Rize Of The Fenix indicates Jack Black and Kyle Gass have little left to offer as comedy-rock duo Tenacious D. Within seconds, the pair acknowledge the critical evisceration of cinematic venture and predecessor, The Pick Of Destiny. On the one hand, you have to admire their candour, but it’s a peculiar way to kick off an album. “Remember how shit we were? Here’s a crash course!” To make matters worse, Rise Of The Fenix actually emerges a more perilous misfire. Ironic, really.
The album flits between crass and self-referential comedy. If Black and Gass aren’t talking themselves up/down, they’re mindlessly spouting profanity or expounding upon genitalia. If this sounds all-too-familiar, it really is. Cast your mind back to Tribute and Wonderboy: both were sufficiently self-referential singles – and indeed songs of self-reverence, too – and now we’re back covering the same ground here, musically and thematically. It’s been a decade and Tenacious D are basically the same band.
Classical Teacher sees Gass get raped by Black (yes, really) and Flutes And Trombones revolves around an in-studio brawl. Both interludes blatantly betray logic, the skits riddled with enough holes to undermine the album’s best shot at comedy gold.
Unfortunately, it ought to be ashes to ashes, dust to dust for comedy-rock duo Tenacious D, their latest venture limited, bland and unessential.
BY NICK MASON
Best Track: To Be The Best
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Tenacious D TENACIOUS D, The Pick Of Destiny TENACIOUS D
In A Word: Stale
