Tenacious D by Tenacious D

Last week, September 25th, was the 20th anniversary of Tenacious D’s first album, Tenacious D! These are songs that have always, and I mean always, been in my life. My mom has managed Tenacious D for a long time, so ever since I was little I’ve heard all of these songs. I remember watching and rewatching the “Tribute” video when I was three. I remember hearing “Wonderboy” and “Kielbasa.” I’ve always distinctly remembered the words in the beginning, “So far bad-- off to a bad start. Better, closer, warmer…” But this was when I was little, so did I understand what “Fuck Her Gently” meant? I’m gonna say no. Listening to Tenacious D now, I feel like I get so much more out of it (obviously)! 

I think one of the most interesting parts of the album is that it is a comedy album. It’s hilarious! However, I wouldn’t call it foolish. They know what they’re doing. There are skits that lead into songs, and the skits are really funny, but they also help give context to the song so that the listener has a fuller understanding. The conversations made me feel like I was observing them in the recording studio, watching these two dudes argue and make up random shit. So, yeah, it’s really funny, but it’s also smart!

Also, to add onto that, while the lyrics are meant to be comical and bawdy, the music is really well done. You can hear the guitars and how they play them. There is a lot of individual picking, like in the beginning of “Tribute” for example. In “Lee,” same thing! The instrumentals play a huge role. The drums are really strong and the guitar playing is very prominent. I think that’s a big reason why Tenacious D is actually good. They are having a great time, but they are also really talented as comedians, singers, and musicians. 

I really do enjoy this album so much. It’s really funny, and it really brings the listener into it. I love the skits, especially “Drive-Thru.” I love how creative it is, and how it’s just them. They are a very talented duo. I think a comedy rock band can be very hard to pull off, because there still has to be a sense of quality to it. Tenacious D has that quality, and they have maintained that quality for 20 years!