Bill Hicks
Salvation
(Rykodisc)
Fans of the late Bill Hicks will probably know most of the material on this double disc verbatim, but Salvation reveals the legendary comedian/ philosopher at his most meditative and relaxed. Recorded in Oxford, England, a week after George Bush Sr. lost the 1992 American election —this may perhaps account for the comedian’s pleasant demeanour — Hicks weaves from thought to thought with a mastery few comics could match. Better yet, his infamous and often imitated rants (see Denis Leary) on religion, politics, sex, smoking and drugs resonate to this day. A refreshing and superlative set by one of comedy’s cult heroes, Salvation is a must-have for Hicks enthusiasts, progressive thinkers and left-leaning humourists alike.
—Chuck Teed
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.