy Album went to Patton Oswalt’s Talking for Clapping off of A Special Thing Records and Best Spoken Word Album went to the audiobook version of Carol Burnett’s In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox off of Penguin Random House Audio.

While you’re still pondering Adele vs. Beyoncé, go and enjoy both the album and audiobook if you haven’t done so already. 

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Get the full list of the 2017 Grammy Award winners here.

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