Photo of the Day

I'll confess, when I first heard it, i didn't think I would really like this album. I don't know, it just seemed so . . . "different". But then after giving it a few more listens, I realized that the inventive melodies and irresistable hooks had already begun working their way into my subconscious. Unexpectedly, through the day a tune might pop into my head and be playing in the back of my mind. You know the feeling? I'd think, "now where have I heard that? . . . some classic 60's song I've heard a million times?---No, wait . . . it's from the 'Verb album!".

That's when I knew I was in trouble. Almost without exception, the albums I now find I can't live without have affected me this way, and The 'Verb's "Reverberated For your Pleasure" is now in that catagory.

This album is almost epic in its scope, and ambitiously conceived. These are finely crafted pop compositions that almost masquerade as 'surf' tunes. To be sure, many do fall very solidly into that genre. Fans of dripping reverb, glissando and surf beats (and aren't we all?) will have plenty here. But there is also so much more going on. The sheer volume of melodic content is astonishing. The 'Verb apparently have ideas to burn and seem to lavish them more generously on a single song than some bands do on an entire album. Often I get the impression that these are instrumental versions of songs that originally had lyrics. To listen to this album from beginning to end is to be taken on a "musical journey" (if you'll pardon the cliche) through a mini history of modern instro/pop music. Yet while I think I can detect influences, they are so filtered through The 'Verb's unique approach that they are transformed into something new. Here are some song by song impressions:

Well this time I will be reviewing an album I like a lot by one of my favorite bands. First off Twin Tones is a band from México City, D.F., Nación Apache is their first album but there's also another one available titled Salón Chihuahua.  I bought this album about a year ago at one of their shows. It's got 12 themes and every single one of them is absolutely worth it. It's one of those albums that don't have any weak spots. Their style is a very interesting mix of Classic Instrumental Surf, Spaghetti Western, Country, Polka and Norteñas. You can hear very clean guitar tones with lots of twang(I know a lot of you hate the term "twang" but it's there and it sounds great). They included samples of old Western movie dialogues, which is a really important part of the  album's whole Western atmosphere. They invited several guest musicians to play various instruments for the recording of this album which include: accordion, trumpet, a violin and other interesting things. Although I like the whole album my favorite themes are "Bandidos", "Nación Apache", "A 10 Pasos de la Muerte" "El Mexicano"(this one has a really cool organ on it) and "Doroteo Arango" which is very Tex-Mex.

Check out this great band, you won't regret it.

You can reach the band at www.myspace.com/twintones or you can visit their website at www.twintones.com.mx

Mr. Green

I first became aware of Joe, aka norcalhodad, during the 2005 mp3 compilation during the Yahoo Group days. I received an mp3 along with an intriguing picture of a guy with a red Mosrite standing next to an Ewok (which I later learned was his daughter in a Halloween costume). I don't think Joe had posted to the group yet, so he was a complete unknown to me. The song was a cool lo-fi rockin' little party number called "Drink, Stomp, Twist". Since then, Joe has periodically sent me little mp3 demos, usually with a cool little photo. Joe also contributed the topics and Downloads icons for this site.

So I was really excited to receive a CD-R demo from Joe's band, The Closeouts. Now get this: Joe's band is actually just him. That's right, Joe plays all the instruments. Let me repeat that. Joe plays ALL the instruments: guitars, drums, bass, baritone guitar, keyboards, wacky sound effects, all of them.

The Krontjong Devils: "Sizzling Sampan & Other Favorites!" EP
Double Crown Records, 1999 (DC4509) (www.dblcrown.com)

I was absolutely floored with this Krotjong Devils EP; these devils truly tear it up!

The Krontjong Devils are: Kees de Vries on guitar and organ, Hendrik Jan Horst also on guitar and organ, Gerhard Rinsma on bass, and Nico Plantenga on drums. These Devils hail from Groningen, Holland. The tunes for "Sizzling Sampan" were recorded in 1999, and released by Double Crown on gold vinyl.

The EP begins with "Sizzling Sampan", a tune that definitely lives up to its title. This tune is a spicy plate of pad thai served up in floating restaurant. High-energy guitar lines, driving drums, who could ask for anything more?

Impala: "El Rancho Reverbo"
Icehouse Records, 1994 (www.icehouserecords.com)

"El Rancho Reverbo" was the first release by Impala, back in 1994. So, obviously, this is not a "new release" by any means; however it is new to my CD player! Recorded in Memphis TN at Sam Phillips Studio, "El Rancho..."' does hearken back to the simpler times of twist, twang and reverb.

Impala features John Stivers on guitar; Scott Bomar on bass, Farfisa organ and guitar; Justin Thompson on tenor sax; and Jeff Goggans on drums. Additional players include Alex Green on Hammond organ and "Sunrise" on trumpet.

The CD kicks-off with the oh-too-short "El Rancho". This 31 second tidbit begs to be developed into a full-fledged theme suitible for the next Sergio Leone spaghetti-western episode. "El Rancho" whets the appetite, and leaves you thirsty for more, gringo.

The second cut, "Odalisque" is a stomping surf number full of drive and reverb. A catchy melody, rolling drums and a haunting tone makes this cut particularly memorable.

The Surfacers
Green Cookie (2003)

The Surfacers are a hard-driving surf-trio from Argentina. With Matais on guitars, Santiago on bass and Sebastian R. on drums, The Surfacers self-titled 2003 debut CD certainly made a tempestuous splash on the South American surf music scene. This disc literally drips with all the liquid power that the reverberation unit has to offer.

The Surfacers power-trio lineup produces Dick Dale-like energy levels: rumbling drums, fat bass tone, all topped off with the nimble glissando-and-tremolo-picked lead work of Matais' Stratocaster.
The disc begins with "The Russians", a high-energy power-ballad in the "Ghost Riders" vein. Multi-register melodies mingle with the crashing ride cymbal and driving bass work. Like that last rippin' wave at Trestles, it's all over way too soon.

The Super Sónicos "Telekinesis"
Koala Records (2003)

The Super Sónicos are an quasi-surf group that hails from Montevideo, Uruguay. Their CD "Telekinesis" explores an interesting inner world full of South American reverberation and spaced out synthesizer/organ licks. The influences found on "Telekinesis" range from Man or Astroman eclecticism, to Pixies odd-tempo-beautiful-discord, to a Violent Femmes-esque tribute to the enigmatic Chupacabra.

As a concept album, "Telekinesis" explores the inner realms of psycho-psychic-mind-bending-out-of-this-world-phenomenon: in other words, this CD is a Doors-like reverberated mind-adventure that explores beyond the "doors of perception". Although the album is in no way 100% pure instrumental surf, there are many interesting cuts that might engage the reverb-loving crowd. Tunes such as "Dr. Strangesurf", "Estela de Mar", "Pipemind", "Hypno 500", "Senorita Sueno", "Devil Delvy" and "Frecuencia Hawking" offer the instrumental enthusiast much to digest. "Frecuencia Hawking" (a Beach Boys-esque ode to the mind of Stephan Hawking) is hauntingly reverberated with eerie vocal harmonies and just a touch of that good old tremolo.

Other tracks, such as the vocal "Chupacabras", the experimental "Melodion" and the synth-driven "Sigue Sigue Spacek" offer a more Love Tractor-ish vibe. The vocal cuts are a Spang-lish combination of oddities that enhance the bizarro tone of the CD.

Overall, I found The Super Sónicos "Telekinesis" an interesting and enjoyable listen. If you are looking for something a little retro, something reverberated, something eclectic or something just plain bizarre and weird then give The Super Sónicos "Telekinesis" a spin.

You can visit The Super Sónicos at their website: www.supersonicos.net.uy

The Wet-Tones: Mucho Reverbo (2004)
(Originally posted on Surf Guitar 101, July 13, 2004)

A band I've been digging hugely for the last couple of months is Italy's the Wet-Tones. These guys get NO recognition in the USA, but their debut CD "Mucho Reverbo" is REALLY good! Not quite reaching the lofty heights of "Dumb Loud Hollow Twang", but definitely one of the best surf CDs I've heard this year.

Shigeo Naka's long-running Surf Coasters called it quits recently, ending a stretch of ten years, a dozen or so full-length albums, almost as many EPs and singles, and countless unpredictable stylistic changes. Part of their appeal (to me, at least) was never really knowing where they were going to go over the course of an album. While ridiculously energetic and pumped surf was always their specialty (and the one thing they kept coming back to), jazz, punk, rockabilly, metal, funk, country and even techno were all possibilities, and all styles the band explored at some point or another. While the cast of supporting musicians around Shigeo changed many times, both the first and last line-ups lasted through several releases. This posthumous live album, released last month, fills the one hole that previously existed in their convoluted discography—a complete live document (well, not counting the DVD, I guess).

I just recieved a copy of Los Kahunas "El fantastico sonido Surf & Hot Rod de Los Kahunas" CD two days ago: it's been playing in the DaveJeep non-stop ever since! I am smitten by these reverb-drenched caballeros.

Los Kahunas is an Argentine four piece surf combo consisting of: Big Papu on "guitarra lida" (lead), Alexis B. on "tambores" (drums), Picky Carmoon on "bajo" (bass), and Antonio Carlos on "guitarra ritmica" (rhythm guitar). dressed in their trademark blue tuxedos, Los Kahunas provide the soundtrack for a long summer road trip in the trusty Plymouth Valiant non-stop down south to Tierra del Fuego.