Music Review: Tenacious D - Rize of the Fenix

Rize of the Fenix, set to drop May 15th, 2012, is cause for celebration as it marks the return of Tenacious D after a six year absence. Some fans understandably worried that the rock duo of Jack Black (lead vocals, acoustic guitar) and Kyle Gass (lead acoustic guitar, backing vocals) was no more following their disastrous big screen adventure The Pick of Destiny in 2006. The harshest critics claimed it was for the best, insisting that the D’s act had grown stale. While the movie certainly could’ve been more inventive, its soundtrack earned Gold certification from the RIAA. In other words, even while belly flopping at theaters, Tenacious D was still able to make an impact musically.

The new album opens with the title track, one of the most awesomely powerful epics the band has conceived to date. The longest tune on the album, “Rize of the Fenix” is a multi-part statement of purpose. It establishes the group as a force to be reckoned with once again, despite the hard knocks they took after their movie bombed. Dave Grohl pummels his drums as Black roars forth with perhaps his most inspired vocal ever. Gass contributes skillful guitar playing and expert harmony vocals. The song’s head-banging, fist-pumping magnificence sets the bar impossibly high–it arguably should’ve closed the album, as it serves as the record’s climax.

Luckily Tenacious D has more than a few tricks up its sleeve, resulting in a consistently entertaining and endearing album. Musically, their foundation is as strong as ever. As he has on each D album to date, Dave Grohl lays down a tough bedrock of punishing drums. Returning from The Pick of Destiny are John Konesky (electric guitar) and John Spiker (bass, keyboards). Comic sketches are kept to a relatively minimum. “Classical Teacher,” in which Black hires a guitar instructor for Gass, is the funniest of the two spoken-word bits. It’s an instant classic, easily living up to the brilliance of sketches such as “Inward Singing” and “Drive-Thru” from their 2001 self-titled debut.

“Roadie,” a tribute to one of the more under-appreciated employees of a rock band, achieves a sublime majesty. “Without me, there’d be no lights on the stage,” Black wails, embodying the sympathetic spirit of a beleaguered crew member, “But you don’t applaud for me.” Continuing the theme of the title track, “The Ballad of Hollywood Jack and the Rage Kage” elaborates on what happened to Black and Gass during the D’s hiatus.

Article Author: The Other Chad

My name is Chaz. A former co-worker (Dave) always misheard my name as "Chad." Complicating matters was a third co-worker, who was in fact named Chad. So Dave habitually called me the "other Chad."

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