Dan Castellaneta I Am Not Homer CD

Dan Castellaneta is best known for being the voice of Homer Simpson, but he has also found success as a comedian independent of his television career. On I Am Not Homer, Castellaneta attempts to make his first comic sketch album (after 2000's bizarre all-music Two Lips) and enlists his wife, Deb Lacusta, to help him on the project. Simpsons fanatics should beware: This is a very different brand of humor than what the show usually presents. "Elvus" is a perfect example; the sketch involves Castellaneta and Lacusta as two obsessive rednecks discussing Elvis Presley in a slowly building conversation that reveals their unusual relationship with the deceased singer. Although some of the sketches are very funny and unusual, many of them are quite slow in general and lack a certain focus that could make them more directly humorous. The biggest problem is that it seems like they are improvising with no direction at times, as in the opening "AM Therapy" (which is entirely too long), and they seem like they are occasionally breaking character. Simple editing could have tightened up these lengthy sketches, but instead they are allowed to meander from one occasionally funny joke to the next. And the appearance of Homer Simpson at the end of the album is about as funny as songs on The Simpsons Sing the Blues, which is to say, it is mildly amusing. There are a few very funny sketches, but in the long run this is a very average comedy album that only inspires the occasional chuckle. ~ Bradley Torreano

Unknown Contributor Role: Dan Castellaneta.

Personnel: Dan Castellaneta (background vocals); Dan Castellaneta; Buddy Judge (electric guitar, banjo, ukulele, bass instrument); Curt Anderson (harmonica, Theremin, background vocals); Laura Hall, Laura Hall (piano, harmonium, organ, Wurlitzer organ); Michael Dunn, Layne Beamer, Michael Dunn (background vocals); Ric Menck (drums, percussion); Rick Hall (background vocals).

Recording information: Tree Fort Studio, Los Angeles, CA.