November Birthdays 
The Meteoroids – The Meteoroids LP (Otitis Media)
The first launch of this talent-laden triumvirate from California is phenomenal! What makes this record so incredible is that it is performed by masterful musicians who know their instruments. The cherry on top is that they are competent composers! There is a healthy variety between the tunes. You know you’re listening to The Meteoroids and yet you’re able to distinguish one track from the other.
An amazing amalgam of influences is present on this album. This is surf music through and through, mind you, but a refined ear will pick up on both the vintage and 90s era surf styles; rock ‘n roll in its various forms; and the potent energy of the garage/punk scene. What makes this album unique is how all those components blend flawlessly.
The album begins with the rockin’ party anthem, “Gimme Shimmy.” It’s a banger! The tune also serves as an excellent foreshadowing of things to come. The catchy melodies in “Mr. Marvin,” “Boss Angeles,” and “Salty” are thoughtful and memorable. The scorching speed of “Wild Hari” is there for those, like me, who appreciate the fervid and ferocious! There are two cover songs of two different Washington-based quartets. Track 8, “The Creeper,” a 1964 tune by The Ventures is given a sophisticated update with a crunchier guitar sound, more lively percussion, and a funkier organ tone. “Phantom on Lane 12,” the penultimate tune, is not surprisingly, track 12. Based on a 1993 release by The Mono Men, it retains the gritty intensity of the original while having a more discernible sound between the instruments.
Surf music historians will appreciate the re-appearance of the 2015 Boss Fink tune, “Dig It!” with a cleaner (less buzzy) and peppier approach. Similarly, Jarrod Keith, bassist for The Volcanics, who produced and mixed the Boss Fink’s album, R.P.M, once again executed the same roles with excellence. The opening track, “Gimme Shimmy” was co-written with Norman Cabrera for one final Boss Fink connection.
On the songwriting front, guitarist Jeff Carr handles the lion’s share of the composing and humbly shares the effort with bass player, Rob Welch, on five tracks. Percussionist, Dave Irish, shares writing credit on the mammalian-monikered, “P-22.” Six of the trio’s tunes on this album were self-released on three 7” records in mid-2023.
Jeff’s guitar work is outstanding. He takes charge of his fretboard like a skilled captain commanding his seafaring vessel. Rob’s bass rumbles prominently throughout the recording; its presence is vital and necessary. While the bass lines do not overwhelm the guitar, they are of such a high caliber that it pushes this record to the next level. “Galaxy West” and “Boss Angeles” have groovy bass intros. Dave’s assiduous skin smashing keeps the crew on time. With one foot on the bass drum pedal and the other on his hi-hat, it’s non-stop action from the get-go! Drum rolls, fills and an utter annihilation of the cymbals keep the attentive listener engaged.
Pick up this ‘album of the year’ candidate before it’s too late! There are 500 LPs pressed on various colored vinyl and a scant 100 CDs.
Available at https://themeteoroids.bandcamp.com/
As reviewed in Colorado Instrumental Fanzine Issue 2
—Matthew
Purchasae Colorado Instrumental Fanzine Issue 2
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Email: Matthew_e_clark_6@hotmail.com
