David Cross
Oh, Come On
David Cross is my main man. He’s my jam. He’s my main squeeze. Not only is he responsible for getting me into comedy albums way back in the day, but his material has kept resonating with me after all these years. I discovered his comedy in a dark period in my life (yes, that sad old story), and it immediately spoke to me. Soon afterwards I was listening to his albums and specials over and over again at work, in the car, or in the gym. Of course that led me to Mr. Show which opened a whole new world of comedy. To be honest, it’s funny to think of a time when I wasn’t listening to his stuff or learning about his new projects. And as far as the current comedy boom is concerned (which is already showing signs of busting), Cross’ comedy still stands out as being the smarter, wittier, and more intellectual of the bunch. There’s still a lot to learn from his stuff.
It’s surprising to think that someone who’s been doing comedy for so long (since Boston in the 80s, actually) hasn’t released more albums. Not that everyone needs the kind of output of George Carlin or Louis CK pre-cancel, but 6 albums in 20 years isn’t that much. Or maybe it’s the right amount? Cross himself has said that he slowed down after his album It’s Not Funny because he hasn’t felt his material hasn’t been strong enough. He has certainly kept busy, and a quick scan of his Wikipedia page can attest to that. However, the past several years has seen Cross much more active in the stand-up circuit. Maybe it’s the political climate, or something maybe has clicked in him. This new album Oh Come On is his second in two years.
Like the previous album Making America Great Again, this one is organized in a very specific way. The first half is filled with anecdotal material about relationships, fatherhood, and social life, while the second half has the more political stuff. While the final segment about Cross’ fantasy of punishing the president is cathartic and excessively angry, and not the smart in-depth stuff I look for in his comedy, it’s really the first half (and the final segment about unexpectedly learning a secret about the kind of person he is) where this album really shines. Whether it’s his snide remarks about left culture, doing couples colonics, or the challenges of fatherhood, the material is as enlightening and crude as anything he’s done in the past. It’s the kind of comedy that isn’t very easy to pull off these days, challenging your own audience. But Cross’ fearlessness is the secret weapon here.
What a time to be living in where comedy can be collected on vinyl. Cross was one of the pioneers of this as well (after CDs and digitsl albums became the norm) and he’s said himself that it’s a fun way to release albums. We couldn’t agree more. Oh, Come On comes in beautiful double LP in a gatefold sleeve on colored vinyl. It’s really a full package, elegant and attractive, and a wonderful collector’s item for fans of David Cross or comedy in general. Oh, and there’s some cool bonus content on the vinyl as well that you won’t get to hear anywhere else.
Oh, Come On is full of the material that has made David Cross a unique voice in comedy. It’s sarcastic, witty, smart, and makes you a better person if you listen closely. Hopefully it’s also a sign that there will be much more of material to come from him.
