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The Bathroom Wall

 
Album Review: The Bathroom Wall

  • Artist: Jimmy Fallon
  • Rating: StarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: August 27, 2002
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Spoken Word

Review

When Jimmy Fallon released his album of comedic songs and stand-up routines in late summer 2002, it was perfect timing. His "It Boy" status had no sign of stopping either; he had graced the covers of Interview, SPIN, and Paper. He served as host for both the 2001 MTV Movie Awards and the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards. His SNL co-starring spot next to Tina Fey on "Weekend Update" showcased Fallon's role as the ideal celebrity: both charming and dorky. Yeah, he wasn't exactly in the league of Adam Sandler, but he was well underway in making a club of his own. The Bathroom Wall is basically Fallon's own mix tape of high school fights, bad athletic performances, and collegiate experimentation combined with a dose of rock & roll mayhem. First single, "Idiot Boyfriend," struts with soul, nerdy appeal; Fallon's Mick Jagger falsetto is loose and sweet. "(I Can't Play) Basketball" slices and dices funk and hip-hop, Beastie Boys-style, but it's the pop-punk snarl of "Road Rage" that finds Fallon in his finest musical moment. It's very Brit-pop, like Blur, with crashing guitars and quick-stepped percussion. Fallon's tale of being "that" driver on the road is hilarious, and vocally, he's not that bad. Realistically, it's known that Sandler can't sing a lick, so Fallon has him beat by just a bit. His stand-up routines are equally amusing. His impersonations of John Travolta, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, and Cheers' Cliff Claven are uncanny on "Troll Doll Celebrities." "Troll Doll Jingles" finds Fallon mimicking U2's "Desire," Counting Crows' "Mr. Jones," and Dave Matthews Band's "So Much to Say," but the spoof of Coldplay's "Yellow" is absolutely right on. Other highlights on The Bathroom Wall are "Chris Rock Was My R.A." and Fallon's homage to '80s music on "Hammertime." Those who remember teen angst and the awkwardness of becoming an adult will find humor in The Bathroom Wall. Fallon taps into what all made you laugh and smile during those weird days. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Idiot Boyfriend (Lyrics) Jimmy Fallon, Gerard Bradford Jimmy Fallon (3:54)
(I Can't Play) Basketball Jimmy Fallon, Gerard Bradford Jimmy Fallon (2:46)
Drinking in the Woods (Lyrics) Jimmy Fallon, Gerard Bradford Jimmy Fallon (2:53)
Road Rage (Lyrics) Jimmy Fallon, Gerard Bradford Jimmy Fallon (2:45)
Snowball (Lyrics) Jimmy Fallon, Gerard Bradford Jimmy Fallon (2:05)
Hope Everyone Enjoyed Homecoming This Year Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Fallon (:22)
Troll Doll Celebrities Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Fallon (4:11)
Dorms, Shower Baskets, and the Walk of Shame Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Fallon (1:44)
Roommates Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Fallon (1:37)
Hotplates, Four Digit Numbers and the Little Fridge Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Fallon (1:52)
Chris Rock Was My R.A. Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Fallon (1:40)
Gotta Get a Fake I.D. Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Fallon (:58)
Troll Doll Jingles Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Fallon (7:20)
Hammertime Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Fallon (2:36)

Credits

Jimmy Fallon (Harmonica), Peter Iselin (Keyboards), Mark Ronson (Guitar (Bass)), Jimmy Fallon (Liner Notes), Nadia Dajani (Vocals (Background)), Justin Stanley (Drums), Ben Arons (Engineer), Mark Ronson (Mixing), Gerard Bradford (Vocals (Background)), Mark Ronson (Synthesizer), Justin Stanley (Mixing), Mark Ronson (Keyboards), Jimmy Fallon (Vocals), Jimmy Fallon (Guitar), Justin Stanley (Vocals (Background)), Mark Ronson (Vocals (Background)), The Soundhustlers (Producer), Nancie Stern (Sample Clearance), Gabe Chiesa (Mixing), Gerard Bradford (Guitar), Kyledidthis (Art Direction), Jimmy Fallon (Vocals (Background)), Justin Stanley (Keyboards), Mick Rock (Photography), The Soundhustlers (Producer), Mark Ronson (Bass), Kyledidthis (Design), Mario C. (Mixing), Daniel Milazzo (Assistant Engineer)
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Wikipedia: The Bathroom Wall
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The Bathroom Wall
Live album by Jimmy Fallon
Released August 27, 2002 (2002-08-27)
Genre Comedy rock, Comedy
Length 36:49
Language English
Label Dreamworks
Producer The Soundhustlers
Professional reviews

The Bathroom Wall is the first album by Jimmy Fallon. It was released on August 27, 2002.

Contents

Track listing

Songs (all tracks written by Fallon and Gerard Bradford)[1]
  1. "Idiot Boyfriend" – 3:54
  2. "(I Can't Play) Basketball" – 2:46
  3. "Drinking in the Woods" – 2:53
  4. "Road Rage" – 2:45
  5. "Snowball" – 2:05
Stand up (all tracks written by Fallon)[1]
  1. "Hope Everyone Enjoyed Homecoming This Year" – 0:22
  2. "Troll Doll Celebrities" – 4:11
  3. "Dorms, Shower Baskets, and the Walk of Shame" - 1:44
  4. "Roommates" – 1:37
  5. "Hotplates, Four Digit Numbers and the Little Fridge" – 1:52
  6. "Chris Rock Was My R.A." – 1:40
  7. "Gotta Get a Fake I.D." – 0:58
  8. "Troll Doll Jingles" – 7:20
  9. "Hammertime" – 2:36

Personnel

Production

  • Producer: The Soundhustlers
  • Engineers: Ben Arons, Dan Milazzo, and Kevin Scott
  • Assistant engineers: Aaron Kaplan, Doug Sanderson, Antony Zeller
  • Mixing: Mark Ronson, Justin Stanley, Marie C, and Gabe Chiesa
  • Mastering: Brian Gardner
  • Set Design: Michael DeNaire
  • Design: Kyledidthis
  • Photography: Mick Rock

Reception

Reviews

Allmusic described it as Fallon's "mix tape of high school fights, bad athletic performances, and collegiate experimentation combined with a dose of rock & roll mayhem"; two of the songs ("Idiot Boyfriends" and "Road Rage") were AMG "Track Picks", as were two of the stand-up comedy routines ("Troll Doll Jingles" and "Hammertime").[1]

The Rolling Stone liked the "fifteen minutes' worth of songs" and called "Idiot Boyfriend" the "second-best Prince parody ever, after Beck's 'Debra'"; the rest of the album was said to be "padded out with lame stand-up on college life (the fridges are small!), celebrity impressions and troll dolls."[2]

Awards

The Bathroom Wall was nominated for a Grammy in 2003 as the Best Spoken Comedy Album.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c The Bathroom Wall from Allmusic website
  2. ^ Review of The Bathroom Wall from Rolling Stone
  3. ^ Jimmy Fallon from the Geffen Records website

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Bathroom Wall" Read more