Mike Birbiglia • Mike Birbiglia: Two Drink Mike CD

The title of Mike Birbiglia's 2006 release refers to what a lightweight he is. Couple drinks and he's doing magic tricks and dancing, but without the booze he's a guy who likes biographies, has serious opinions about wildlife, and is really good at drinking hot chocolate. That is what's great about Two Drink Mike, Birbiglia projects a humble attitude that's approachable, endearing even, but it leads to material that can be Steven Wright-strange and just as hilarious. Course Wright could be from Mars while Birbiglia is the weird kid-next-door grown-up and adjusted to the world outside just enough to get by. Imagine a protected kid from the suburbs devouring BET's hip-hop programming and you've got an idea of how Birbiglia relates. He's enthusiastic about the bling-bling lifestyle he sees on MTV Cribs but worries the rappers are dying inside and crying out for attention with their rims and grills. Gay cats, why parents can't understand computers, and the cockiness of handing Kleenex out before funerals are hot topics, and if it seems at first like Birbiglia is just a stream of consciousness guy like Wright; the trick of Two Drink Mike is how well it flows before exiting on a handful of hilarious musical numbers. Containing mostly different material than the CD, the bonus DVD of older performances is clumsier and features a more straight-laced looking, not as comfortable performer. You can study a comedian honing his craft by analyzing the two discs, or you can just sit back and listen to the arrival of stand-up's next big thing. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide