Are You Serious

Not Pryor's best, but it's still better than most standups' masterpieces. Profane and confessional as always, Are You Serious??? lingers on two key events in the comedian's life: his childhood in a Peoria whorehouse and a brief, aborted stint in the U.S. Army. Both are fertile comedic soil, and while the routines don't quite hit the manic heights Pryor's capable of, they are genuinely funny and provocative. His admiration for the childhood yarns of Bill Cosby is evident here, but Pryor's bits are more astringent. For fans, this disc is a worthy addition to Pryor's body of work. And everyone should hear his impression of being born at least once. It's utterly unique and shows why Pryor has attained "comedy genius" status. --Michael Gerber