Tenacious D (album)

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Tenacious D
Tenacious D cover
The cover is a reference to the Tarot card The Devil.
Studio album by Tenacious D
Released September 25, 2001 (2001-09-25)
Recorded The Boat in Silver Lake, Los Angeles
ArchAngel Recording Studio, Los Angeles[1]
Genre Comedy rock
Hard rock
Length 50:44
Label Epic
Producer The Dust Brothers
Professional reviews
Tenacious D chronology
Tenacious D
(2001)		 D Fun Pak
(2002)
Singles from Tenacious D
  1. "Tribute"
    Released: September 25, 2001
  2. "Wonderboy"
    Released: December 24, 2002
Back cover
Back cover

Tenacious D is the first studio album by the American satirical rock band Tenacious D, released on September 25, 2001 by Epic Records. The album's polished production was a departure from the band's acoustic origins, due in part to the production of the Dust Brothers. The subject matters of the songs include cannabis use, sexual intercourse and anarchy.

"Tribute" was the first single released from the album, followed by "Wonderboy". Both singles had music videos filmed for them, with the Liam Lynch directed Tribute video achieving cult status.

While Tenacious D did not achieve chart success after its release, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America by the end of 2005.[2]

Contents

[edit] Conception

For their first album, they enlisted the help of drummer Dave Grohl, keyboardist Page McConnell of Phish, guitarist Warren Fitzgerald, and bass player Steven Shane McDonald. The Dust Brothers produced the album. The majority of the songs on their debut album stem from early versions as seen on their HBO TV series, Tenacious D. The record itself does not list the song titles on the back cover as is the convention but instead on the back cover of the jacket; therefore one must open the CD (after presumably buying it) to read them. This is perhaps to allow songs with expletives or words otherwise deemed offensive to escape censorship or omission. Despite only charting at #38 in the UK, it has sold over 400,000 copies and has gone platinum as a result.

The recording session for the album began with a two-day session at Neil Diamond's studio in Los Angeles. They were able to use the studio because Diamond had just appeared with Black in the film Saving Silverman, in which Black plays a Neil Diamond cover singer. "Diamond claims it was the Liberty Records studio," King says. "It's a really old place."[3] At least one song was cut from the final release of the album. A studio recording of "Jesus Ranch," the final song from the HBO shorts (the closing credits feature the end of "The Road"), was omitted from the album because "it just didn't cut the mustard" (quoted by the D in the FAQ section of their website). The HBO version can be found on their DVD, The Complete Masterworks, and a recorded studio demo can be found on their 2002 EP, D Fun Pak.

[edit] Style

The Devil Card.
The Devil Card.

The front cover features Black and Gass standing naked below the Devil.[4] The pose is similar to that shown on the Devil tarot card. Due to the Satanic nature of the cover, the album was briefly recalled from stores.[5] The Devil card signifies sexual desire, uncontrolled energy, vice and addiction.[6] The band performed in front of this at concerts.[7]

[edit] Critical reception

Tenacious D's first album featured a variety of reactions, mainly positive, from the critics. Entertainment Weekly described the release as being "hilarious," and "no mere comedy record."[8]. All Music Guide said it "rocks so damn hard" but it reflects on the lack of some of the songs from the HBO episodes.[9]. Splendid magazine said of Tenacious D, "As entertainment, Tenacious D succeeds surprisingly well - for the first few listens.... The only long-term replay value you'll get from this record will come from playing it for friends who haven't heard it."[10]

[edit] Songs

"Tribute", the first single from the album, discusses the "greatest song in the world"[11] written to save the souls of Gass and Black from a demon[12] but later forgotten.[13] The song dropped guitar riffs from Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" which had appeared in early versions.[14] The single, the band's most successful, achieved Tenacious D's only chart top-ten peaking at #4 in Australia.[15] The video, directed by Liam Lynch, was voted by Kerrang! readers as the fifth best music video.[16] The second single "Wonderboy", a biographical ballad,[17] was critically well-received, with the BBC describing it as "endearing".[18] In 2002, the video, directed by Spike Jonze, won a Music Video Production Association for "Best Direction of a Music Video".[19] The third music video for "Fuck Her Gently", a song described as an "underground hit"[20] and, according to Black, lauded by women's groups[21] depicted an animated Black and Gass as cherubs by John Kricfalusi, the creator of Ren and Stimpy.[22]

 Audio samples:

The album opens with "Kielbasa", a song discussing anal sex.[23] Dianetics are also mentioned, as well as Krishna.[24] "Dio" is a tribute to Ronnie James Dio that calls for the singer to "pass the torch" on to Tenacious D. Reportedly, Dio approved of the song[25] and let Tenacious D appear in the video for his single, "Push." In addition, Dio also appeared in the 2006 film Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny, playing himself.

Six of the tracks on the album are comedy skits. "One Note Song",[24] "Hard Fucking", "Inward Singing",[24] "Cock Pushups", "Friendship Test",[24] "Karate Schnitzel" and "Drive-Thru".[26]

Tenacious D performing "Tribute"
Tenacious D performing "Tribute"


Tenacious D performing "Double Team" as an encore
Tenacious D performing "Double Team" as an encore

"Double Team" is another song on the topic of sex, in particular threesomes.[23] "The Road" deals with groupies whilst touring.[27] "Lee", named after their "no 1 fan"[20] Lee, is a song from the short "The Fan", in which the band stalk their biggest fan, and sing an obsessive song about him.[28] "Karate" is described as an aggressive song [27] taken from the short "Angel in Disguise" in which Black and Gass fight.[29] "Kyle Quit The Band", from "The Search for Inspirado", is a song which documents the band reuniting after breaking up.[29]

"Rock Your Socks" with Tenacious D's desire to prove its classical and rock prowess through giving "a taste" of Bach's Bourrée in E minor from Suite in E minor for Lute, BWV 996, also used in another of Tenacious D song - "Classico." ("That is Bach and it rocks..."), popularized by one of the most famous classical guitarists: Andrés Segovia and prog rock band, Jethro Tull. The song features a shock comedy climax when lead singer Jack Black asks for the listener, in return for their troubles in playing to them, to perform a coprophilic ritual.

"Friendship" talks of Black and Gass' relationship.[27] They sing of friendship being "rare".[30]

In the longest song on the album - described as epic[31] - lead singer Black calls for the legalisation of cannabis.[32] The song is described by the band, and others[33] as a rock opera.

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Tenacious D, except where noted.

  1. "Kielbasa" – 3:02
  2. "One Note Song" – 1:24
  3. "Tribute" – 4:08
  4. "Wonderboy" – 4:07
  5. "Hard Fucking" – 0:36
  6. "Fuck Her Gently" – 2:03
  7. "Explosivo" – 1:56
  8. "Dio" – 1:41
  9. "Inward Singing" – 2:13
  10. "Kyle Quit the Band" – 1:30
  11. "The Road" – 2:20
  12. "Cock Pushups" – 0:47
  13. "Lee" – 1:02
  14. "Friendship Test" (Bob Odenkirk) – 1:31
  15. "Friendship" – 2:00
  16. "Karate Schnitzel" – 0:37
  17. "Karate" – 1:05
  18. "Rock Your Socks" – 3:33
  19. "Drive-Thru" – 3:01
  20. "Double Team" – 3:11
  21. "City Hall" – 6:48 (actual full track is 9:02 long)
    "Malibu Nights" (a hidden track) makes up the last 47 seconds of "City Hall".

[edit] Chart performance

Charts (2002) Peak
position
US Albums Chart 33
UK Albums Chart 38
Dutch Albums Chart 33
Swedish Albums Chart 19
Norwegian Albums Chart 37
German Albums Chart 47
Australian Albums Chart 13
New Zealand Albums Chart 42

[edit] Credits

Personnel Role/contribution[1]
Jack Black lead vocals, guitar
Kyle Gass lead acoustic guitar, vocals
Dust Brothers Mixing (on tracks 2,5,6,9,12,14,16,17,19)
Dave Grohl drums, guitar (on tracks 4,7,8,11,18,20,21)
Steve McDonald bass
Warren Fitzgerald electric guitar
Page McConnell keyboards
Alfredo Ortiz percussion (on tracks 3,15,18,20)
Woody Jackson sitar on track 1
Andrew Gross strings (on tracks 4,6)
Ken Andrews guitar (tracks 3,10,11,15) and mixing (tracks 1,3,4,7,8,10,11,13,15,18,20,21)
John King echoplex (on track 7)
Page McConnell keyboards
Tony Schloss Assistant engineer
Cameron Webb Assistant mixing engineer
Adam Kasper Engineer for Dave Grohl sessions
Bernie Becker Engineer at ArchAngel
Tom Baker Mastering
Matt Marshall A & R
Brandy Flower Art direction and design
Sean Murphy Photography
Matthew Gass Photography

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b (2001) Album notes for Tenacious D. Epic Records (507735 2).
  2. ^ RIAA
  3. ^ Gaby Alter. "TENACIOUS D", MIX, 2002-03-01. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. 
  4. ^ A Keeps, David. "Prepare for D-DAY", The Independent on Sunday, 2002-11-03. Retrieved on 2008-03-02. 
  5. ^ Dickerson, Jeff. "Tenacious D, Tenacious D", The Michigan Daily, 2001-10-01. Retrieved on 2008-03-02. 
  6. ^ Meaning of the Devil Tarot Card
  7. ^ Heisinger, Andrea. "Weezer performs to sold-out Kansas City crowd", Daily Nebraskan, 2001-03-12. Retrieved on 2008-03-02. 
  8. ^ Ken Tucker. "Music Review: Tenacious D", Entertainment Weekly, 2001-09-24. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. 
  9. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Music Review: Tenacious D", All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. 
  10. ^ George Zahora. "Splendid Magazine reviews Tenacious D: Self-Titled", Splendid Magazine, 2001-12-18. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. 
  11. ^ Baltin, Steve. "Phair, Grohl Sing for Dems", Rolling Stone, 2004-07-07. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. 
  12. ^ Hellard, Peta. "Duo's devilish fun", The Courier-Mail, News Limited, 2007-01-06. Retrieved on 2008-04-12. 
  13. ^ Lieck, Ken. "Tenacious D, La Zona Rosa, 1am", The Austin Chronicle, 2000-03-17. Retrieved on 2008-04-20. 
  14. ^ Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Review", Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-04-19. 
  15. ^ Tenacious D. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved on 2008-02-14.
  16. ^ "Nirvana hit tops rock video poll", tcm.ie, 2004-04-09. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. 
  17. ^ Telford, Shawn. "Tenacious D takes the mock out of its rock", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2007-02-19. Retrieved on 2008-04-19. 
  18. ^ Long, Chris. "Tenacious D - Wonderboy", bbc.co.uk, 2002-11-18. Retrieved on 2008-04-19. 
  19. ^ MVPA award winners 2002. Music Video Production Association. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
  20. ^ a b "Tenacious D play in iconic New York venue", NME, 2006-12-02. Retrieved on 2008-04-19. 
  21. ^ Rees, Jasper. "Dude, where’s my guitar?", The Sunday Times, 2006-08-29. Retrieved on 2006-12-28. 
  22. ^ A Keeps, David. "Prepare for D-DAY", Independent on Sunday, 2002-11-03, pp. 4. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 
  23. ^ a b A Keeps, David. "Prepare for D-DAY", Independent on Sunday, 2002-11-03. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 
  24. ^ a b c d Thompson, Jason. "Tenacious D", PopMatters, 2001-09-24. Retrieved on 2008-04-19. 
  25. ^ Mark Binelli. "73% of the Way to Being the World's Greatest Rock Band", Rolling Stone, 2001-11-29. Retrieved on 2007-01-01. 
  26. ^ "Albums Released July 1 2002", Xfm, 2003-12-22. Retrieved on 2008-04-19. 
  27. ^ a b c D, Spence. "Tenacious D - Tenacious D", IGN, 2006-11-19. Retrieved on 2008-04-20. 
  28. ^ Zoromski, Brian. "Tenacious D: The Series", IGN, 2006-11-20. Retrieved on 2008-04-20. 
  29. ^ a b Zoromski, Brian. "Tenacious D: The Series", IGN, 2006-11-20. Retrieved on 2008-04-20. 
  30. ^ Grant, Lee. "Longtime pals Jack Black and Kyle Gass make their 'Tenacious D' movie", The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2006-11-20. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  31. ^ Gunderson, Seth. "Music Review: Tenacious D, "Tenacious D"", The Trades, 2001-09-25. Retrieved on 2008-04-20. 
  32. ^ Chris Parker. "Are Jack Black and Kyle Gass the new Cheech & Chong?", High Times, 2002-07-31. Retrieved on 2007-01-11. 
  33. ^ Robin A. Rothman. "Tenacious D Rock Your Socks", Rolling Stone, 2001-09-10. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Tenacious D
Jack Black · Kyle Gass
Jason Reed · John Konesky · John Spiker · Dave Grohl
Studio albums
Tenacious D · The Pick of Destiny
EPs
Singles
"Tribute" · "Wonderboy" · "POD"
Songs
Video and theatrical releases
Related articles