Fallon Falls Short With Debut Comedy Album The Bathroom Wall

The Bathroom Wall is the debut CD from comedian and SNL alum Jimmy Fallon. Fans of the comic will undoubtedly go for it but others (myself included) will likely come away feeling at least somewhat disappointed. While it may just miss, make no mistake, The Bathroom Wall does miss.

One problem is that a number of the album's fourteen tracks (divided unevenly between "songs" and "stand up") are skimpy, to say the least. Six of the eight stand-up routines, for example, are less than two minutes long and one, a complete throwaway, clocks in at a mere 22 seconds. As one might expect, the longer pieces tend to be more interesting, yet the overall impression I'm left with is one in which Fallon does not give me my money's worth. Was the CD prematurely released? Yeah, very possibly; there's a distinct lack of stand-up material here.

Fallon is probably best known for his six-year stint on Saturday Night Live (he has recently announced he's calling it quits) where he played such recurring roles as the "Weekend Update" anchorman and Nick Burns, the condescending computer guy.

With The Bathroom Wall the comedian shows us he's adept at impressions ("Troll Doll Celebrities") and clever song parodies ("Troll Doll Jingles") and that he can produce bona fide music in various styles. The guy is certainly talented and that, combined with his pretty-boy looks, most likely spells a future movie career (he's already appeared in Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous). But the novelty wears thin here.

The CD starts off on the right foot with the silly-funny "Idiot Boyfriend," a minor hit that Fallon tells us is not based on personal experience. Maybe. It's a funky little number, sung in falsetto, that owes something to Prince and Leo "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" Sayer. The lyrics are at least smile-inducing, likely to appeal to egotistical, cheap-ass guys who are not above cheating on their girlfriends ("I made out with your best friend the other day, and now we're best friends, too!"). It's sorta catchy, although it doesn't hold up terribly well to repeat listening.

Next up is "(I Can't Play) Basketball," Fallon's attempt at hip-hop. I'm not a rap/hip-hop guy so I typically skip this track. Fallon, himself, claims he "can't rap" but that's a bit disingenuous. He can, inasmuch as any white guy can, and "Basketball" isn't half-bad—more honest, I suspect, than much of what plays on the airwaves these days.

"Drinking in the Woods" is a so-so country number with some nice harmonica work by Fallon. It's convincingly played and sung, but the lyrics here aren't terribly amusing.

"Road Rage" is a metal tribute/send-up that Fallon tells us "should be played at loud volumes or high speed." I don't do either, which may explain why I don't really care for it, although he wins points with the line: "I'll stick my fist up your ass like my name was Jim Henson." Music to have a head-on collision by.

In a similar vein, although better, is the semi-serious "Snowball" which nostalgically details the joys of winter and snowball fights (Fallon grew up in Saugerties, NY). It's a short (2 minute) punk number that actually rocks and positively recalls for me (and probably only me) the title sequence in the movie Repo Man:

Moon boots and a hand-me-down snowsuit.
Snot is dripping from my nose.
My lips are chapped and my cocoa froze.
And I get low.
And I can see you through your window.
Sneak attack in a field.
Use your toboggan as a shield.


Actually, one of the better cuts on the The Bathroom Wall.

Unfortunately, it's immediately followed by "Hope Everyone Enjoyed Homecoming This Year"—an unnecessary introduction track ("Hey guys, how you doin' tonight? Hope everyone enjoyed homecoming this year and now, I'm proud to introduce, Jimmy Fallon"). Mere filler, this kicks off the less-than-stellar stand-up section. I suppose Fallon wanted a bridge between the songs and his stand-up material (all recorded live at some college gig) but a separate track? Uh...no, not a good idea.

Most of the subsequent humor details college life: fake ids, incompatible roommates, an RA who sounds like Chris Rock, hotplates and mini-fridges, ass hair-ripping loofahs, etc. Also included: several dead-on but not very funny impersonations (John Travolta, Cliff the mailman from "Cheers," Nick Cage, fellow comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Gilbert Gottfried, Robin Williams and Adam Sandler). Nothing terribly memorable here.

The best bit, easily, is "Troll Doll Jingles" in which Fallon parodies R.E.M. ("Losing My Religion"), U2, 4 Non Blondes, Coldplay’s hit "Yellow" (I bought a Troll / I bought a Troll for you / The one you wanted was blue / But they only had yellow) and the Dave Matthews Band, among others. But it's pretty much a case of too little, too late. The CD ends with a "Hammertime" riff, but the less said about that one the better.

Despite Fallon's long-winded plea on the liner notes, The Bathroom Wall is not something you'll want to "pick up" (in the used CD bin or otherwise). As far as Fallon, himself, I guess we'll have to wait and see. I'm not about to write him off just yet.