17-05-2012, 13:00
online listen
not familiar with them and I'm a Jack Black fan
thought it was a rap act
could be good if they were serious
too much comedy for me
the clip is the only thing I really like
rather Dr. Hookish
1.2 from me and a 2.4 from the pros at allmusic
from the album - 39
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV7V8Yj5Z-U
released May 15th, 2012
![[Image: s41627haeyg.jpg]](http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drs400/s416/s41627haeyg.jpg)
Bio - from allmusic
Rightfully hailed as "the greatest band on Earth," the super-sized acoustic metal/comedy duo Tenacious D was an
unlikely success story. Actually, Tenacious D was probably so successful precisely because they were so unlikely:
few people would imagine that two chunky guys bashing on acoustic guitars, singing songs like a tribute to the
greatest song in the world (because they forgot how the greatest song in the world went after conquering the Devil
with it) became one of the biggest cult bands of the late '90s and 2000s. But the sheer charisma, humor, and energy
-- not to mention inspired songwriting -- of singers/guitarists/actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass (aka JB, Jables, KG,
and Kage, among other aliases) took them from L.A.'s underground comedy scene to their own series on HBO and a
major-label album deal.
The crazed, wide-ranging sense of humor and intensity that Black brought to Tenacious D also made him a sought-after
character actor, appearing in films like Bob Roberts, The Cable Guy, and Saving Silverman; Gass' film career
includes supporting roles in Jacob's Ladder, Idle Hands, and Evolution. Similarly, the D's act showcased Black's
theatrical, versatile vocals and Gass' deft support on the guitar in seemingly stream-of-consciousness songs about
smoking pot, the duo's musical and sexual prowess, and subjects straight out of Dungeons & Dragons, as well as in
equally absurd and inventive sketches.
The duo met at an acting class and began playing together in 1994, making their live debut later that year at Al's
Bar, playing just one number, the aforementioned homage to the world's greatest song, "Tribute." In the audience
that night was comedian/actor David Cross, who invited Black and Gass to appear with him and other like-minded
performers such as Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo in a series of alternative comedy shows. The D soon headlined
shows at venues like Pedro's and Largo, planting the seeds of a die-hard cult following; not even their inauspicious
film debut in 1996's Bio-Dome slowed their momentum. The following year, their appearances on Bob Odenkirk and
Cross' brilliant HBO sketch comedy program Mr. Show With Bob and David and a 1998 performance of "Sex Supreme" --
which sang the praises of a ménage à trois with KG and JB -- on Saturday Night Live hinted at the duo's just-
beneath-the surface popularity, which began to rise into the mainstream with the group's 1999 HBO series. Though it
lasted just three episodes, Tenacious D included, among other adventures, the group's search for "Inspirato," the
cosmic creative force; the love triangle between Black, Gass, and a heavily pierced, Satanic clog dancer who
threatened to destroy the group; and the discovery of Lee, Tenacious D's biggest fan. More of the D's brilliantly
dumb songs debuted on the show, and fans began trading and auctioning video and audiotapes of Tenacious D. The duo
also played opening gigs for friends like Beck, Pearl Jam, and the Foo Fighters and embarked on their first full-
fledged tour; Epic won a bidding war to sign the group. In 2000, Black's popularity and prominence as an actor grew
with roles in films like Jesus' Son and, especially, High Fidelity, where his turn as the larger-than-life record
store clerk Barry made him a bona-fide star. Meanwhile, the group worked on a self-titled debut album with the Dust
Brothers, Dave Grohl, Phish's Page McConnell, Redd Kross' Steve McDonald, and other friends.
In 2001, the D's momentum hit critical mass: The group set out on their second nationwide tour, playing
significantly larger venues than before and selling out many of their dates. And, despite an attempt to recall
Tenacious D at the last moment because of its back cover, which depicted two babies chained to an altar, their debut
entered the charts at a surprisingly strong number 33. Meanwhile, Spumco, the production company of Ren & Stimpy
mastermind John K., crafted an appropriately witty and raunchy video for the single "**** Her Gently," and, last but
not least, the duo continued work on a Tenacious D movie, The Pick Of Destiny, which was released in 2006 along with
a soundtrack of new material from the dynamic duo. After the release of the film the band kept a fairly low profile,
making appearances and festivals and benefits until finally making a return to music in 2012 with the release of
their third album, Rize of the Fenix.
Album Review - from allmusic
It's no mystery why Tenacious D call their third album Rize of the Fenix. JB and KG suffered the slings and arrows
of outrageous fortune when they unleashed The Pick of Destiny in 2006, a feature film -- complete with an
accompanying soundtrack -- that netted approximately no new fans and may even have cost them a few. Well aware of
this bomb, it's imperative that the D fashion their third album -- arriving a long six years after Pick -- as a
triumphant comeback, a Fenix rising from the ashes, if you will. And, for the most part, the D do succeed, the best
moments of Rize of the Fenix easily flattening the bloat of The Pick of Destiny. If they happen to lose a bit of
their sense of rampaging grandeur, they compensate with tightly constructed epics that impress by their lack of fat:
the title-track suite gallops along with purpose, "To Be the Best" is a gleeful send-up of "The Power" (animated
Transformers by way of Boogie Nights), "Roadie" is a heartfelt salute to its overlooked namesake, and country-rock
closer "39" is an ode to an aging groupie. This is all, in the parlance of another of the album's highlights, "Low
Hangin' Fruit." Tenacious D don't stray from their songs of rock & roll and songs of themselves, but considering the
pit that they were in, they can't be faulted for being overly careful, even if that caution can make parts of the
album -- namely the spoken skits, the staged blow-ups between Hollywood Jack and Rage Kage, and a few of the songs
about rocking -- feel a little long in tooth. Nevertheless, Rize of the Fenix does amount to a rousing comeback for
Tenacious D: they're back to their old tricks, oblivious to whether the world at large actually cares about their
shenanigans.
Track Listing
1. Rize of the Fenix
2. Low Hangin' Fruit
3. Classical Teacher
4. Senorita
5. Deth Starr
6. Roadie
7. Flutes & Trombones
8. The Ballad of Hollywood Jack and the Rage Kage
9. Throw Down
10. Rock Is Dead
11. They F***ed Our As**s
12. To Be the Best
13. 39
not familiar with them and I'm a Jack Black fan
thought it was a rap act
could be good if they were serious
too much comedy for me
the clip is the only thing I really like
rather Dr. Hookish
1.2 from me and a 2.4 from the pros at allmusic
from the album - 39
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV7V8Yj5Z-U
released May 15th, 2012
Bio - from allmusic
Rightfully hailed as "the greatest band on Earth," the super-sized acoustic metal/comedy duo Tenacious D was an
unlikely success story. Actually, Tenacious D was probably so successful precisely because they were so unlikely:
few people would imagine that two chunky guys bashing on acoustic guitars, singing songs like a tribute to the
greatest song in the world (because they forgot how the greatest song in the world went after conquering the Devil
with it) became one of the biggest cult bands of the late '90s and 2000s. But the sheer charisma, humor, and energy
-- not to mention inspired songwriting -- of singers/guitarists/actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass (aka JB, Jables, KG,
and Kage, among other aliases) took them from L.A.'s underground comedy scene to their own series on HBO and a
major-label album deal.
The crazed, wide-ranging sense of humor and intensity that Black brought to Tenacious D also made him a sought-after
character actor, appearing in films like Bob Roberts, The Cable Guy, and Saving Silverman; Gass' film career
includes supporting roles in Jacob's Ladder, Idle Hands, and Evolution. Similarly, the D's act showcased Black's
theatrical, versatile vocals and Gass' deft support on the guitar in seemingly stream-of-consciousness songs about
smoking pot, the duo's musical and sexual prowess, and subjects straight out of Dungeons & Dragons, as well as in
equally absurd and inventive sketches.
The duo met at an acting class and began playing together in 1994, making their live debut later that year at Al's
Bar, playing just one number, the aforementioned homage to the world's greatest song, "Tribute." In the audience
that night was comedian/actor David Cross, who invited Black and Gass to appear with him and other like-minded
performers such as Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo in a series of alternative comedy shows. The D soon headlined
shows at venues like Pedro's and Largo, planting the seeds of a die-hard cult following; not even their inauspicious
film debut in 1996's Bio-Dome slowed their momentum. The following year, their appearances on Bob Odenkirk and
Cross' brilliant HBO sketch comedy program Mr. Show With Bob and David and a 1998 performance of "Sex Supreme" --
which sang the praises of a ménage à trois with KG and JB -- on Saturday Night Live hinted at the duo's just-
beneath-the surface popularity, which began to rise into the mainstream with the group's 1999 HBO series. Though it
lasted just three episodes, Tenacious D included, among other adventures, the group's search for "Inspirato," the
cosmic creative force; the love triangle between Black, Gass, and a heavily pierced, Satanic clog dancer who
threatened to destroy the group; and the discovery of Lee, Tenacious D's biggest fan. More of the D's brilliantly
dumb songs debuted on the show, and fans began trading and auctioning video and audiotapes of Tenacious D. The duo
also played opening gigs for friends like Beck, Pearl Jam, and the Foo Fighters and embarked on their first full-
fledged tour; Epic won a bidding war to sign the group. In 2000, Black's popularity and prominence as an actor grew
with roles in films like Jesus' Son and, especially, High Fidelity, where his turn as the larger-than-life record
store clerk Barry made him a bona-fide star. Meanwhile, the group worked on a self-titled debut album with the Dust
Brothers, Dave Grohl, Phish's Page McConnell, Redd Kross' Steve McDonald, and other friends.
In 2001, the D's momentum hit critical mass: The group set out on their second nationwide tour, playing
significantly larger venues than before and selling out many of their dates. And, despite an attempt to recall
Tenacious D at the last moment because of its back cover, which depicted two babies chained to an altar, their debut
entered the charts at a surprisingly strong number 33. Meanwhile, Spumco, the production company of Ren & Stimpy
mastermind John K., crafted an appropriately witty and raunchy video for the single "**** Her Gently," and, last but
not least, the duo continued work on a Tenacious D movie, The Pick Of Destiny, which was released in 2006 along with
a soundtrack of new material from the dynamic duo. After the release of the film the band kept a fairly low profile,
making appearances and festivals and benefits until finally making a return to music in 2012 with the release of
their third album, Rize of the Fenix.
Album Review - from allmusic
It's no mystery why Tenacious D call their third album Rize of the Fenix. JB and KG suffered the slings and arrows
of outrageous fortune when they unleashed The Pick of Destiny in 2006, a feature film -- complete with an
accompanying soundtrack -- that netted approximately no new fans and may even have cost them a few. Well aware of
this bomb, it's imperative that the D fashion their third album -- arriving a long six years after Pick -- as a
triumphant comeback, a Fenix rising from the ashes, if you will. And, for the most part, the D do succeed, the best
moments of Rize of the Fenix easily flattening the bloat of The Pick of Destiny. If they happen to lose a bit of
their sense of rampaging grandeur, they compensate with tightly constructed epics that impress by their lack of fat:
the title-track suite gallops along with purpose, "To Be the Best" is a gleeful send-up of "The Power" (animated
Transformers by way of Boogie Nights), "Roadie" is a heartfelt salute to its overlooked namesake, and country-rock
closer "39" is an ode to an aging groupie. This is all, in the parlance of another of the album's highlights, "Low
Hangin' Fruit." Tenacious D don't stray from their songs of rock & roll and songs of themselves, but considering the
pit that they were in, they can't be faulted for being overly careful, even if that caution can make parts of the
album -- namely the spoken skits, the staged blow-ups between Hollywood Jack and Rage Kage, and a few of the songs
about rocking -- feel a little long in tooth. Nevertheless, Rize of the Fenix does amount to a rousing comeback for
Tenacious D: they're back to their old tricks, oblivious to whether the world at large actually cares about their
shenanigans.
Track Listing
1. Rize of the Fenix
2. Low Hangin' Fruit
3. Classical Teacher
4. Senorita
5. Deth Starr
6. Roadie
7. Flutes & Trombones
8. The Ballad of Hollywood Jack and the Rage Kage
9. Throw Down
10. Rock Is Dead
11. They F***ed Our As**s
12. To Be the Best
13. 39
