School Of Rock Soundtrack CD

SCHOOL OF ROCK was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Film/TV/Visual Media.

As with Tenacious D, Jack Black takes the seed of cutting-edge comedy and waters it with the bravado and bombast of classic rock in his role as a gonzo substitute teacher in the Richard Linklater film SCHOOL OF ROCK. The soundtrack is as equally clever in its compilation of tracks, thanks to hands-on participation by album producers Black and Linklater. The former also gets behind the mike with the SCHOOL OF ROCK band made up of "students" from the movie, who deliver the originally written anthemic title cut with a combination of harmonies and howling vocals.

SOR also toddles through a cover of AC/DC's classic "It's a Long Way to the Top" that, somewhat sadly, lacks the trademark bagpipe solo. AOR fans can sink their teeth into songs by the Doors ("Touch Me"), Led Zeppelin ("Immigrant Song"), and the Who ("Substitute") sandwiched around lesser-known nuggets by T. Rex (the Ziggy-like "Ballrooms of Mars") and the Ramones (an ultra-catchy "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down"). Toss in the supergroup of Don Fleming, Thurston Moore, Steve Shelley, Mark Arm, Mike Watt, and Ron Asheton (aka Wylde Rattz) ripping through the Stooges' Molotov cocktail "T.V. Eye" and SCHOOL OF ROCK gets a gold star.

Original score composed by Craig Wedren.

Led Zeppelin/Who/Cream/T.Rex/ Black Keys/Ramones/Darkness

Producers: Jack Black, Richard Linklater, Randall Poster, Scott Rudin.

Personnel: Jack Black (vocals).Q (4/04, p.124) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[C]osy nostalgia..."
Uncut (3/04, p.96) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A]ny record featuring T.Rex's 'Ballroom of Mars' undoubtedly has its lizard-leather boots on and its diamond hands stacked with roses when the moon sings. Now that's an education."