CD Review
Dave Williamson: Thicker Than Water
4 stars (out of 5)
It’s a relief to hear a comedian do their routine and find yourself thinking, “I can see myself getting drunk with this person and engaging in ridiculous debauchery.” Thoughts along that vein occurred while listening to Dave Williamson’s Thicker Than Water.
A few things have really stood out about the tactics used in this routine. There is a wealth of material in exploiting the small and seemingly insignificant mishaps of adult life. This can be heard in Williamson’s track “Lots of Love,” which recounts his mother’s technological disabilities. Most young adults can relate to this sort of thing, especially when having to tutor baby boomers in computers (myself included). It takes great finesse to poke fun at parents and oneself without sounding self-deprecating, which is something Williamson does quite well, and even causes the listener to reflect on their own shortcomings with lightness.
Several tracks in this CD are dedicated to kids and parenting. If you find children as hilarious as I do, you will appreciate Williamson’s stories. Autobiographical, and perhaps a bit embellished, these jokes makes you appreciate the hot mess that children really are, in all of their irrational, and seemingly drunken simplicity (see Williamson’s track “Pee Pee Talk”). It is difficult to talk about children without sounding cliché, repetitive, or corny, but Williamson manages to nonchalantly enlighten the audience on the continuing hilarity of children at their most memorable.
“Ice Cream Truck” might be my favorite track on the entire CD. Williamson describes the ultimate plan to mess with the neighborhood kids by playing ice cream truck tunes out of his car, and then shutting it off when the children run outside to investigate. The image of little rascals panting and looking around confusedly is enough to convince any young parent (or experienced child care worker, in my case) that this is a great idea. Williamson even offers to put the song he uses on the end of the CD for his listeners to try out for themselves. It adds the perfect after-note, when all’s been quiet for a few minutes, only to be followed by the intoxicating tune of “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”
Explaining the conversational hilarity of Williamson’s Thicker than Water cannot really do it justice. However, be convinced by the man in the audience whose inability to cease laughing sticks out towards the last half of the CD. Williamson’s deliverance makes goofy sound witty, and is easily relatable, even if you don’t have children, or a Porsche, or a $2,000 plasma screen TV.
Kaitlin Costello is a 24 year-old residing in Staten Island with her family and multiple cats. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, reading, watching trashy television, and people watching at choice bars (currently taking recommendations). Various thoughts and witticisms can be found on her twitter account, at twitter.com/#!/kateightyseven.
