John Early

Acclaimed actor, comedian, writer and producer John Early has announced the album release for Now More Than Ever, out September 13th via Lookin’ For My Denim Records/Thirty Tigers. Expanding upon his critically acclaimed HBO comedy special, Early’s long-awaited first comedy album features four brand new cover songs from Early and his live band The Lemon Squares, along with an exclusive, album-only set from Early’s beloved alter ego, Vicky with a ‘V.’ With Early’s unique blend of cutting commentary, pop star swagger, and all-around loveable hilarity, Now More Than Ever harkens back to a time when Sandra Bernhard covered Sylvester (and charted!), when Bette Midler dueted with Bob Dylan, when Babs sang Bowie, or when Isaac Hayes made The Carpenters sound sexy.

Additionally, Early announced his fall North American tour, with stops in Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, and more. Tickets will be available via artist and venue presales on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, while general on-sale is this Friday, June 14th at 10am local time and can be purchased here.

In Now More Than Ever, Early’s giddy musings on contemporary life are intercut with explosive song covers from Britney Spears to Neil Young. It’s like listening to Bette Midler at the Continental Baths, but instead of an audience of sexually liberated gay men, it’s a crowd full of people who recap Bravo shows for Vulture or do graphic design for Hims. And they’re desperate to be roasted. In the show’s oddly stirring climax, Early delivers a rousing sermon on the devastation his generation has wrought on culture and their last chance to redeem it. John and his band take on Madonna’s notorious “American Life,” rap and all, with a 70’s soul twist, Aaliyah’s iconic and steamy “Rock the Boat” by way of Burt Bacharach, a swampy cover of Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton’s “The Pain of Loving You,” and the forgotten Donna Summer rock ballad “My Baby Understands.” The additional songs were recorded in Brooklyn and Oakland, with a stop in Early’s hometown of Nashville, Tennessee to record the horn section — his dad and his dad’s best friend, who’ve been playing trumpet together since they were fourteen. Produced and arranged by Michael Hesslein (or “Hess on the Keys” as John refers to him in the show), the sound was inspired by Hess and John’s long car rides on tour together listening almost exclusively to Isaac Hayes.

“I’ve been performing comedy and music with my long suffering band The Lemon Squares for over 10 years now, and I always assumed that there was no way to capture the magic of our live shows,” explains Early. “But listening to this album takes me right back to that sweaty night in downtown Brooklyn, which felt something like being a crazed preacher at a tent revival. I’m so excited for people to hear the Vicky with a ‘V’ set that we had to cut from the HBO special for time. And I am so, so pumped about our new cover songs which I think are genuinely good and stanky. I would also like to put it on permanent record that I did the Madonna rap in one take.”

In the end of Early’s underscored rant on the emptiness of millennial culture, he pleads to the Brooklyn crowd, “We have to get serious! Before it’s too late! And our gravestones read: Because Cancer.” This album is an attempt, in all its silliness, to get serious. Now More Than Ever is Early’s sincere and abundant offering back to the culture of thoughtful critique, heartfelt music, and infectious joy, firmly cementing his place as the godfather of millennial alt-comedy.