There’s no doubt that good old fashioned fun rock’nroll is back, and who better to help put it in its rightful place than Tenacious D’s Jack Black? In the film he plays a guitarist who takes a job as a substitute school teacher, and educates fifth graders in the ways of rock.

The soundtrack, then, makes a perfect accompaniment to the movie, drawing on classic tracks from The Who, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, T-Rex and The Ramones, plus a few newer ones from those clearly in their debt (The Black Keys, No Vacancy).

Given all these old tracks are available elsewhere and most fans will have them, the CD needs to offer more and it does this with two School Of Rock tracks performed by Black and the kids from the film - the eponymous single (out on 09 February) and a cover of AC/DC’s ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top’ complete with Black’s hilarious directions to his pupils. Throw in a couple of amusing but not too distracting clips from the film (“I pledge allegiance to the band…”) and you have the ideal package to go with the film and your Angus Young impressions (while you have the uniform out…)

Hell, they even threw in The Darkness’ ‘Growing On Me’ (the only song that has nothing to do with the film) totally gratuitously, which can hardly harm their sales or interest in the rock revival either. Air guitars at the ready; now where did I put that bandana?
(4/5)

Release Date: 13 October 2003