Comedy albums on Spotify (pt 1)

Everybody in Europe loves Spotify. You might be excited at the prospect of being able to listen to ABBA’s greatest hits at work without having it on your iPod (where someone might see and judge you), but did you know that Spotify also has a some great comedy albums? Here is a by-no-means-definitive list of 10 albums worth a listen, in no particular order:

1. Aziz Ansari – Intimate Moments For A Sensual Evening
   Up and coming comedian from TV’s Human Giant and Parks and Recreation. Great comic storytelling.
2. Chris Rock – Cheese And Crackers – The Greatest Bits
   Unfortunately Rock’s later albums aren’t currently available, although this compilation is well worth a listen, as are his earlier albums on Spotify, Born Suspect and Bigger And Blacker.
3. Jim Gaffigan – King Baby
   Best known for pale complexion and bits about food, Jim Gaffigan’s latest album is well worth a listen.
4. Various Artists – Comedy Death Ray
   An ensemble album compiled at LA’s premier alternative show, Comedy Death Ray. A host of great alternative comics doing shorter sets, stand outs include Paul F. Tompkins, David Cross and Patton Oswalt, who unfortunately don’t have full albums available on Spotify, but the whole album is excellent.
5. Maria Bamford – How To WIN!
   Comedy doesn’t get better than Maria Bamford.
6. Hard N Phirm – Horses And Grasses
   Nerd-comedy-songs.
7. Daniel Tosh – True Stories I Made Up
   Daniel Tosh’s self described style is to start with a joke that everyone enjoys, then proceed to make more and more obscure references until only one person in the crowd gets it. I love it.
8. Dave Attell – Skanks For The Memories
   Dave Attell’s style and cadance has produced many poor imitators. But listening to the man, you can see why. It’s hypnotic.
9. John Mulaney – The Top Part
   Fantastic debut album from young NYC comic, John Mulaney.
10. Doug Stanhope – Deadbeat Hero
    Yes, Stanhope fanboys can be obnoxious, but there’s a reason he has such a passionate following.

There is a wealth of comedy on Spotify, so expect further posts in the future. If you’re after a more complete list, take a look at Comedify. The interface is a bit clunky, but they have a near-complete listing of all the comedy albums available.