CD Review
Lee Camp: Pepper Spray the Tears Away
3 stars (out of 5)
It is difficult to be subjective about a comedian when they are so heavily doused with political and social satire. Lee Camp, on his CD Pepper Spray the Tears Away, really creates obstacles for writing something that isn’t necessarily talking about what he says, but how he says it. There are many things about the socio-political interweaving that is essential to Camp’s cause, but not his comedy. His comedy is deeply rooted in sarcasm, and it needles away with a volatile tone that quickly drives his points to home, but leaves little room for laughter.
Camp jumps into his routine. The poetic flow that ties his ideas together are carried on a startling voice that I hoped would lose pitch as the CD continued. It did not, which is great for conveying Camp’s immediacy, but also not unalike to getting hit in the face.
What is really great about Camp’s humor is the interweaving of bizarre names and scenarios (such as the word “fuckleberry” on his track, “Valued Customers”). These things are said in the hype of the moment, and make Camp sound like he is red faced and possibly spitting with rage. He uses these ridiculous hypotheticals to point out the realities of what is going on in our country—although this is funny at first, it leaves a twinge of regret, reminding the listener that this is a joke based on the reality of what is going on in the world. It becomes too apparent that the routine is a vehicle for the Camp’s own propaganda, and whether that be in favor of “the people” or not, it detracts from the comedy overall.
As for being an activist, Camp makes valid points, questions the right people, and asks why everyone is still being apathetic towards the socio-political structure. Some of the tracks are really funny; all of the tracks disturb me. To use comedy as a means for activism may be debunking what is said, even if its undertone is in earnest.
Kaitlin Costello is a 24 year-old residing in Staten Island with her family and multiple cats. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, reading, watching trashy television, and people watching at choice bars (currently taking recommendations). Various thoughts and witticisms can be found on her twitter account, at twitter.com/kateightyseven.
