Album Review by EDF
I have to admit that I do like this movie. An enjoyable romp that finds Jack Black in the sort of role that was made for him. The soundtrack itself is a mixture of classic tracks, film excerpts and a couple of tracks featuring Black and his young co-star musicians.
Classics such as THE WHO’S – ‘Substitute’ and THE DOORS – ‘Touch Me’ sit alongside THE DARKNESS and the movies own NO VACANCY. TENACIOUS D they are not but NO VACANCY sounds more like a 1980’s hair metal group. The soundtrack’s jewel in the crown comes in the shape of the classic tracks, CREAM – ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’ and LED ZEPPELIN – ‘Immigrant Song’. Time for an interesting soundtrack fact, Jack Black personally filmed an appeal to the surviving Zeppelin members asking for permission to use the track in the movie. This was due to the group’s reluctant nature for their music to be featured in movies.
The appearance of STEVIE NICKS – ‘Edge Of Seventeen’ and THE RAMONES – ‘My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes To Bitburg)’ should gain both artists new sets of fans. Even THE DARKNESS – ‘Growing On Me’ is more enjoyable than it should be. Keeping to the Glam side of things is T-REX’s – ‘Ballrooms Of Mars’, a track that most people might not be familiar with but is nonetheless essential on this soundtrack. As an AC/DC fan, I have to admit that while the SCHOOL OF ROCK – ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top’ keeps to the spirit of the original the version here is unfortunately the expanded solo spot version that is featured at the end of the movie.
The tracks are varied and enjoyable but at times do not flow .As for the film excerpts, let me just say that they are not even in the same league as those found on a Tarantino soundtrack. One of the things that this soundtrack might do is introduce old music to a new set of rock fans and if that is so, then I salute you.
