I'm very glad that my rant seems to have started a nice discussion. A couple of things here. First, thank you to all of you who have expressed appreciation of my own reviews. I review stuff that I really enjoy, and the point is to get other people to check it out as well. It seems to be working, which makes me very happy!

Second, a lot of people are saying that they don't feel they can write 'reviews,' for many different reasons. I completely understand that. It's a time-consuming process. Listening to something very closely and enough times to be able to give it any sort of an in-depth review and then actually writing the damn thing can take many hours. I have the luxury to take that kind of time on occasion and I know most other people don't. But I don't think I was saying that people should write full reviews! I was saying that it would be nice to see people just talking about music. If you get something new, and something jumps out at you, a bass line, the sound of the snare, the booch of the reverb, just write about it! It doesn't have to be in-depth at all. For example, I've been listening the Illuminoids CD a fair amount over the last several months. There's one track, "Funeral for Queen Mary," that is a very cool track but that has probably the best bass playing I have heard in a surf song in a long time! It just blows me away each time. And it was recorded by the band leader's daughter! How cool is that? Anyway, even if you can't express very well why you like something, you can always just talk about the emotions that a song or an album stirs up in you. "Hearing Car Hire From Hell on the new El Ray album makes me want to jump up and air-box!" "The Surfites' Big Pounder makes me feel nostalgic for the early sixties California - and I was born in '75 in Canada!" Hopefully you get the point....

What I would like to see is just more discussion of the actual music. Doesn't have to be intellectual, doesn't have to be 'objectively right' - whatever that means. Just talk about what you like and why, try to turn on other people to recent surf releases, and maybe some other folks will be inspired to pick them up, and this whole damn scene can pull itself up by its bootstraps a bit. The point is simply to give some exposure and some attention to new releases and to encourage people to pick them up. Or hell, the old releases, too. I can't imagine that there may be people on this site that don't have the Lively Ones' "Hang Five!" or a nice Astronauts collection - but I'm sure there are. If you start talking about something that you find special about those classic recordings, people may actually be reminded that they really should buy that CD.

That's my hope, anyway.
Ivan

PS I really like Sean's proposal to have a separate thread - or even a whole forum - on just "reviews" of new CDs. I think that would be great.

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube

Ivan, I'm glad you started this thread. You bring up a lot of
really good points.

I try to write an occasional CD or concert review. Listening
to CD's in depth alone is a very time consuming process, let
alone writing a review on it. Unfortunately my listening is
usually while driving on the road, or while I'm doing other
things around the house. Contrary to my intent and wishes,
I'm rarely totally focused on the music.

I think I'm a decent writer, but your reviews are so good
that they somewhat intimidate me. You write reviews like
I wish I did. Like your music, your reviews inspire me to
raise the bar for myself. There is so much expertise and
knowledge on this site, that it can be intimidating. I tend to
ask myself, "Who am I to express an opinion when Eddie,
Ivan and so many of the others know so much more?"
But I try to ignore those thoughts and chime in from time
to time, hopefully not embarrassing myself too badly.

Although I'm a 55 year old coot, I actually tend to prefer
the newer, more progressive music and bands. I love the
first wave bands, but can't listen to them a lot without get-
ting somewhat bored . I need new ideas and sounds to
keep me inpsired and interested. For me music has to grow
and evolve. I continually go back to the originals for inspir-
ation, but need more. I don't see the point in slavishly emu-
lating the originals. To me artists copying the originals are
never as great as the originals were. To me it's fun up to a
point, but not 'art'. Throwing in covers a few times a set to
pay tribute to your roots is cool, but I believe in putting your
own stamp on it. I can enjoy a trad band playing other
people's tunes flawlessly, but although I may leave with a
smile on my face, I do not walk away inspired.

I'll try to be more active in reviews and discussions of the
music itself, time permitting. Thank you Ivan, for your enor-
mous contributions to the site and to the surf community, and
thanks to the many contributors from SG 101 who make this
the best site around.

Bob

Bob

RobbieReverb
ask myself, "Who am I to express an opinion when Eddie,
Ivan and so many of the others know so much more?"

Bob

Bob, act like you are a 23 year old kid, then you opinion will be the most important thing on the planet and you'll love to give it.

Don't let Ivan's writing prowess get to you, anyone with a Ph.D. can write insanely well. Except for non-research doctors in the medicinal field.

I'm a total tradhead so the only new surf album I got this year by a current band was the Thunderchiefs CD. Also bought the Satan's Pilgrims DVD. That's it.

The Thunderchiefs release was discussed in this thread:
http://surfguitar101.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2054

T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S

JakeDobner
or if I'm with friends the Pilgrims.

LOL

Are we like chip dip made from onion soup mix? Something you wouldn't make for yourself, but put out for guests? I love it. lol

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

Great topic. As for my opinion, I really dont think that there has been much in the way of surf that has impressed me at all since the 90's movement ran its course. I came into the music when we had such great bands as the Bartlett, Ruane-era Phantom Surfers, Satans Pilgrims, Trash Women and Bomboras. All these bands were in such a different league as anything that has come since. While some may not have been the greatest of musicians(caugh caugh Trash Women) they were iconic for their time. Deadbolt was great in the beginning, but how many deadbolt shows can you see? The Ghastly Ones were ok for a seasonal novelty act, but Satans Pilgrims own that genre. Just the quality of the music speaks volumes. Just listen to Plymouth rock, creature feature or The Bomboras Head Shrinkin Fun. In my opinion nothingI have heared since can touch that.
Dont get me wrong. There are some decent bands out there but really nothing that blows me away. It almost seems that bands of today worry more about the costume they are going to wear than the music they play.

CaptainSpringfield
... and by the time I picked them up, almost everything I had to say had already been posted....

-Warren

the above sentiment sounds like part of my story, too...

but, I do like to write reviews for SG101 about CDs Irun across every now and then. The challenge with reviewing is maintaining some sort of objective aesthetic point of view, which is a challenge for me because I'm absolutely SurfCrazy!

-dp

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Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 22:30:19

zak

DannySnyder
I think you need to do some homework. Ever heard of the Madeira, or The Nebulas or Slacktone for example?

Well, since 'doublecoil' seems to feel pretty much the same way I do on the matter, I don't see what doing "homework" has to do with someone's opinions on something as subjective as musical aesthetics. Slacktone is a perfect example of contemporary surf that puts me straight to sleep. Yes, they're very competent musicians who write original material but as far as my own tastes are concerned, it's boring as hell.
If there's one thing that immediately turns me off surf music it's wide-eyed enthusiasm and sincerity.

fair enough. I think making such sweeping negative statements that dismiss tens if not hundreds of bands with one fell swoop is a little close minded - that's my opinion

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

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Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 22:31:54