CD Review: Tenacious D “Rize Of The Fenix”

Tenacious D
“Rize Of The Fenix”
Produced by: John Kimbrough
Label: Columbia
Tracks: 16 (including bonus tracks)
Running Time: 45 minutes
Release Date: May 15, 2012

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I have been a loyal ‘D’ fan since 1997 going all the way back to the HBO TV series.  I remember being in college back in 2001 and seeing flyers everywhere for their album and that just sealed the deal of my lifelong fandom.  I know people did not like the film “Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny” but I was a huge fan…and no I am not a stoner either.  I have had the album on my iPhone since it was released. “Beelzeboss (The Final Showdown)”  is truly the great song in the world…but I later found out it was just a tribute.  Oh well, let’s get to “Rize of the Fenix”, the third album from Tenacious D.  I listened to this album for about three weeks before writing this review.  In that short period of time, this album grew on me quite a bit and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since.  “Rize of the Fenix” is a travel back to the bands roots and without a doubt delivers the goods.  The D is back and better than ever!

The title track, “Rize of the Fenix” is a fantastic opener and really leads the album for success.  It is long and doesn’t let up from the moment it begins, while changing tempos and pace throughout.  The band even goes back to their skits with “Classical Teacher” and Flutes and Trombones”.  Though “Classical” is a little too long for me and “Flutes” has potential but its punchline falls a little short.  Overall I still enjoyed them but I do find myself occasionally skipping them to get back to the kick-ass music.  “To Be the Best” always gets me pumped but only runs a minute, I wish it was longer because it would be my new pump up song like the ‘Your the Best Around’ from “The Karate Kid”.  Two of my favorite tracks is “Deth Star” and “Roadie”, the first being a fast sci-fi kick-ass track and the latter is more soft yet reminiscent of “Wonder Boy”.  “Ballad of Hollywood Jack and Rage Kage” is also a really great track.  All the tracks just seems to really shine and delivers what the D does best, belt out fun silly songs.

Jack Black and Kyle Gass recorded this album in a garage on a budget of only $600 dollars and even though the album still sounds freaking sweet.  If you put the first album and this one on random, I would have a hard time distinguishing the two if I never heard them before.  The music sounds great and, of course, even has Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) tearing up those drums on the album.  Overall the D has never broken any musical standards but it is just a really fun 45 minutes.   Also make sure to pre-order the album on iTunes before May 15th, so you can score the super rare D Track, “5 Needs” which was from Tenacious D’s cameo in the 1996 movie “Bio-Dome”.

Track Listing:
1. Rize of the Fenix
2. Low Hangin’ Fruit
3. Classical Teacher
4. Senorita
5. Deth Starr
6. Roadie
7. Flutes and Trombones
8. Ballad of Hollywood Jack and the Rage Kage
9. Throwdown
10. Rock Is Dead
11. They Fucked Our Asses
12. To Be The Best
13. 39
14. Quantum Leap (Bonus Track)
15. Rivers of Brown (Bonus Track)
16. 5 Needs (iTunes Pre-Order Track)