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Listening to Nick Swardson's new album Seriously, Who Farted? reminded me a lot of listening to a Dane Cook record: both comedians are highly energetic, both focus a lot on fun and both are very specifically targeted towards a certain demographic: the young, partying college crowd. If I'm able to make the distinction that I think Swardson is funnier than Cook, it's only because Swardson has a better-developed point of view.

Where as Cook is a comic chameleon, adopting whatever persona will garner him the most success, Swardson seems to come by his on-stage shtick honestly.

Having said that, I still didn't totally love Seriously, Who Farted?. I can see why young audiences respond to Swardson's comedy. He speaks their language -- it's a lot of "amazing" and talk about drinking and partying and video game references and and everything is the "best thing ever." But too often, boasting about being drunk or calling something amazing takes the place of actual punchlines; the act is built around saying things that will get a huge response from the audience, and that response doesn't necessarily have to be laughter. I don't believe Swardson is pandering, because (as I said) I really do think that's him on stage, but I do think that the crowd identifies with him so much that he hardly even needs to tell jokes. His mere presence is enough to create the atmosphere of comedy.

There's still a good deal to like about Seriously, Who Farted?

(the silly obnoxiousness of the title, for one). I like that Swardson doesn't really settle into joke-telling or "did you ever notice" observational comedy. The record is comprised mostly of stories and experiences Swardson recounts (though he does have an overbearing habit of repeatedly insisting the stories are "!00 percent true" over and over; I get that the truthfulness of the story is essentially what makes it funny, but it eventually comes across like he's trying too hard), from getting a massage amidst a communication breakdown to spending $300 to high-five a monkey in Las Vegas. Often times, the stories don't necessarily build to a climax the way you're hoping they will -- there's no comic pay-off -- but Swardson is funny enough in the telling that it doesn't really matter.

The rest of the album consists of stories from making Grandma's Boy (which Swardson stars in and co-wrote), a long story about playing online video games (complete with a very funny -- and 100 percent true! -- reaction from his neighbor) and, of course, stories about being drunk and why booze is both "awesome" and "amazing." There is one studio-recorded track, "A Very Terry Christmas," in which Swardson plays his rollerskating prostitute character from Reno 911! recording a Christmas album. I think Terry is hilarious on that show, but the track is a major misfire, subscribing only to the theory that oddness is funny.

Also Available on DVD

Seriously, Who Farted? is available both on CD and DVD, and the DVD of the special (originally broadcast on Comedy Central) contains several special features. The best of these is a short joke featurette called "Nick Swardson: Timeless Comedian," which traces the comic's evolution from the 1920s (complete with silent-film title cards) through the '70s, '80s and '90s, with Swardson embracing whatever trend is popular through each decade. A mock trailer for a film called "28 Drinks Later" is ok and features a few fun surprise cameos, but feels like Swardson really started with a title (taken from the 2002 zombie movie) and worked from there. "A Very Terry Christmas" is included as a TV commercial, and it works slightly better as a visual joke -- probably because I think Terry is a funny character, and the sincerity on his face as he garbles unintelligible lyrics to Christmas songs is a good deal funnier than simply listening to someone sing unintelligible lyrics. The last bonus feature is a clip of Swardson's opening act, the musical duo "Beardo and Dirt Nasty"; either Swardson is having a laugh at their expense (they are terrible) or their badness is some kind of post-modern performance art stunt. Either way, it's not much fun to watch.

• Album Release Date: 10/13/09
• Label: Comedy Central Records

DVD Details

• Release Date: 10/13/09
• Running Time: 59 minutes
• 1.78:1 Anamorphich Widescreen
• Dolby Digital

DVD Bonus Features

• "Nick Swardson: Timeless Comedian"
• "28 Drinks Later"
• "A Very Terry Christmas"
• "Opening Act: Beardo and Dirt Nasty"