No longer novel to music, the practice of recording a long, ambitious series of albums loosely connected by common themes and released in a self-imposed time constraint has now crossed over into the world of comedy. (Aside from podcasts, which are essentially just that.) On November 6, comedian Tom Shillue will release a new stand-up album, Better Stronger Faster, followed by 11 more to be released in as many months, with each installment centered on a different theme. As heard in the preview for his second album, Big Room, Shillue’s “12 In 12” project collects material from his live shows opening for frequent tourmate Jim Gaffigan. All albums will be released digitally via BSeen Media.
While this prolificacy suggests a later album might be titled Diminishing Returns, Shillue’s skill as a storyteller—honed while performing frequently in the New York City chapters of The Moth and Risk!, as well as hosting his own live show, Funny Story—should lend itself well to the drawn-out format. Check out a preview of Better Stronger Faster below.