posted
03/30/12
After a long, awkward silence, Tenacious D has announced a new album. Dropping May 14, Rize of the Fenix will be the legendary duo’s first full-length offering since 2006. Of course, while Kyle Gass and Jack Black have been on hiatus, we’ve had plenty of other musical comedians to keep us entertained. Here are a few of our favorite tracks, including one by the D themselves, for your listening pleasure. Click the button below to hear the full set on Made Man’s Spotify.
1. “Wonderboy” by Tenacious D
If there’s one thing Tenacious D is known for, it’s their ability to weave an epic and absurd tale into a legitimately cool rock song. That’s the case with “Wonderboy,” an arena-worthy anthem that follows the story of a superhero and his travels though a magical realm of oddities.
2. “Business Time” by Flight of the Conchords
When the New Zealand-born comedy duo of Brett McKenzie and Jemaine Clement first made their premiere on HBO with Flight of the Conchords, American audiences weren’t quite sure what to expect. What we got was a couple of nerdy folk artists who lay down one hell of a jam and leave us in stitches with their matter-of-fact lyrics about things like “business time” (which means “sex” in case you were wondering).
Tenacious D weaves epic and absurd tales into legitimately cool rock songs.
3. “Grandfather” by Steven Lynch
There was a time when Steven Lynch was synonymous with musical comedy. That’s because songs like “Grandfather”—about a young man waiting for his grandfather to die so he can claim the inheritance—shocked audiences with unexpected comedic twists that kept us guessing.
4. “United States of Whatever” by Liam Lynch
When “United States of Whatever” was released in 2003, it became a runaway hit, not because of the humor in the song, but because it was actually a pretty badass rock number. The funny aspects—mainly consisting of Lynch’s lyrics about being bored to death with everything—were just an added bonus.
5. “The Wisdom Song” by Demetri Martin
Between hilarious one-liners and drawings of horses, Demetri Marin typically finds time in his act to bust out his guitar and sing a song or two. Those songs are often just jokes told over a simple chord progression, but Martin has been known to write longer pieces. Take “The Wisdom Song” for instance, a spoken-word track that blends jangling electric guitar with Martin’s observations of everyday life.
