Kill Rock Stars is a familiar name for music fans, especially followers of seminal riot grrrl acts Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and Heavens to Betsy. However, the Pacific Northwest label has expanded beyond punk bands, releasing comedy records from W. Kamau Bell, Cameron Esposito, Hari Kondabolu,
, Emily Heller, and more. Now, Oakland native Papp Johnson has been added to the roster, with the label putting out his understated yet riotously funny debut albumThe first thing you notice about Johnson is the timbre of his voice. It’s sonorous, adding depth to his unhurried, carefree delivery. His set is full of pregnant pauses, some so long that you’ll think you’ve accidentally stopped the track. Johnson’s tendency to let moments linger shows off a quiet confidence.
After starting off with an obligatory pandemic mention , he moves onto exploring life as a tall man, his stint working security, the appeal of Hillary Clinton as president, the MeToo movement, and sex. The breadth of the subject matter means we get a decent, if slightly superficial, picture of who Johnson is. And that’s okay—not every comedy album has to dive into the deep end. In fact,’ main appeal is just how luxuriously laidback it is; this is a record for savoring on your own schedule.