“Worth the price of admission”: Jack Black on his favourite Tom Waits album
What’s particularly interesting about the journey Jack Black took into music is that, in the early days, he was never really viewed as a serious creative or someone with immense talent. In hindsight, this doesn’t make all that much sense, especially considering that Black possesses an immense vocal ability and range that not many seem to be able to match up to—not even some of our biggest chart toppers.
Though strange, it’s likely that this centred around his acting reputation and that, while prolific, most of Black’s roles were never ones that were created to be taken seriously. From School of Rock and Kung Fu Panda to Jumanji, Black crafted a career based on his comedic ability, which stretched into his musical venture with Kyle Gass, Tenacious D.
Black and Gass originally bonded at The Actors’ Gang over their shared appreciation for music and comedy, which eventually morphed into Tenacious D, a casual formation where they could have fun blending the two things they loved the most. While the duo always kept their humourous edge, it became clear over time that Black’s talent wasn’t just a gimmick and that it actually stemmed from his deep-seated love for the musical greats.
Growing up, it’s no surprise that Black enjoyed a lot of rock and metal music, like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, and The Who. In that respect, aside from the outlandish disposition and borderline criminality, he shares a lot in common with his School of Rock character, Dewey Finn. This inherent love for all things rock ‘n’ roll also defined his love for the UK, Europe, and Australia, which, in his eyes, possess “a lot higher appreciation for rock” because “people know their rock over there; there’s a lot of encyclopaedic knowledge and a lot more love.”
However, Black’s musical collection is also immensely eclectic, and his love for rock originators extends to experimental music and legendary singer-songwriters like Tom Waits and Bob Dylan. On Waits, in particular, Black regards Bad As Me not only as an album that defines his music taste but also as one of Waits’ best ever. Following a break from original material, Bad As Me wasn’t just a long-awaited return for Waits; it was a culmination of everything he has to offer as a musician.
Although unpredictable, Bad As Me was also incredibly Waits-esque, complete with his gritty crooning and theatrical blend of various genres. Sharing the reasons for his appreciation of the album, Black told The LA Times that everything hits home within the first three tracks, and it more than earns its right to be remembered by countless future generations. As he put it: “Those first three tracks are worth the price of admission. He’s so real; he’s gonna be here in 100 years. Don’t you feel it? Objectively speaking, can’t you look at some people and go, ‘100 years — still gonna be here?'”
Clearly, Black knows how to spot timeless talent when he sees it, as he also felt the same way about Leonard Cohen and his opus Songs of Leonard Cohen. Interestingly, Songs was the first album Black listened to by Cohen, following years of hearing others gush over his talents but feeling left out of the hype. He didn’t understand it until one day, he listened and, similar to Waits, thought, “100 years.”
