hellfudge's Full Review: Tenacious D [PA] by Tenacious D
It's hard to truly call a comedy album great. Sure, some are thought of that way, even developing legions of fans that quote "you might be a redneck if..." for years, but let's face it - you can only hear the same joke a few times before it just isn't funny anymore.
It helps to add music, but even that is prone to getting stale, as in the case of Weird Al, much faster than the music it's parodying.
And so Jack Black and Kyle Gass decided to add a new element to the mix and see what happened. First and foremost is a surprising musical talent on the parts of each of them. They didn't just record a handful of funny songs. They crafted a handful of funny songs. These songs are well put together, as well or better than half the stuff on the radio. And they're played with heart. Honest! Sure, they want you to laugh at "Wonderboy," but, as all great performers do, they put their all into every facet of it, not just the lyrics. There are subtleties, both comedic and musical, throughout this record. And they work.
Of course, having a great sense of humor is infinitely important in a project like this, otherwise all the musical talent in the world still won't stop the listener from saying, "That's just stupid". There is plenty of humor here, though some of the jokes are overdone, and a few of them are, unfortunately, "just stupid". But that's the minority.
But something else raises the D above most musical comedy. The simple fact of the matter is that Jack Black, were it not for the type of music he does, could easily be considered one of the best current singers in rock. His range is impressive, his ability to avoid holding back commendable. It's almost a shame Tenacious D is more comedy than rock and roll. "Keilbassa" will never go down as one of rock's greatest moments, but Black's voice could easily front a song that would.
His partner in crime, Kyle Gass, is featured less prominently, but no less impressively. His guitar playing is skillful and his backing vocals compliment Black's well. And he's a great sport, lending himself freely to the butt of many of Black's jokes. Not quite the "straight man", Gass is more like the whipping post for Black's large ego.
It's hard to say if that ego is real or not without knowing him personally, but it fits in perfectly with Tenacious D's image. There is a vibe of the dork who thinks he's super-cool, or the super-cool guy who everyone thinks is a dork. Either way it works, and JB's boastful nature helps it along.
There are a few times when it's out of hand, though. Not necessarily Jack's ego, but the band's, such as the five minutes they waste on the "Drive-Thru" skit or the overlong "Inward singing". Just to think anyone would care to sit through these more than once is a bad estimate. There are skits sprinkled throughout the disc, and most of them are funny only once. But for some reason, hearing "F*** Her Gently" never gets old. Or at least, it takes much longer.
A few things may annoy fans of the D outside this album, such as the rewritten version of "Tribute", which omits the "Stairway To Heaven" interlude and thus kills the whole point of the song by making its roots harder to decipher. There are live versions in which it's much more obvious and much funnier. Same goes for "City Hall", which features a small but substantial re-write of one verse. And a few D favorites are suspiciously absent, such as the hilarious "Sasquatch" and "Kyle Took A Bullet For Me".
But this is a great collection of funny AND musically appealing songs that will long outlast the moment. Put this on a few years down the road and it will still be good.
Tenacious D. Two overweight, less than beautiful men pushing middle age and acting like they are rock gods regardless. "I don't care who you are, that's funny". Most people who recognize that last line will probably forget it in a few years, just as they forgot Andrew Dice Clay, Adam Sandler, and Jeff Foxworthy. But few who understand and love the D will forget them.
Product DetailsOriginal Title:Tenacious D (Limited Edition Back Cover)Condition: NEWFormat: CDArtist: Tenacious D (Limited Edition Back Cover)Language...More at iNetVideo.com
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