The Carnegie Hall Performance (Comedy Central, 2006) by Lewis Black

This is not only my favorite Lewis Black album, but one of the few double disc albums that I can play from beginning to end.  A lot of the material ended up in his book Nothing's Sacred (which is a great read), but obviously it is interpreted differently when the material is actually heard by its creator.  In my opinion, this album is one of the funniest LPs from the 00s.  It's a smart and well-sequenced piece of commentary on the times.

In God We Rust (Comedy Central, 2012) by Lewis Black

As usual, Lewis Black is angry and this is material is typical of his ranting and raving.  Although some of it isn't as "political" as he usually is, it is still funny.  Comedy about Farmville and Jersey Shore is not the type of stuff that Black usually discusses.  However, I think that helps because it surprises people who are accustom to Black's social commentary.  The only flaw with Lewis Black is that his comedy has been so consistent over the past decade that it forces stuff to be topical in order for him to have new material.  But I think that's a good problem to have since, on the other hand, it shows he has always found something to talk about and that people have always found him funny.

The End of the Universe (Stand Up, 2002) by Lewis Black

Black's 2nd LP [3rd record release overall] is in the same comedic style as most of his work.  He is an cynic with a bleeding heart.  Personally, I really enjoy that perspective because it shows that someone still cares, and yet they are are not foolishly optimistic.  The thing that makes this recording especially interesting is that it was recorded in two parts- one part was before 9/11/01and another part after it.  It isn't very noticeable.  However, it is noteworthy especially because Black is a topical comic.  My favorite bit on the album is the one that's alluded to on the album cover: the end of the universe is in Houston, Texas, where two Starbucks (and therefore everything they represent) are right across the street from each other.

Stark Raving Black (Comedy Central, 2010) by Lewis Black

I've been a fan of Lewis Black for a long time and this is one my favorite sets from him to date.  I really enjoy how he is an equal-opportunity offender in regards to American politics.  My favorite bit though is the one about how 60-year olds are able to communicate with each other, but younger people are completely baffled by it because it seems that they don't remember anything.  And I'm pretty sure I'm going to borrowing Mr. Black's expression the next time I hear I good song, the one he used to describe a song that he saw Vince Gill perform: "I felt exactly the way I feel when I'm taking a bath that is just the perfect temperature."