CD Review
Chad Daniels: You’re the Best
4 stars (out of 5)
Alternative comics tend to get a bit of a pass for modest punch lines as long as their premises are wildly unique. It’s pretty post-modern that the brave move in today’s comedy world seems to be risking well-trodden topics like airline-flights and having children, because in the world of high-speed internet it’s not a good time to get branded a hack. Brian Reagan has talked about comedy as a mining expedition; sometimes you have to go into these mines that would seem to be completely tapped out and emerge with gold. Louis CK also helped pave the way, showing that if you keep your comedy super-personal, the leap of faith into a topically familiar mine-shaft will pay off.
Chad Daniels follows up his 2009 Busy Being Awesome with a beefy sophomore showing. You’re The Best is funny end to end despite its patently routine subjects. Daniels hangs out at the airport and living room, confidently tearing through relatable anecdotes with poise, muscular punch lines and thorough ownership of the crowd.
One of the standout tracks is “Press Conference.” Daniels explains that because his kids ask too many questions, he holds a daily press conference-style meeting in the living room in order to consolidate their queries. He acts out the riotously funny correspondence, taking pot-shots at his daughter — the younger, easier target.
On “Cleft Palate,” he recalls an instance where his friend with a cleft palate encountered a woman with her own cleft palate — who proceeded to think Daniels’ friend was mocking her. You can’t make this stuff up, but Daniels can sure make it funny. “How has this never happened before?” asks Daniels. “And when does it happen again!”
Daniels is acerbic as ever, discussing AIDS, Barack Obama’s color (beige) and the types of people who probably view their children as an STD. On “Canoe Trip,” he rails on his wife for not pulling her weight during row-boat excursions.
Daniels is currently on tour, and will be in Philadelphia, Columbus and Minneapolis this July. You can follow him on twitter @chaddaniels34.
Ryan P. Carey, D.D.S. is a Philadelphia-based comic and senior contributing writer for STAGE TIME. Check out his blog at http://dolphindentist.blogspot.com.
