Album Review: Kate Davis, Tested Positive

On her latest comedy album Tested Positive, Kate Davis makes it all look and sound so easy. There seems to be a trend where comics will release their pandemic material in one album. Isolated, if you will, as to not infect other timeless material. 

Davis recorded this album behind plexiglass in whatever stage of freedom that was allowed in. Her longevity in the industry has relied on two main qualities: her relatability and her showmanship. 

Davis can get a crowd on board and have them snickering at the slightest allusion to the dirtiest sentiment. On this album this masterful skill is used to get an audience to see the humour in the very real and uncertain 21 day isolation Davis underwent in March 2020. 

Tested Positive is overwhelmingly clean and David plays the hits: her family, her kids, how her mother in law is like COVID. This material is delivered with the cocksure candor of a veteran comic playing the role of the Mom you look forward to having a drink with after the PTA meeting.

There are interesting glimpses into absurdity on Tested Positive that are a departure for Davis such as sex robots, optometrists, and chubby vampires. This material leads around to whip smart social commentary and is a welcome new flavour.

COVID material is beautiful because it is fighting back against something that has brought such devastation and sadness in so many forms. Tested Positive is a funny collection about an unfunny time. Proving it looks easy for Davis because she is just that skilled at making people laugh at the worst time they have ever lived through. 

Tested Positive was released December 17, 2021
Listen to it here.