Number 97- Incredibad by The Lonely Island

           Number 97: Incredibad by The Lonely Island

 The comedy album reimagined

 

Release: February 10th, 2009
Genre: Comedy, Hip-Hop
Favorite Tracks: I'm On A Boat, Sax Man, Dick In A Box

 

Where I heard it: 

Incredibad is an album that I have such strong nostalgia for in the strangest way. I devoted way too much time to my high school marching band over my four years, but thankfully I earned a wealth of fantastic music exposure to show for it. In fact, one of the first examples I have of these instances came in the fall of 2010 during my rookie marching season. We traveled by school bus to competitions all over the state every Saturday for a month, leaving ample time for antics to occur on the percussion bus. The older drumline members had a habit of bringing their portable speaker aboard and connecting their iPods to play...let's call it inappropriate material for high schoolers. I think I memorized all the lyrics to Like A Boss before I even knew who The Lonely Island were. It was only a matter of time before Incredibad made its way into popular culture and compelled me to give it a listen for myself.

Uh huh...so, that's an average day for you, then?
You chop your balls off and die?
And I think at one point there you said something about sucking your own dick? 
~ Like A Boss

 

What to expect:

For being a derivative of Saturday Night Live, I've got to say that The Lonely Island is one of the greatest products to come out of the long-running show. The comedy trio of Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer, and Andy Samberg have such wonderful chemistry in their songwriting and comedy stylings from their respective backgrounds in the industry. Yes, parts of the album are a bit corny like the hit-and-miss segments of a typical SNL taping, but it's all part of the charm of what makes Incredibad such a goofy, endearing album. The Lonely Island leans heavy into their dorky persona and contrasts that image with bombastic, over-the-top lyrics and concepts that are just absurd enough to work in practice. Each member of the band creates a larger than life caricature of themselves, making it impossible to take any given line at face value without cracking up. Conversely, some of the songs are so mind-numbingly normal that it breaks the tough-guy illusion and reminds you of the clowns these boys really are. What really leaves the finishing touches on Incredibad is the numerous celebrity cameos from reputable artists that further legitimize the ridiculous topics that comprise every track into a unique experience. Although a lot of the humor has aged, this record hasn't necessarily aged poorly in the two decades since its released. I consider it a timeless product of its time, if you will.

I jizz right in my pants every time you're next to me
And when we're holding hands, it's like having sex to me
You say I'm premature, I just call it ecstasy
I wear a rubber at all times, it's a necessity
~ Jizz In My Pants

Why it's my favorite: 

There's a fine intersect between comedy albums that are continuously funny and legitimately enjoyable to listen to. Artists like Flight of the Concords and Bo Burnham are great examples, but my comedic taste is not satiated by these acts quite like the savory flavors of The Lonely Island satisfies my appetite. Incredibad is so tongue-in-cheek, it rips through your entire mouth. The skits that play out during each track hardly ever feel tired or old by the end and extract just enough of a joke to hit nearly every time. Honestly, I just like this album because it's so silly and imbecilic. The incorporation of every guest artist fits perfectly for each song across a wide spectrum of styles, from T-Pain to Justin Timberlake to Jack Black. While every studio album from The Lonely Island can put a smile on my face, the rose-tinted glasses are too large to not acknowledge Incredibad for the influence it cast on my sense of humor to this day.