Rob Newman - ApoCalypsoNow MP3 (2005)

Rob Newman - ApoCalypsoNow MP3 (2005 )
or: 'From P45 to AK47, How To Grow The Economy With The Use Of War'

Cover pic.




Simply put, the man is brilliantly clever. Ridiculously well read, Newman has thrown into his act so much more than a satire on Bush, Blair and the recent invasion of Iraq; he uses a wealth of quotes and references from historical text books, recent newspaper articles and statistical studies to paint on a broad canvas how war is intrinsically linked the economy of a country. His arguments are very detailed and although sometimes the information is too much to take in, they rarely become complicated or convoluted. Oh, and it's damn funny too.
He also brings in a few utterly ridiculous songs played on a tiny banjo and ukulele - hence the calypso pun in the show's title - which help break up the onslaught of information Newman hurls at the audience
The first half is much, much tighter than the second, in which he likens world politics to the workings of a crack den and wonders why the never teach the First World War in secondary schools as an invasion of Iraq. Clearly the guy has researched his act and has a fantastic brain to absorb all this information. The second half is a tad more meandering, referring to a tale of eighteenth century revolution in Britain involving William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge.
If you love your political comedy that digs deeper than most while still being silly and very funny then this is for you. Thing is, anyone can go on stage and reel off facts and statistics, knowing full well that no one in the audience is immediately going to challenge them; George W Bush did it all the time! The difference here is that by taking a wider view and looking at man's behaviour throughout history, Newman brings to light some universal truths and raises questions that are at once funny, frightening and hard to ignore, whatever your views, and this can only be a good thing!

Recorded Live at The Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn, London


2 disc set.

Track Listing:

Disc: 1

1. Survival Guide
2. Tour Of The USA
3. From P45 To AK47
4. 1st World War
5. Iraq Wars/Question Time
6. Euro/Dollar Theory
7. Dali
8. Magic Cheque Book
9. US Gangster
10. China
11. Mexican Survival Guide
12. Gentrification Song

Disc: 2

1. Wordsworth
2. Troubadour Song
3. French Plot
4. Police State/Spies
5. Thelwell
6. Walking Fantasy
7. Watching Wordsworth
8. Alienation Song
9. Thelwell/Coleridge
10. ID Cards/Corporations
11. Peak Oil
12. Apocalypse Song
13. WW2/Churchill
14. Phone In
15. Landlord

Total Running Time:

Genre: Humour
Language: English
Publisher: Laughing Stock
Language: English
Release Date: 28/11/2005 (UK)

Format: MP3

Bit rate: 192kbps

Size: 128MB