Search - Doug Stanhope :: Die Laughing

Hilarious, brutal comedy by a modern stand-up master.

Schammie | Philadelphia, PA United States | 11/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those of you haven't heard of him, Doug Stanhope is one of the most talented and outrageous comedians working stand-up today. A gifted storyteller and writer, Stanhope mines his prodigious libido and colorful life as sources for his comedy. Less autobiographical than his earlier "Sicko" (I haven't listened to his other albums), the appropriately titled "Die Laughing" finds Stanhope injecting a dose of brutal nihilism into his raunchy material. I laughed, and I laughed hard, but I certainly wasn't in a happy mood after hearing the material on this album. Stanhope is often compared to the late, great Bill Hicks, and that is in some ways an apt comparison. Both men were enemies of the forces of hypocrisy and reaction, clever satirists of the human condition, and razor-sharp storytellers and comedians. Hicks' comedy, however, though often dark and aggressive, was leavened by his belief in human evolutionary potential. By contrast, Stanhope's material is far darker, for he evinces no faith in anything beyond sex, death, and human stupidity. Hearing this album, I could almost picture Stanhope killing himself on stage as a final punch line. This isn't meant as a criticism of Stanhope's material, since its not for me to sentimentalize the purity of his vision or his role as an artist. . . Anyway, don't let the way-too pretentious blather in this review stop you from buying this album. Stanhope is a comic treasure."

A new dimension in the comedy of Stanhope

Brian D. Rubendall | 02/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Die laughing is the almost complete transformation of Stanhope from a autobiographical comic ("Sicko" is basically just all stories from his life) to one as a social critquer of our society. I personally believe Stanhope is at his best when he's doing an almost even mix of the two, as "A little something to take the edge off" was. This cd leaves the listener feeling angry at the end, which is how Doug probably intended for it to turn out, almost like talk radio does. That is not to say this cd is not funny, Stanhope on his worst day could blow the socks off of any other living comic (maybe even Hicks?) and this cd delivers many of those laugh at loud outrageous off the cuff comments you've come to expect of Stanhope. Just the theme is a little too dark. If you have Stanhope's other cds and are very familiar with him then buy this one immediately. If you are a beginner I would recommend "Something to take the edge off" first, then "Sicko" and then this cd. It's not for people who are just beginning to study the brilliance and art of Stanhope's work. (Believe me, it is truly brilliant and it is art)"

Bracing, Vulgar and Unflinchingly Honest

Brian D. Rubendall | Oakton, VA | 05/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Comedian Doug Stanhope is truly an antidote for the inoffensive blandness of many mainstream standup comedians. Hard to believe this is the same guy who hosted "The Man Show" and "Girls Gone Wild." There's no vacuous, fratboy humor here. In fact, one of the edgiest (and funniest) bits is a pro-school shootings rant in which Stanhope confesses his secret high school desire to "kill all the jocks." It is true that Stanhope's raunchy sex jokes are a big part of his appeal, but his consistent stance on behalf of the little guy (and girl) completely separates him from the dimwitted Andrew Dice Clays of the world.



All that said, "Die Laughing" is probably the best of Stanhope's CD recordings (along with "Something to Take the Edge Off"). If you're looking for a place to get acquainted with his extreme verve, this would be the place to start.



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