America was robbed of one its great comic minds when Bill Hicks died of pancreatic cancer in 1994. Hicks was a sharpshooter who picked worthy targets and hit every one--whether gunning for sellout celebrities ("demons set ... more »loose on the earth to lower the standards"), hypocritical health nuts, or his own "goober dad." Hicks's 1990 debut is the sound of the comedian just warming up his loose cannon. He was as compassionate as he was vicious, asking for a little more logic and a lot less idiocy from this "retarded nation that we are." "Listen, read, calm down, relax, shut up," he urged fans--and suggested, without asking for a laugh, using defense money to feed and clothe the poor. End of (expletive deleted) story. --Michael Ruby« less
America was robbed of one its great comic minds when Bill Hicks died of pancreatic cancer in 1994. Hicks was a sharpshooter who picked worthy targets and hit every one--whether gunning for sellout celebrities ("demons set loose on the earth to lower the standards"), hypocritical health nuts, or his own "goober dad." Hicks's 1990 debut is the sound of the comedian just warming up his loose cannon. He was as compassionate as he was vicious, asking for a little more logic and a lot less idiocy from this "retarded nation that we are." "Listen, read, calm down, relax, shut up," he urged fans--and suggested, without asking for a laugh, using defense money to feed and clothe the poor. End of (expletive deleted) story. --Michael Ruby
"Bill Hicks was one of the most UNDERRATED comedians ever, in my opinion. Why? Because I only discovered him about a week ago, and I LOVE listening to stand up comedians. I learned about him through this site, and by reading all of the rave reviews, I knew he was someone I had to check out. My first purchase was "Rant in E-Minor." Now, I have had the chance to pick up "Dangerous," which I think is his first album, or so I am told. Again, I was in awe and laughing many MANY times.Very much like "Rant in E-Minor," Bill proves once again why he was so great at being funny. He makes you laugh, but makes you think at the same time. He doesn't go over the "typical routine," like family gimmicks and so on. He talked about the stuff that no one else would have the nerve to talk about. This album may not be as political as the "Rant in E-Minor," but it's just as well thought out and brutally honest. Very original and courageous material.My favorite track? Don't have one. Why? Because this ENTIRE album is great. You lose the vibe you get from Bill if you only listen to certain tracks. Speaking of tracks, the track listing on the album is in the wrong order. It's okay, you don't need them. Because you will listen to the entire album over and over again.Bill Hicks really deserved more recognition when he was alive. It's a shame. Why did I have to find out about him AFTER he died? Why wasn't he on TV enough? It's up to us to get his name out there and let people know that this is a brilliant comedian. I will be sure to get the other albums. We miss you Bill."
Only the good die young
B. PERKINS | Denton, TX United States | 01/08/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Okay, so it's a trite sentiment, and it does require an open-minded definition of the word "good," but it's true. Bill Hicks single-handedly changed my idea of what comedians are capable of--and I'd grown up listening to Pryor, Carlin, and Bruce. I first heard of him while watching an hour long TV special on his life on Comedy Central, called "It's Only a Ride." I had never seen anything like it; it was the comic equivalent of seeing the Grand Canyon. Bill tackled subjects that most comics wouldn't touch; and that, not his profanity, is what made him so outrageous. Whereas most people look at the inanity and idiot-syncrasies of the modern world and merely roll their eyes, Hicks raised his voice. Unlike others who do so, Hicks actually had something to say. He was able to fully realize the comedian's rare ability to fully speak out on any subject he saw fit, and he made me laugh so hard, that for the only time in my life, I cried. I once saw a bumper sticker that said, "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention." Bill Hicks probably couldn't have agreed more..."
Dennis Miller without the pop culture and 25 extra IQ points
Kevin Hummel | Michigan | 01/09/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the Bill Hicks CD I'm stuck on right now. His insight on everything from music(I'll bet Jimi could shake Debbie Gibson's love right in half!), to bums being a sign that our system doesn't work was truly ahead of his time. This man is a legend taken from us too soon, yet not enough of us know him. You can probably tell that from the 40 people reacting to his material. Anyone who can make an audience laugh as hard as our dear departed friend did, while making us think about our world in broad terms is truly a special individual. His intellect is missed is a big way. Just like everyone else said, if you like Dennis Miller, Carlin, or Lenny Bruce, Bill's CDs are a must in your collection. And while you're at it..."TAKE SOME MUSHROOMS AND SQUEEGEE YOUR THIRD F**KING EYE! ""
Another Dead Hero
Kevin T. | Fairview, New Jersey | 12/31/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This was Bill's first release and maybe slightly more playful then other releases (Bill got more political later on). But I can't help but get the feeling that the audience might've looked on in shock. A Bill Hicks concert was more like an emotional roller coaster. It made you laugh, made you think and sometimes made you question your own beliefs.And that's the sad part. Because he was a man that could've changed the world if he wanted to. If he really cared to. This album is like his others. Despite the sound quality, which could have been a little better. But it still takes nothing away from making this a great album. Some of the best Hicks material is on this CD (for example, the "Positive Drug Story" routine and Bill's bad experiences with staying in hotels). And when the audience laughs, it might be a sort of nervous laugh at the truth of his rants. Not only "joke telling", but joke telling with a meaning behind it, rather then a comedian trying to be liked by the audience and just telling meaningless one liners. Good for a quick laugh, but doesn't have that "everlasting" appeal to it like a Bill Hicks CD does. And that's what might have let Bill keep his edge, from being a great comedian and then turning into a mediocre actor (like someone else i can mention), he didn't care if you liked it. He had something to say, and he expressed it. And he refused to go "Hollywood" (Often ranting about another mediocre comedian turned hollywood hack who sold out his artistic creativity to do a durritos commercial). That's what gave him his edge. He spoke for me, as well as for alot of other people. Even if some didn't "get it" and looked at him, as Bill had put it, "Like a dog that's just been shown a card trick"."
Bill Hicks: Another Dead Hero
jcason | Savannah, Georgia USA | 01/24/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I really can't quite describe how funny Bill Hicks is. He is not a comedian in the Jerry Seinfeld/Tim Allen vein. He has IDEAS. Most comics talk about their parents and husbands or wives. Bill Hicks talked about his ideas, his perspective. He was crude and obscene to be sure, but he was also smart and perceptive. This CD is a good place to start if you have never heard of Hicks. Smoking, The War in Drugs, Modern Bummer, and Burning Issues are arguably the pick of the litter. I Love My Job gets a bit rough, but that was the point. It's a shame that Denis Leary appropriated some of Hicks' best bits and got famous. This CD is worth getting, the only drawback is once you get it you are going to want to buy Arizona Bay, Relentless, and Rant in E-Minor. Enjoy!"