“So many incredible songs”: Jack Black on the best album no one has heard of
Jack Black has never been afraid to share his love of all things rock and roll. No one gets a gig as the wise sage in School of Rock without having that same fire in real life, and it should come as no surprise that it didn’t require a ton of acting chops for Black to embrace his inner rock star when talking about his favourite bands. Still, he did have a few tracks that were a bit obscure, and he felt that this record deserved far more than what it had been given since its release.
Looking back on Black’s musical taste, though, many of the bands he has put on a pedestal are not always known to be underground artists. Since he has shared the stage with Foo Fighters and has shouted the praises of bands like Led Zeppelin and Metallica, he’s more than happy to rock out with songs that haven’t worn out their welcome after being played in sports stadiums for years on end.
And let’s not forget Dio’s massive impact on his life. Compared to every other artist in the rock sphere, Dio feels like half the reason why Tenacious D was able to get credibility with metal fans, whether that’s their tribute song to him on their first album or practically anointing The Pick of Destiny when he guided young Jables to show him the ways of his rock and roll demons and move to Hollywood.
However, there was another side of Black’s taste that was always geared towards alternative music. He was on the ground floor when Nirvana first broke, and he was never afraid to talk about how artists like Beck were subverting people’s expectations whenever they put out records. If we’re talking about subversion, though, Frank Black should be considered the true godfather of what alternative meant.
Outside of being the direct influence of Kurt Cobain, hearing Frank break out of Pixies’ shadow with his side band The Catholics should have been massive. Then again, Frank was never willing to play the game of success, and while certain songs on Dog in the Sand are some of the best in the genre, it was never going to get the kind of airplay that was coming off of bands like The Strokes when it came out.
Then again, Jack Black always felt that it should have been the other way around, saying, “Dog in the Sand is filled with so many incredible songs. And it’s just so weird that it doesn’t get any play whatsoever. None! How could something that good just fly under the radar? It must be because the audience is gone.’”
It’s not like there wasn’t a market for it, either. This was coming off the late 1990s when nearly anything could have sold in droves if someone had the right hook, and given the number of catchy choruses on this record. Frank Black could have easily been making the same kind of career decisions that seemed reserved for people like Dave Grohl at that point.
But looking at how time worked out, Frank Black always seemed comfortable embracing his role as every alternative musician’s favourite artist. It might sting not to get the same admiration as someone like Kurt Cobain, but joining the Bob Moulds and Paul Westerbergs of the world puts Frank in good company with artists who deserved to be far bigger than they became.
