Various Artists - Tourgasm / Various (CD)

All Music Guide

It should have been his year but 2006 found Dane Cook more loathed than loved for a number of reasons. He was chummy with Jessica Simpson and it didn't jive with his cynical, fingerflipping act at all. Soon, rightfully revered comics like Louis C.K. and Joe Rogan started accusing him of being megaarrogant, irresponsible, and of stealing material, then the HBO series Tourgasm lands and critics go ballistic and Cook has his Waterworld. Capping it off, the Cook/Simpson vehicle Employee of the Month sneaked out at the end of the year and put just enough datenighters in the theater seats to lift itself above "bomb" status. Throughout this all there was a core audience that stuck with the "Dane Train" and it's unfortunate they're the only ones who are going to hear the handful of truly great tracks on the Tourgasm soundtrack. There's the stomping "Dimension" from Wolfmother and a whole bunch of rebellious tracks from some as of yet unsigned talent that spans the hard rock spectrum from the... Stone Temple Pilots sound to the Bush sound. Also included are a couple indieminded bands and a little almostemo along a whole bunch of clips lifted right from the series, almost all under 30 seconds. Without some kind of sentimental connection to Tourgasm, there's no cohesiveness to the set and recommending it to anyone but the most fanatical Cook follower is difficult. Even they'll be disappointed by the wee bit of Cook included, but at least they can tell you about these new bands (Truepenny, My Rich Friends, and the Black Angels) they've just discovered and how much they rock. - David Jeffries, All Music Guide Read more Less