Unrepeatable

Album Review

Originally available on CD in Eddie Izzard's native U.K. in 1995 but not released in the U.S. until Anti-Records released the comedian's back catalog in 2004, Unrepeatable is one of Izzard's more traditional sets of material. In fact, the opening ten-minute riff on the travails of laundry day, "Are You Happy With Your Wash?," might as well be by a British-accented Jerry Seinfeld. Izzard quickly moves away from the standard observational humor into his own mildly surreal worldview, starting with a piece about Prince Charles' then-current problems with hecklers and moving on to the political and historical pieces that have since become the mainstay of his act. (Who else would do a long piece about auctioneers at Sotheby's?) Although this is probably Izzard's most conventional stand-up comedy set, fans of later, better-known routines like Dress to Kill will appreciate Unrepeatable, not least because the early roots of that album's central routines about Izzard's transvestism can be found in this set's "Bloke in a Dress." This CD is also available as a DVD with audio commentary and other extras.