Relentless

AMG Review of Relentless

Brian Flota
All Music Guide

Bill Hicks was not your average comedian. Instead of just making jokes, he made jokes with a point to them. Relentless picks at many of the same issues he discussed on Dangerous, except this time, Hicks raises the spiritual and philosophical stakes considerably, as well as introducing his anti-capitalist stance (which he elaborates on more thoroughly on the posthumously released CDs Arizona Bay and Rant in E-Minor). In "What Is Pornography?," Hicks uses the Supreme Court definition of pornography ("any act having no artistic merit and causes sexual thoughts") to convince the audience that commercials are pornography, as well as politicians who would rather spend money on the military rather than education. In "Odd Beliefs," Hicks points out that many Christians wear crosses around their necks and asks the audience, "You think when Jesus comes back, he wants to see a f**kin' cross?" Again, Hicks' extreme stances on topics ranging from the war on drugs to the treatment of senior citizens ("A Killer Idea") might offend some listeners, but his act is a comedic catharsis, and he holds none of his feelings back, which more often than not is a good thing.