Mitch Fatel: Super Retardo

Sex sells and so Mitch Fatel’s new CD, “Super Retardo,” should too. Fatel’s chief comedic gimmick, as it were, is a reliance on a unique style of sexual comedy which rarely acknowledges tactful boundaries. He gets dirty right off the bat, riffing on internet pornography and moving from there to topics that include his favorite sexual positions and his love of vaginas.

Part of “Super Retardo’s” somewhat limited charm is a function of its live recording; as the audience laughs heartily, Fatel—who performed at last fall’s “Comedians for a Cause” at Harvard—picks a girl out of the crowd whom he will turn to with assorted lascivious and vulgar remarks for the remainder of the evening. Of course, he utterly disregards her also-present boyfriend much to the delight of the other spectators, none of whom seem even slightly offended.

On top of this rather blatant pandering, Fatel spends the majority of his act speaking as if his sexual obsession has resulted in a significant degree of brain damages. Indeed, the combination of his vocal tone and speech rhythms make him seem like a perverted juvenile delinquent with a one-track mind. There is a certain fluidity to the act that results from the consistency of the subject matter, but there’s no question that the title of the CD seems rather appropriate after a first listen.

Despite the shock value and guiltily pleasurable humor of Fatel’s comic stylings, they do not make for a complete or satisfying act. At first blush, “Super Retardo” is hilarious, but his lecherousness grows stale rapidly. Upon further listening, Fatel begins to sound like a confessional sex offender moonlighting as an amateur comedian.

Unless he grows as a performer—and unless his subject material grows with him—Fatel’s performance will always remain crude and one-dimensional.

Ultimately, however, these faults should not necessarily dissuade people from picking up “Super Retardo”. Although repeat listeners may experience unquestionably diminishing returns, the first-timer will likely be brought to tears—provided he is of an appropriate age and sensibility.

Of course, it may not be worth paying full price for a CD that will afford only one worthwhile listening experience. Wait until “Super Retardo” hits “USED” bins before you enter into Fatel’s kinky world.