Larry the Cable Guy Albums (6)
'Tailgate Party'
Release Date 9/15/2009
Tracks 13
Label Warner/Reprise
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Recovering from the just plain weird Christmastime in Larryland, the current king of blue-collar comedy returns to form withTailgate Party. This is the Larry the Cable Guy who was there from the beginning, cranking out a steady stream of so-dumb-they're-fun jokes with some steadfast social conservatism dropped in to rally the audience (anyone campaigning against global warming might want to sit this one out). Even Larry realizes that "Git R' Done!" is played out by this point, but his usual catch phrases "Lord I apologize," "I ain't never," and "That's funny, I don't care who you are" are all here, adding that "aw shucks" touch designed to make the more offensive material -- his meeting with Hillary Clinton, at a urinal -- easier to excuse. Numerous jokes like "You know what sounds dirty but isn't? Juice box" make this more of a mom-and-dad record than usual and if you don't like gross, Larry drops a pregnancy joke within the first minute that will have you lunging for the "stop" button. If you are fine with all of the above, then this will be a hootin'-and-hollerin' good time, paced as well as always with that medley of songs at the end, the standard excuse for Larry to stall and let the Henny Youngman-esque one-liners fly. Adding a little extra excitement is the huge audience, which at 53,000 strong makes this the largest recorded comedy show to date. Well aware of his fan base, Larry quips, "If you need to go to Walmart, now's the time to go." ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
'Christmastime in Larryland'
Release Date 10/9/2007
Tracks 21
Label Warner Bros.
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What The Critics Say
While Larry the Cable Guy's first Christmas effort -- 2004's A Very Larry Christmas -- was nothing but a collection of his syndicated radio "commentaries" Christmastime in Larryland tries harder. At the beginning the album Larry literally dreams of a different time and the listener is transported to an alternative universe where old-time radio lives on. In Larryland Christmas specials are still variety hours hosted by squeaky clean, ultra-upbeat announcers and feature comedians along with musical acts, like the Tobacco Company Choir who sing through artificial voice boxes. If you think that last act is depressing, you probably won't enjoy the bleak "Dysfunctional Family Christmas" (granddaughter to grandmother: "Last year you gave me some long rubbery thing that smelled like vinegar") or the comedian Muhammad who offers, "What's fat, red, and flops around? Your American Santa Claus getting beheaded for Jihad!." This creepy kind of weird that doesn't agree with family gatherings is complemented by equal share of grossness, so you can just imagine how Larry's friend Lonnie "messes" up farting the "Jingle Bells" tune. Separate it into two words and "Nutcracker" is equally as obvious, and even if Larry is known for his purer than pure corn, "I know everyone makes fun of fruitcakes..." should not be followed by "but" and then another tired old fruitcake routine. Hackneyed moments like this or the two minutes of a mime on CD (groan) would be more tolerable if the interesting "old-time radio meets sick and disgusting" idea had more follow through. Instead it's just a loose concept holding together a mostly gross, often disturbing, and only sometimes funny Christmas album. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
'Morning Constitutions'
Release Date 4/3/2007
Tracks 13
Label Warner Bros.
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
On Morning Constitutions, blue-collar comedian Larry the Cable Guy sets the mood right off the bat with his opening line, "I ain't been this excited since I found a quarter in my poop, I'll tell ya what." His 2007 effort makes up for his sloppy and uninspired appearance on the previous year's Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One for the Road by going back to basics and toning his rebel yell down to where he's not so off-putting, unless you have a low tolerance for grossness, dumb jokes, and even dumber people. Larry's Grandma is suing singer Carrie Underwood because she hit a pole while listening to "Jesus, Take the Wheel," while Larry himself sorts out toddlers from terrorists by checking if the diaper is on the bottom or the top. That's one of the few times racism enters the picture, and "Gay Mafia" features the very politically incorrect "is getting whacked a good or bad thing for them?" Whether or not this is harmless fun can't be argued here, but the delivery is naïve over hateful -- sometimes even knowingly ironic -- and if you're really worried about impressionable minds you've got plenty of filthy thoughts and sleazy innuendos to help write this off completely. Larry isn't proud of everything associated with Middle America, and accuses Wal-Mart of having the motto "You think our prices are low, check out the forehead on that cashier over there." These moments that are more clever than expected appear just as the poop jokes wear out their welcome, then the cycle repeats with catch phrases "Git-R-done!," "Lord, I apologize," and "I don't care who you are, that's funny" used sparingly. The guitar comes out at the end for a couple rambling and fun "songs," including the Johnny Cash-inspired "A Sue Named Boy." Unfortunately, Brokeback Mountain jokes were already dated when the disc was released, and Larry should really realize that the horrors of Hot Pockets is fellow comedian Jim Gaffigan's exclusive territory. It could get him accused of stealing material, and the last thing Larry needs is more detractors. Morning Constitutions won't change the minds of any Larry haters, but it's made for fans, maybe even skillfully crafted for them. As Larry would say, if you don't know Moon Over Hammy is an entrée at Denny's, don't come round here. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
'The Right to Bare Arms'
Release Date 1/1/2005
Tracks 17
Label Warner Bros.
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Brash, politically incorrect, and "one of the dumbest shows you ever heard" according to the man himself, The Right to Bare Arms captures proud redneck Larry the Cable Guy live in Houston in front of a rowdy, appreciative audience. It's a good time and -- considering the famous comedian's scant discography -- the best he's done on CD, with a wealth of material that hasn't been heard before. For every obvious Middle American-pleasing, crowd-rallying joke ("I was getting Michael Moore DVDs to put under my couch to make it sit level..."), there's that witty word-twisting that Larry's the Southern king of ("Is it Hank Williams, Jr. High School or Hank Williams Junior High School?") and that blue humor that either side of the political spectrum can appreciate ("I was with a midget hooker and gave her eight dollars to go up on me"). That's something Blue Collar TV-loving parents should know. Larry lets it all hang out when he's free from the tame television show, and while his language doesn't earn him a "Parental Advisory" sticker, the innuendo is heavy and will have junior asking "Why is everybody laughing?" The main part of the show goes by quick, with Larry rattling off the jokes at a Henny Youngman pace, while the closing song and the "kids say the darndest things"-style encore, "Toddler Mail," show Larry is more creative than a simple joke-teller. A step up from his patchy Christmas album and a hundred times better than his too-safe television show, The Right to Bare Arms is recommended to Jim Beam drinkers, NASCAR lovers, and anyone who loves plain old standup. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
'A Very Larry Christmas'
Release Date 1/1/2004
Tracks 28
Label Warner Bros./Nashville
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
First off, A Very Larry Christmas is mostly Larry the Cable Guy's syndicated radio "commentaries" -- the ones where he gives his down-home observations on different topics into a microphone that's way to close to his mouth. There's some other odds, ends, and little ditties, but this is more audio-bookish than a traditional album. That said, it's very, very funny. When Larry tries to be a part of his church's singing Christmas tree, he can't understand why his "Wine 'Em, Dine 'Em, 69 'Em" T-shirt isn't allowed at choir practice ("Where does it say that in the Bible?"). Larry is an absurd, lazy, hedonist from America's heartland who has way too much time to think about things. Don't take as offensive his idea that nonbelievers and folks of different faith should stay out of the Targets and Wal-Marts at Christmas time so the Christians can grab all the deals. Along with his knowingly out-of-date catch phrase "What the hell is this, Russia?" Larry is hoping you laugh at him more than with him by totally missing the real meaning of Christmas and by making plenty of other dimwitted blunders elsewhere. These "commentaries" are much more Larry as a character than he is in his standup routine, a slow character like Charlie Weaver or Jethro from the Beverly Hillbillies. Think Jethro with a South Park mouth and a bit of Blazing Saddles sensibility, and you'll stop worrying that he means everything he says. He's got talent, he's highly entertaining, and most of his jokes work well past the first listen. All these things -- along with some choice fart jokes -- overcome A Very Larry Christmas' slapped-together construction and make it worthwhile. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
