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"Yeah, but... ours go all the way to eleven."
Anyone familiar with the awesomely hilarious Rob Reiner spoof This is Spinal Tap knows that line, and is also well-versed in the ways of fictitious bandmates David St. Hubbins, Derek Smalls and Nigel Tufnel.
Satirizing over-the-top classic rockers and hair bands, Spinal Tap showcased the same core comedy team that would come to define Christopher Guest's later films (Harry Shearer, MIchael McKean and Guest himself).
It's a little bit unfair to call Back from the Dead a "new" album, because there are actually only five new songs. Billed as an "unwigged and unplugged reunion album," in celebration of the film's 25th anniversary, all of the songs have, however, been re-recorded, and the Tap did a U.S. tour in April and May.
Included here are the driving metal of "Warmer Than Hell," the out-and-out blues shuffle of "Short & Sweet" (which, ironically, clocks in at six-and-a-half minutes, the album's longest song) and - in three increasingly contorted parts - "Jazz Odyssey," which made a brief appearance in the film annoying concertgoers during the Tap's "experimental" phase.
Other new songs include the rocked-fuel-cornball-metal title track and "Celtic Blues," which would work just as well on the soundtrack to Guest's folk-music send-up, A Mighty Wind. Alternate versions of "Flower People" and "Sex Farm" also make an appearance.
Ultimately, this album is only appealing to Spinal Tap fans. As a comedy album, it's a little too serious, and as a serious record, it's a little too over-the-top.
But fans of the film will howl as Nigel interrupts a poignant moment of silence in the beautiful three-part harmony of "Celtic Blues" with "...That's the end?" before launching into the second verse.
Hear samples from Back from the Dead at Amazon.com.
"Yeah, but... ours go all the way to eleven."
Anyone familiar with the awesomely hilarious Rob Reiner spoof This is Spinal Tap knows that line, and is also well-versed in the ways of fictitious bandmates David St. Hubbins, Derek Smalls and Nigel Tufnel.
Satirizing over-the-top classic rockers and hair bands, Spinal Tap showcased the same core comedy team that would come to define Christopher Guest's later films (Harry Shearer, MIchael McKean and Guest himself).
It's a little bit unfair to call Back from the Dead a "new" album, because there are actually only five new songs. Billed as an "unwigged and unplugged reunion album," in celebration of the film's 25th anniversary, all of the songs have, however, been re-recorded, and the Tap did a U.S. tour in April and May.
Included here are the driving metal of "Warmer Than Hell," the out-and-out blues shuffle of "Short & Sweet" (which, ironically, clocks in at six-and-a-half minutes, the album's longest song) and - in three increasingly contorted parts - "Jazz Odyssey," which made a brief appearance in the film annoying concertgoers during the Tap's "experimental" phase.
Other new songs include the rocked-fuel-cornball-metal title track and "Celtic Blues," which would work just as well on the soundtrack to Guest's folk-music send-up, A Mighty Wind. Alternate versions of "Flower People" and "Sex Farm" also make an appearance.
Ultimately, this album is only appealing to Spinal Tap fans. As a comedy album, it's a little too serious, and as a serious record, it's a little too over-the-top.
But fans of the film will howl as Nigel interrupts a poignant moment of silence in the beautiful three-part harmony of "Celtic Blues" with "...That's the end?" before launching into the second verse.
Hear samples from Back from the Dead at Amazon.com.
