Heavy rock: Music made by the intellectually challenged for 13-year-olds. To be sung as if your nads are in the process of dropping. It's funny: finally people have realised this, chuckling 'ironically' as they buy Darkness records and now enjoy the broad comic strokes of School Of Rock, which is directed by the highly unlikely figure of Richard Linklater. It's set alight, however, by the highly broad figure of Jack Black, a man who can't help but be funny in everything he does.
From the intriguing Fran McDormand movie which—as one of its few flaws—suggested Britpop could flourish in LA, an eclectic, rather excellent collection. Whether we needed actor Alessandro Nivola to team up with Lou Barlow on two tracks is debatable, but around them you'll find Mercury Rev's exquisite "In A Funny Way" (one of the best things they've done), Butthole Surfers' wry "Shame Of Life", Steely Dan, Clinic and Sparklehorse. Not eclectic enough yet? Throw in Eartha Kitt growling "C'est Si Bon" and—again, woo-hah—T.
