If it wasn't for Phil Dirt, I probably wouldn't know anything
about surf/instro except for the "First Wave" and the the
Mermen. I most certainly would not have found my way to
SG 101. I don't agree with all of his reviews, but he gave me
a hell of an education. As far as I'm concerned, Phil walks on
water (when he chooses not to surf ).

Bob

Bob

zak
All I can say is that I wish there were other sites like reverbcentral.com presenting an alternate opinion. I'm glad Phil Dirt is around doing what he does with such devotion, what bothers me is that there are quite a few people out there who take his word as gospel simply because he's the only one out there with a surf-specific review site of such magnitude.

yeah that's how I feel. His dismissal of lo-fi surf really frustrates me too. As somebody with a similar relationship to surf as his (not a musician (is he?), a DJ) I feel like I should go ahead and do it but I really don't have the patience to be as thorough as him, not to mention there's a ton of terrible surf I'd still want to review to support the genre, but I would have a real tough time saying anything worthwhile about a lot of those bands.

So really, he's not the problem, it would just be nice if somebody else stepped up

Storm Surge of Reverb: Surf & Instro Radio

I've said this before,
Phil Dirt is The Gandalf of Surf.
Institutional to the genre.

bIG wAvE Dave
Bass, The Aquamarines, The Twang Tens
http://www.myspace.com/theebigwavedave

Phil,

I heard Surf's Up while on a trip traveling from Santa Cruse to Marin County. I was driving on twisty roads in a rental car and found KFJC. It was great, what I did not realize was that this music I liked so much as a kid was still being made! The Phil came on saying this was from new CDs! I wen back home a searched down Los Straightjackets. Then I found KFJC internet stream and recorded every show that I could get with my crappy internet connection. I have a few years of them as MP3s for my iPod. Then I found Clint's Show, also The Casbah and then Rockin' & Surfin'. Then Tsunami Soul, Longboards & Longhorns then Storm Surge or Reverb.
I like them all, but Phil's was my favorite, he really opened my eyes to what was out there. I went to a few of KFJC Surf Battles they were awesome and then I went to Phil's retirement party! It was a great tiem when Phil was on the air. I miss his show a bunch, what ever happened to him doing a podcast? He mentioned it a few times, but i have never seen anything results.
Thanks
Guy

Alright,
I'll be the voice of non-asskissing dissent.
I managed to find, hear, and decide what surf music I liked while having an internationally touring band throughout the 90s (and now beyond)-all without ever hearing Phil Dirt's show or using reverbcentral.com. People used to tell me that I should go online and check it out along with Cowabunga. I did. Once. And left. Both of them.
I've checked out reverbcentral since, because of recommendations from SG101.
For me, it's not about the opinions as much as the sloppiness and laziness. It's like walking into a hippie crash pad. "Wait a second, man, I have that review right here...Oh wait, the Satellites review got mixed into the two separate sections I have for one band...oh and hmm Green Peppers and Green Chile, those are pretty similar song names even though they came out 7 years apart-I won't even listen and just say they are the same song. That's easier. I'll just cut and paste the review...Now where's my bong cleaner?"
But, sadly, you are all correct. No one else is doing it.

http://www.satanspilgrims.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553
https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/
http://www.surfyindustries.com

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 20:14:27

Didn't you already make those points? Do you have to call us asskissers? Lazy? Lazy would be a person who has strong opinions about music and not doing a huge web page with hundreds of reviews.

I wrote the post because it seemed to be getting to be too much of a personal assault on Phil and he doesn't deserve that. I felt like a puss for at least not saying something.

Yes I did.
No I guess I didn't have to, but you've got to admit, some bands feel like his reviews legitimize them, so these words of praise can't help but have a tinge of brown-nose to them, don't you agree? You've seen the posts on here where it's like a kid running home with an A on their report card. Look Mom, we got a good review from Phil Dirt! Sure, he describes one song under this one's title, but we got a review!
I don't do reviews, I play in a band. I know you do too. Wouldn't you admit that playing in a band, writing songs and making records is a hell of a lot less lazy than getting free cds delivered to you and cutting and pasting formulaic phrases into a poorly done website? Supposedly, you and I do all this work and this is what we get? And we're supposed to be happy about it? No thanks. I prefer the days when I was oblivious to it and cared about what our fans thought and having a good time.
But look, I wasn't exposed to him and obviously some of you all learned a lot from him. For that, he is to be commended. I just wanted to present a dissenting view in the face of overwhelming worship. Isn't that one of the reasons for a forum? How is it different than a "Do you love or hate Mosrites thread"? Just like a band, when Phil puts himself out there as a reviewer, he opens himself up to criticism just as much, if not more than a band does when they release an album. I say MORE.

http://www.satanspilgrims.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553
https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/
http://www.surfyindustries.com

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 20:14:31

Wahhhhhhh, Wahhhhhhh, Phil only gave me two stars on my songs, Wahhhhhhh, Wahhhhhhhhh, I want my mommy.

Is that what all the negative posts are about?
If you only got a couple stars on your tunes is because, well, chances are, they probably SUCKED!
Get over it, if your egos will let you........
B-B-O

Be careful following the masses. Sometimes the "M" is silent...........................

zak

BillyBlastOff
Wahhhhhhh, Wahhhhhhh, Phil only gave me two stars on my songs, Wahhhhhhh, Wahhhhhhhhh, I want my mommy.

Is that what all the negative posts are about?
If you only got a couple stars on your tunes is because, well, chances are, they probably SUCKED!
Get over it, if your egos will let you........
B-B-O

Blah blah blah, you really showed 'em...

Phil Dirt always gave us great reviews...better than I thought we deserved, anyway. Ted's band always got good reviews as well. The point is those good ratings mean nothing if he also gives crap releases good reviews. Maybe you should check your facts before flinging the feces around.

I don't think so. I see quite a few tunes with two stars. Try better reading glasses.

Be careful following the masses. Sometimes the "M" is silent...........................