Skanks for the Memories

Dave Attell is best-known for his Comedy Central series Insomniac, where he tours and documents the nightlife of cities all over the United States and Canada, but he makes his living as a journeyman standup comedian. His CD Skanks for the Memories fully represents the years Attell has dedicated to honing his act. The CD is full of familiar bits from his television appearances and even more material that could not be experienced on broadcast or basic cable television. His wit is as sophisticated as it is sophomoric. There are enough jokes about private parts, sexual orientation, and drinking to satisfy any frat boy, but there are also insightful barbs at religion, politics, and relationships for the more cerebral. The golden age of comedy recordings is long gone and most comedians are not subtle enough to satisfy the format, but Attell is able to bridge the energy needed to entertain a visual audience and the wit needed for the aural. Overall this CD is hilarious and achieves the goal of any comedy recording, which is to induce the owner to reach for it again and again.