| The Craig Machine | |
| Type: | Live album |
| Artist: | Stephen Lynch |
| Cover: | Stephen_Lynch_Craig_Machine.jpg |
| Released: | October 4, 2005 |
| Recorded: | May 9 and 16, 2005 at Symphony Space, New York City, New York |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Length: | 41:47 |
| Label: | What Are Records? |
| Prev Title: | Superhero |
| Prev Year: | 2002 |
| Next Title: | Cleanest Hits |
| Next Year: | 2006 |
The Craig Machine is a live album by comedian Stephen Lynch, released on October 4, 2005 on What Are Records?. The CD was recorded live at Symphony Space in New York City on May 9 and 16, 2005. The Craig Machine debuted at #2 on Billboard Magazines Comedy Charts and #129 on the Billboard 200, his only entry to date.
The title is lifted from a lyric from the fifth track on the album, which is from the point of view of Jesus Christ's brother, Craig. The quoted lyric asks of the listener "not 'What Would Jesus Do?' but 'Where will you be when the Craig Machine comes partyin' through?'"
Album reviewer Dylan P. Gadino wrote, "On his third disc, The Craig Machine, Lynch continues his reign as one of the nation's most skilled singing comedians. Armed with a voice sweeter than most all-too-earnest contemporary singer/songwriters...a keen sense of pop song structure and a wickedly vile sense of humor, the Michigan native keeps us guessing and, more importantly, laughing throughout the new 14-song collection. For Lynch, the guitar clearly isn't a novelty. It's the vehicle for every punchline. As a result, he's careful to construct real songs — as in the type you'd hear on traditional pop albums, the kind that people will listen to repeatedly. Of course, there are a few quick throwaways — see "Love Song" and "Not Home" — peppered throughout for cheap, hard, laughs. But largely, there are plenty of hooks on which to grab hold. ... Part of Lynch's draw is that he commits equally to both music and joke on each track."
The TVParty site reviewer wrote, "Stephen Lynch's musical tour de force through his demented psyche begins with a heaping hunk of blasphemy followed by even more sacrilegious tuneage along with peppy songs about dating white girls, loving Nazis, wishing for his grandfather's death, and a cute ditty about Satan (more blasphemy). But it works. This guy can really write some funny tunes and he has the vocal chops to pull it off."[3]
All tracks composed and performed by Stephen Lynch.