Exceeding All Expectations

Jason Dudey works the sweet spot between mild middle-class anxiety and the minor absurdities of modern convenience. His second album with Stand Up! Records finds the touring comic zeroing in on the everyday trials of an adult whose ultimate backup plan is still calling his parents for help. His delivery is steady, carrying a conversational weariness as he walks through the mechanics of navigating self-checkout lanes, the silent politics of riding an elevator, and the specific terror of using a neti pot.

Rather than swinging for theatrical storytelling, Dudey relies on a series of relatable confessions. Family dynamics take center stage, from his military father to a birthday dinner where he got punked by his own grandmother. He also shares the logistics of co-adopting a tiger named Tanya, the struggle of bad gift exchanges, and the false promise of a bedazzled Snuggie. The release came during a busy stretch of touring for Dudey, who spent 2017 headlining clubs and building his national showcase, Come Out Laughing.