Rumors of a possible reunion for Live Earth have reminded me of just how great Spin̈al Tap are. Their earlier flower-power days were eh, but their late-70s and early-80s heyday made them a metal standby. Their 90s output (notably Break Like the Wind) brought a more studio-polished sound that still had some good hooks.

Their official site is down for repairs, but they’re linking to a prominent fan site now, through which you can find a bunch of tracks including the classics Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight and Big Bottom, as well as Break’s The Majesty of Rock.

No, not the cartoon. The movie.
No, not the actresses in the movie. The band providing their sound — Letters to Cleo’s Kay Hanley and Matthew Sweet among others. With songs written by Hanley, Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger, members of the Go-Go’s, and other luminaries.

Think what you will of the movie, but the soundtrack’s guitar-buzz power-pop was a chunk of pure joy. Just listen to the selections that Idolator has available: Three Small Words and Shapeshifter.