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Title: Not His Best Stories, But That Doesn't Say Much
Review: Utah Phillips is many things. An absolutely wonderful storyteller is one of them. This disc collects a bunch of his stories from various and sundry live shows over the past twenty some-odd years. While this would usually be call for massive celebration, this album collects a bunch of stories that, frankly, might have been better off left uncollected. Many of the endings are predictable, and Phillips resorts to the crude punchline a few too many times for my taste. But through it all, he is still a marvelous storyteller, and he understands the timing and craft of humor as well as the best standup comics. If you've heard him before, and you want some new stories, grab it. If you're new to him, try "The Past Didn't Go Anywhere," his collaboration with Ani DiFranco, or "Loafer's Glory," his collaboration with Mark Ross.
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