Hannibal Buress’ ‘Animal Furnace’

The name Hannibal is not often associated with comedy. To the average human that name is perhaps equated with the Carthaginian General who stormed across Europe to conquer Rome (unless of course you went baked to all your college history classes and found yourself starring incessantly at the sky wondering if you could launch a rocket into space with enough mentos and diet Pepsi). As Hannibal Buress puts it in his new album Animal Furnace, it’s a name that has caused him to miss out on many sexual opportunities.

Animal Furnace is not what you expect from Buress. When he released his first album My Name is Hannibal a couple years ago his slow style and cadence aided to his absolutely absurdist view of the world and caused me to laugh almost to the point of shitting myself. However, after listening to his second album, I got nothing like that.

What I did get was a more precisely defined and surprisingly energetic hour of comedy that once again, made me shit my pants. When most comedians find their “voice” they stick with it because it works for them. However, it is obvious that not only is Hannibal able to stay consistently funny, but he’s evolving as a performer. Instead of the monotone absurdist one liners that constitute a majority of his first album (not to say that is a bad thing, it’s hilarious) Animal Furnace is completely different.

This time around Hannibal is more passionate about his material which is now much more story driven then his previous album while still maintaining a high level of absurdity. He’s evolving but still maintains a certain sense of ridiculousness while getting more serious. Hearing him rant about a woman who stole his debit card is serious and hilarious. Then wishing her kids never learn to read is absurd and hilarious. He strikes a perfect balance between the two in the albums entirety.

Hannibal doesn’t play it safe this time around. He could have absolutely stuck with his old style and still would have knocked it out of the park, but instead, he took risks. He decided to show people a completely different side of his comedic ability and talent. I highly recommend – no, actually, I DEMAND that you buy this album.

You can all thank me later.

For more of Buress’ comedy you can check him out on Tumblr here, and follow him on Twitter @HannibalBuress.

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