Maps of Music

Bo Burnham (2008)

Where the lyrics of Bo Burnham take you, and where it was really made.

Most of this debut album was built to keep the feel of Burnham's bedroom YouTube videos, yet its live part was recorded at a club in Tempe, Arizona.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

Bo Burnham: debut studio album by American comedian Bo Burnham
Released March 10, 2009 by Comedy Central Records
Two-disc set: a CD musical album and a DVD
DVD holds Burnham's Comedy Central Presents special, all of his YouTube videos, and other performances
DVD also includes his live 10-minute performance at the Tempe Improv and a tour of his house

Most songs on the album are similar to his YouTube videos
In a 2009 interview with The A.V. Club, Burnham said he wanted the album to keep a very small, homegrown, kid-in-his-bedroom feel
He said he wanted to show respect for the online community
The early YouTube video "My Whole Family..." was a cult hit that propelled Burnham to Internet stardom
"My Whole Family..." originally debuted on YouTube on December 21, 2006
"Bo Fo Sho" originally debuted on YouTube on September 24, 2007

The live portions were performed and recorded at Burnham's gig at the Tempe Improv in Tempe, Arizona
The gig took place September 18–21, 2008
The live track "I'm Bo Yo" (Live) runs 3:31
Studio tracks include "I'm Bo Yo" (Studio), "Rehab Center For Fictional Characters" (Studio), and "Welcome To YouTube" (Studio)

1	I'm Bo Yo	3:55
2	My Whole Family... (live)	3:59
3	Bo Fo Sho (live)	3:08
4	Love Is... (live)	3:59
5	The Perfect Woman (live)	3:26
6	High School Party (live)	2:52
7	Klan Kookout (live)	2:45
8	New Math (live)	3:36
9	I'm Bo Yo (live)	3:31
10	A Love Ballad (live)	2:33
11	Rehab Center for Fictional Characters	3:19
12	Welcome to YouTube	3:34
13	[Little Adolf]	2:01

Began on YouTube in 2006 with self-recorded comedy songs; one of the earliest YouTube stars.
Released the EP Bo fo Sho (2008) via Comedy Central Records, and the album Bo Burnham (2009).
Moved to stand-up, releasing specials Words Words Words (2010), what. (2013), and Make Happy (2016).
Announced a step away from live performance in 2016, later citing anxiety and panic attacks on stage.
Wrote and directed the film Eighth Grade (2018), which received the WGA Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Returned with Inside (2021), created alone during the COVID-19 pandemic; it won three Emmys and earned Grammy nominations.
Directed comedy specials for Jerrod Carmichael and Chris Rock, and co-starred in Promising Young Woman (2020).

Critical response to the album has been mostly positive
Punchline magazine's John Delery praised both album and artist
Delery called the album "hysterical"
Delery called Burnham "the sole teenager in America these days that can speak in longhand"
About.com's Patrick Bromley spoke well of the album within its genre of musical comedy
Bromley said the novelty of the traditional comedy album wore thin over repeated listenings
Bromley said the album was so dense with wordplay and double entendres that it begged for repeats
Bromley was less generous with Burnham's "edgy humor"
Bromley felt the teenaged comedian worked best with self-deprecating material

The RIAA certified the album gold on May 27, 2010 (video longform, for having sold 50,000 units)

"The Perfect Woman" and "Klan Kookout" have since been removed from digital platforms
"Bonus Track" is a hidden track
The DVD includes an uncensored version of the Comedy Central Presents episode and the music video for "High School Party"
Burnham recorded a music video for "High School Party" for the iTunes Store in 2008
In August 2025 the release date was falsely changed to the date of "Bo Fo Sho", and this has not been corrected