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Wow, thanks very much for the kinds words. It warms my heart that
you liked it so much since The Space Cossacks were one of a few
bands that got me back into surf after a 10 year lapse into
alt/rock. Watching you guys play at IOTA's really got mine and
Paul's surf juices flowing again! So in some way you're to blame!
8^)
I just want to point out in fairness to George, our other guitarist
at the time, that on songs that George wrote like the
aforementioned "Axis of Evil" "Souixnami" "Dead Sea
Stroll" "Sizzler" and "Dreamsicle" That he did all the lead work.
I don't think that is made clear anywhere on the CD. Paul plays
lead on all of his songs and on my songs. George has since left the
band but will still be do some ghost writing which warms my heart
too...8^) He's replacement, Joe Marencic, is a guy both me and
George played with during our alt/rock excursion. Which has made the
transition a seamless process thankfully.
Anyway thanks for the nice review Ivan, you made my day.
Sean
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@g...>
wrote:
> I've recently gotten the sophomore album by the Atomic
> Mosquitos, "Release The Mosquitos!", and wow, it's great! The
> Atomic Mosquitos are from Frederick, Maryland (outside of
> Washington, DC), and I've known their drummer Craig Stang for many
> years now. He even filled in on drums for Doug of the Space
> Cossacks on several occasions. I'm so happy to see that Craig is
> not only still playing surf music, but that he's got one hell of a
> band!
>
> The Mosquitos play traditional surf music with some light modern
> influences. Good points of reference would be the Penetrators and
> the Volcanos. Like those two bands, the Mosquitos' focus is on
the
> melody and flowing arrangements rather than impressing with
> technique or blowing away with energy, though they certainly don't
> lack in either energy or technique. All the musicians are very
good
> both at playing and at capturing the proper surf style and sound
> (though the bass doesn't sound very trad, but it's OK), and my man
> Craig does a wonderful job pounding the skins (as well as playing
> the drums! :). But special kudos must go to the lead guitarist
Paul
> Carson who plays with a lot of feeling and melodic imagination.
In
> addition, he sports an authentic surf guitar tone that is also
very
> full, warm and immensely pleasing. However, it's also clear that
> song arrangements are a band effort, and this is definitely the
> band's strength.
>
> The most remarkable thing about the Mosquitos is their songs. I
> must admit that it took several listens to fully appreciate their
> depth and beauty, but now I'm totally addicted! My very favorite
on
> the CD is the stunning "Axis of Evil", a song which I would be
VERY
> proud to call one of my own! It's an urgent number, based on a
> syncopated drum pattern, featuring a recurring high-string motif,
> with a darkly exotic verse. The arrangement is relatively
complex,
> but everything fits together perfectly, including the super-cool
> bridge which seems to come out of nowhere! This is one of three
> songs on the CD that also vaguely remind me of the Aqua Velvets
(in
> my book a major compliment). I don't know of if this is
intentional
> (I'm guessing it's not), but the `glistening' sound of the lead
> guitar as well as the melodic phrasing and the chord progressions
> all evoke the Aqua Velvets in my mind. The other two `Aqua-
Velvety'
> songs are "Souixnami" (which also has a bit of a new-wave feel to
> it, much like some of the Penetrators' best), and "Dead Sea
Stroll"
> with its `Mexican rooftop afternoon' feel and a beautiful, aching
> melody. Elsewhere they channel the Bambi Molesters on the
> moody "Sizzler", and the Ventures on the easy-flowing "Wild Wild
> Midwest". The CD is quite varied, ranging from the hard-
> hitting "Pope Of Chile Town" and "Planet From Outer Space" (with
> some great Theremin playing by the monster artist Stephen
> Blickenstaff, who also did the awesome cover artwork) to the ultra-
> happy "Beach Blanket Inferno" (reminding me of the great happy-
surf-
> tunes of the Woodies and Mark Brodie & the Beaver Patrol and
with
> a nice nod in the intro to Richie Podolor's "Beat `65") to the
> wonderfully exotic "Whole Larva Love" and album
closer "Dreamsicle",
> evoking images of the tropical islands. The only cover song on
the
> CD is the up-tempo, surfed-up version of Elvis' "Are You Lonesome
> Tonight". It works OK, but it's a bit gimmicky and once the
novelty
> wears off, I don't think it stands up to the high quality of the
> band's originals.
>
> If I could make one suggestion to the Mosquitos it would be to
work
> on developing a more characteristic band sound which I don't think
> they have right now. But if they never do, it's OK we'll still
> have a bunch of fantastic songs! Anyway, I can't recommend this
CD
> highly enough. The best of 2005 so far, as far as I'm concerned.
> (Is there any competition? What else has come out this year?)
>
> Ivan
