bill bodkin reviews the new comedy album from the co-host of VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show …
“If you DVR the show Glee, this isn’t for you.” — Jim Florentine
Jim Florentine is unapologetic about his humor, and that’s what makes him so good. His “cringe” style of comedy isn’t based in being shocking or outlandish for the sake of being shocking and outlandish — his comedy is based in a sense of honesty. Obviously, all comedy has a sense of exaggeration to it, but when Florentine speaks, you believe him.
So that’s make him either a very honest and from the heart comic that you can relate to.
That, or he’s just a very sick individual.
I’d say a little bit of Column A, a little bit of Column B.
Yet, it’s this one-two punch of honesty and twistedness that makes, the Old Bridge, N.J., native and That Metal Show co-host so engaging as a comic. He can really repulse you … but you still love him in the end. You know he’s just saying it like he feels it, not spouting off with nonsensical obscenities and sounds.
This is probably why Cringe & Purge‘s best bits are when Florentine opens up about his feelings of growing up Catholic, how his dad would react to the text messaging craze and the time when he opened up for the band Slayer. He pulls no punches, he’s not afraid to go into the world of cringe-inducing realms of un-PC, sick and twisted humor. But it’s never forced, it’s completely natural and honest, it’s not unrelatable. You probably have the same feelings (outside of opening for Slayer) that Florentine does — it’s just you don’t arrive at the conclusions in the same manner. You have your way, he has his own cringe-inducing way.
While Cringe & Purge is a really, really strong comedy record, there is one problem — the album’s brevity. While there’s plenty of laughs to be had on the album, you’re left wanting more after it’s finished. Obviously, this is a good thing — it proves the album is that good. However it just a bit … “and that’s all folks” out of left field.
So if you’re looking for a piece of comic gold that’s going to leave you with tears in your eyes and some tinges of pain about your sides, then go out and listen to Jim Florentine’s Cringe & Purge.
