Werewolves and Lollipops
by Patton Oswalt

Album details

US: 10 July 2007 on Sub Pop
UK: 9 July 2007 on Sub Pop

A true Comedian of Comedy, Patton Oswalt has appeared on TV shows "King of Queens" and "Reno 911!" and has voiced numerous big- and small-screen animated characters in addition to performing stand-up. This is his second comedy CD, and it comes with a bonus DVD containing performance footage.

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The critical consensus

Indie rock label Sub Pop is not completely new to the comedy business; they have also released CDs by David Cross and Eugene Mirman. Would Patton Oswalt (himself an avowed indie music fan) fare as well as his predecessors with the indie-music reviewers?

The answer is a definite "yes," as Werewolves certainly had every one of the critics laughing. All Music Guide calls the album both "masterful" and "hilarious," while Amazon finds his routine "pure poetry" in places. Almost Cool (correctly, in our opinion) asseses Oswalt as "one of the funnier comics working today," while Billboard warns that "those who like their humor safe and predictable should steer clear." Alternative Press notes that Werewolves "certainly won’t disappoint his longtime stand-up fans" — in fact, The Onion suggests that it matches its predecessor in quality and in the nature of the humor, but adds, "From Oswalt, ‘more of the same’ is never exactly that." And Stylus finds the disc superior to Oswalt’s debut, stating, "While Werewolves loses some steam at the end, it’s a minor complaint on a much more well rounded, smoothly transitioned, and better-paced album than Feelin’ Kinda Patton."

Those who are afraid that Oswalt’s references may be too obscure or his attitude too smug need not worry; the former is not the case, says CMJ, and addressing the latter concern, The Phoenix determines, "The too-cool-for-school attitude would grate if Oswalt weren’t so self-depreciating." Pitchfork agrees, finding that Oswalt’s delivery gives him an "unpretentious likability," giving the CD, in turn, replayability (unlike most comedy albums).

Finally, Delusions of Adequacy closes with some advice: "Buy it, burn it, I don’t care. Get a hold of it, and laugh your ass off." Take that advice, and you might wind up like Under The Radar’s Nick Hyman, who declares, "This CD is currently not leaving my car stereo."

After so much "stupid is as stupid does" has flooded the standup market, it’s good to feel uncompromisingly smart for a change, and even better when the material is honed to perfection.

- David Jeffries, All Music Guide

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. Here We Go
2. America Has Spoken
3. Beautiful People And A Bridge Troll
4. Clean Filth
5. The Miracle Of Childbirth
6. You Are Allowed 20 Birthday Parties
7. The Dukes Of Hazzard
   
8. Alternate Earth
9. Best Week Never
10. Physics For Poets
11. At Midnight I Will Kill George Lucas With A Shovel
12. Bubble Of Sanity
13. Sterling, Virginia
14. Racist Cell Phones
15. The Best Baby In The Universe
16. Married & Single
17. I Tell A Story About Birth Control And Deal With A Retarded Heckler
18. Great Food Is Cooked By Psychos
19. Wackity Schmackity Doo!
20. Death Bed
21. Cirque Du Soleil

(Clip from bonus DVD:)

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• Patton Oswalt @ MySpace
• Patton Oswalt @ Sub Pop