eMusic Review 0
To say that Steve Martin completely redefined modern American comedy by introducing the absurd, the rambunctious and the notion of irony is probably overstating things a bit. But not by much. The first half of this album, Martin’s first, was recorded in a small club in San Francisco, while the second was taped at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. That Martin was the hottest comic in the country, taking things from small clubs in local California to packed arenas (largely thanks to his cult hit “King Tut,” included here) in the span of just a few years in the ’70s, is a wonder, because Martin’s act at the time — a Swiss watch of idiotic genius — is very, very strange. There are no extended ruminations on airline food or cranky wives here, instead we get spastic recitations on tracks named “Language,” “Religion,” and “Philosophy.” Martin’s buffoon/savant act is an amazing refraction of everything that came before him. You think you see a joke coming, and then Martin falls on his face, embarrassing himself, shining a high beam on his idea, and getting legit laughs. On speaking in public he says, “Language is kinda my thing, being a comedian, and if you… read more »
