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Hey Ferenc!!
Hope you're recovering well! I'm sure it was a very exhausting
week.
With all the talk about the Surf Coasters on your blog, I decided to
listen to them more today (I've already been listening to PDM for
the last week or so!). Permit me to make an, admittedly subjective,
observation.
The Surf Coasters are clearly an amazing band, and their output is
so vast that is's a bit difficult to get to grips with it. By I see
a trend with their recordings. Their quality went up, up, up
starting with "Surf Panis '95" until "Surfdelic" (1998), which I
think is still their very greatest accomplisment, an astonishing
album. But post-"Surfdelic" output has been in general very
disappointing. The self-titled one (1999) and "Surf Is Dead" (2000)
seemed much too bombastic and uninspired and, frankly,
boring; "Easter" (2001) and "L'Esprit" (2002) put too much emphasis
on the organ and not enough on songs (or *surf*, come to think of
it), and were still pretty weak (though with at least few good
moments). But I think there is great reason to feel encouraged, as
their last two CDs, "Surf Attack" (2003) and "Samurai Struck" (2005)
are very, very good. I especially like "Surf Attack", which I think
is a truly excellent album. "Samurai Struck" comes close if not
exactly matching the quality. The boys shed the organ, and seemed
to rediscover guitar-driven-melodies and the pure joy of straight
surf music. They even managed to make the super-bombastic approach
work within the surf music contest. I'm very encouraged by these
last two CDs, and i really hope they continue in this vein. Though,
it appears that the only thing certain with them is that they will
constantly change their sound, at least on the margins, and try new
things.
Just wanted to get this off my chest.
Ivan
--- In , Ferenc Dobronyi
<ferencnd@y...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for checking out the blog... It was an amazing
> trip, and aside from a little confusion at one show,
> overall everything went smoothly. If anybody has any
> questions, I'll be happy to answer them. If you had
> checked out the blog and couldn't see the photos, I
> have moved them off of Geocities and onto the Pollo
> server so everything is working now (and I just put up
> the final set.)
> thanks,
> Ferenc
>
> --- ipongrac <ipongrac@g...> wrote:
>
> > I just took the time to read fully through all the
> > Pollo Del Mar
> > Japan-tour logs, and I gotta say, wow, what a trip!
> > There's a lot
> > on there (man, Jono really seems to like to write -
> > well, good thing
> > he's good at it!), but well-worth reading. The tour
> > seems like it
> > was a big success, even if not without hiccups - but
> > then, it
> > wouldn't be a r&r tour if everything went smoothly,
> > right??!!
> >
> > Anyway, check it out here:
> >
> >
> > Congratulations to PDM on a successful tour as well
> > as acting as
> > worthy ambassadors of US surf music!
> >
> > Ivan
> >
> > --- In , Ferenc
> > Dobronyi
> > <ferencnd@y...> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Guys,
> > > We are having a crazy time here. I wish we could
> > stay
> > > another week, but at this point, we only have 2
> > more
> > > shows. I have been trying to keep the blog
> > updated,
> > > but it has been really hard with so much van time.
> > I
> > > just put up some pictures from last night's show
> > with
> > > Nokie. More to come- thanks for followiong along!
> > > Ferenc
> > >
> > > --- Chris <chris@b...> wrote:
> > >
> > > > --- In , "Brian
> > Neal"
> > > > <bgneal@g...> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Are you guys following this? It's fascinating!
> > > > >
> > > > > BN
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for the link - Very cool indeed!!
> > > >
> > > > Chris
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > __________________________________
> > > Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page!
>
>
Ha, you almost wrote "Surf Penis"... now that would be
an album title...
I agree with your assesment, although it should be
said those middle years are not without their high
points and I suggest making your own, coherent
compilations. I think that during the middle years, as
Shigeo became the only constant in the band, he was
under intense pressure to complete an album a year and
lost some focus. This may have driven him to put out
some substandard material. Or, maybe he got bored with
doing the basic melodic surf thing. I mean, they have
what, 12 albums and more soundtracks, singles,
compilation contributions? Is there any surf band in
history with as much recorded output? The return to
form in the last few years is no doubt directed by
their manager who is probably working the surf angle
for promotion.
They remain an awe inspiring live band, and we Pollos
watched their entire set every night.
ferenc
--- ipongrac <> wrote:
> With all the talk about the Surf Coasters on your
> blog, I decided to
> listen to them more today (I've already been
> listening to PDM for
> the last week or so!). Permit me to make an,
> admittedly subjective, observation.
>
> The Surf Coasters are clearly an amazing band, and
> their output is
> so vast that is's a bit difficult to get to grips
with it. By I see
> a trend with their recordings. Their quality went
> up, up, up
> starting with "Surf Panis '95" until "Surfdelic"
> (1998), which I
> think is still their very greatest accomplisment, an
astonishing
> album. But post-"Surfdelic" output has been in
general very
> disappointing. The self-titled one (1999) and
"Surfn Is Dead" (2000)
> seemed much too bombastic and uninspired
and,frankly,
> boring; "Easter" (2001) and "L'Esprit" (2002) put
> too much emphasis
> on the organ and not enough on songs (or *surf*,
> come to think of
> it), and were still pretty weak (though with at
> least few good
> moments). But I think there is great reason to feel
> encouraged, as
> their last two CDs, "Surf Attack" (2003) and
> "Samurai Struck" (2005)
> are very, very good. I especially like "Surf
> Attack", which I think
> is a truly excellent album. "Samurai Struck" comes
> close if not
> exactly matching the quality. The boys shed the
> organ, and seemed
> to rediscover guitar-driven-melodies and the pure
> joy of straight
> surf music. They even managed to make the
> super-bombastic approach
> work within the surf music contest. I'm very
> encouraged by these
> last two CDs, and i really hope they continue in
> this vein. Though,
> it appears that the only thing certain with them is
> that they will
> constantly change their sound, at least on the
> margins, and try new things.
> Just wanted to get this off my chest.
> Ivan
__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
This very interesting discussion leads me to a side question. Now that
the 'Coasters have a foot in the door of the USA, is there any chance
their CD's can be made more widely available (and cheaper!)?
I have huge gaps in my collection...
Thanks,
BN
Ivan,
for the most part I agree with your assesment of the Surf
Coasters change over time.
But I think that "Surf Is Dead" is Pretty good, not perfect,
but many goose bump inducing moments in my book.
maybe give that one one more listne and turn it up loud on a
real stereo if you've been listening on headphones. :-)
Jeff(bigtikidude)
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@g...>
wrote:
>
> Hey Ferenc!!
>
> Hope you're recovering well! I'm sure it was a very exhausting
> week.
>
> With all the talk about the Surf Coasters on your blog, I decided
to
> listen to them more today (I've already been listening to PDM for
> the last week or so!). Permit me to make an, admittedly
subjective,
> observation.
>
> The Surf Coasters are clearly an amazing band, and their output is
> so vast that is's a bit difficult to get to grips with it. By I
see
> a trend with their recordings. Their quality went up, up, up
> starting with "Surf Panis '95" until "Surfdelic" (1998), which I
> think is still their very greatest accomplisment, an astonishing
> album. But post-"Surfdelic" output has been in general very
> disappointing. The self-titled one (1999) and "Surf Is Dead"
(2000)
> seemed much too bombastic and uninspired and, frankly,
> boring; "Easter" (2001) and "L'Esprit" (2002) put too much emphasis
> on the organ and not enough on songs (or *surf*, come to think of
> it), and were still pretty weak (though with at least few good
> moments). But I think there is great reason to feel encouraged, as
> their last two CDs, "Surf Attack" (2003) and "Samurai Struck"
(2005)
> are very, very good. I especially like "Surf Attack", which I
think
> is a truly excellent album. "Samurai Struck" comes close if not
> exactly matching the quality. The boys shed the organ, and seemed
> to rediscover guitar-driven-melodies and the pure joy of straight
> surf music. They even managed to make the super-bombastic approach
> work within the surf music contest. I'm very encouraged by these
> last two CDs, and i really hope they continue in this vein.
Though,
> it appears that the only thing certain with them is that they will
> constantly change their sound, at least on the margins, and try new
> things.
>
> Just wanted to get this off my chest.
> Ivan
>
> --- In , Ferenc Dobronyi
> <ferencnd@y...> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for checking out the blog... It was an amazing
> > trip, and aside from a little confusion at one show,
> > overall everything went smoothly. If anybody has any
> > questions, I'll be happy to answer them. If you had
> > checked out the blog and couldn't see the photos, I
> > have moved them off of Geocities and onto the Pollo
> > server so everything is working now (and I just put up
> > the final set.)
> > thanks,
> > Ferenc
> >
> > --- ipongrac <ipongrac@g...> wrote:
> >
> > > I just took the time to read fully through all the
> > > Pollo Del Mar
> > > Japan-tour logs, and I gotta say, wow, what a trip!
> > > There's a lot
> > > on there (man, Jono really seems to like to write -
> > > well, good thing
> > > he's good at it!), but well-worth reading. The tour
> > > seems like it
> > > was a big success, even if not without hiccups - but
> > > then, it
> > > wouldn't be a r&r tour if everything went smoothly,
> > > right??!!
> > >
> > > Anyway, check it out here:
> > >
> > >
> > > Congratulations to PDM on a successful tour as well
> > > as acting as
> > > worthy ambassadors of US surf music!
> > >
> > > Ivan
> > >
> > > --- In , Ferenc
> > > Dobronyi
> > > <ferencnd@y...> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi Guys,
> > > > We are having a crazy time here. I wish we could
> > > stay
> > > > another week, but at this point, we only have 2
> > > more
> > > > shows. I have been trying to keep the blog
> > > updated,
> > > > but it has been really hard with so much van time.
> > > I
> > > > just put up some pictures from last night's show
> > > with
> > > > Nokie. More to come- thanks for followiong along!
> > > > Ferenc
> > > >
> > > > --- Chris <chris@b...> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > --- In , "Brian
> > > Neal"
> > > > > <bgneal@g...> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Are you guys following this? It's fascinating!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > BN
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks for the link - Very cool indeed!!
> > > > >
> > > > > Chris
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > __________________________________
> > > > Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page!
> >
> >
>
Fernec,
I will read all the blog stuff when I get time,
but some real qucik questions.
How was the attendace #'s at the shows.
Did you do good on selling Merch?
Were the Japneese fans, aware, and looking forward to your
coming over? , or were they mainly there to see the SC's?
Jeff(bigtikidude)
--- In , Ferenc Dobronyi <ferencnd@y...>
wrote:
>
> Ha, you almost wrote "Surf Penis"... now that would be
> an album title...
>
> I agree with your assesment, although it should be
> said those middle years are not without their high
> points and I suggest making your own, coherent
> compilations. I think that during the middle years, as
> Shigeo became the only constant in the band, he was
> under intense pressure to complete an album a year and
> lost some focus. This may have driven him to put out
> some substandard material. Or, maybe he got bored with
> doing the basic melodic surf thing. I mean, they have
> what, 12 albums and more soundtracks, singles,
> compilation contributions? Is there any surf band in
> history with as much recorded output? The return to
> form in the last few years is no doubt directed by
> their manager who is probably working the surf angle
> for promotion.
>
> They remain an awe inspiring live band, and we Pollos
> watched their entire set every night.
>
> ferenc
>
> --- ipongrac <ipongrac@g...> wrote:
>
> > With all the talk about the Surf Coasters on your
> > blog, I decided to
> > listen to them more today (I've already been
> > listening to PDM for
> > the last week or so!). Permit me to make an,
> > admittedly subjective, observation.
> >
> > The Surf Coasters are clearly an amazing band, and
> > their output is
> > so vast that is's a bit difficult to get to grips
> with it. By I see
> > a trend with their recordings. Their quality went
> > up, up, up
> > starting with "Surf Panis '95" until "Surfdelic"
> > (1998), which I
> > think is still their very greatest accomplisment, an
> astonishing
> > album. But post-"Surfdelic" output has been in
> general very
> > disappointing. The self-titled one (1999) and
> "Surfn Is Dead" (2000)
> > seemed much too bombastic and uninspired
> and,frankly,
> > boring; "Easter" (2001) and "L'Esprit" (2002) put
> > too much emphasis
> > on the organ and not enough on songs (or *surf*,
> > come to think of
> > it), and were still pretty weak (though with at
> > least few good
> > moments). But I think there is great reason to feel
> > encouraged, as
> > their last two CDs, "Surf Attack" (2003) and
> > "Samurai Struck" (2005)
> > are very, very good. I especially like "Surf
> > Attack", which I think
> > is a truly excellent album. "Samurai Struck" comes
> > close if not
> > exactly matching the quality. The boys shed the
> > organ, and seemed
> > to rediscover guitar-driven-melodies and the pure
> > joy of straight
> > surf music. They even managed to make the
> > super-bombastic approach
> > work within the surf music contest. I'm very
> > encouraged by these
> > last two CDs, and i really hope they continue in
> > this vein. Though,
> > it appears that the only thing certain with them is
> > that they will
> > constantly change their sound, at least on the
> > margins, and try new things.
> > Just wanted to get this off my chest.
> > Ivan
>
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
>
>
--- In , "Jeff" <bigtikidude@y...> wrote:
>
> Ivan,
> for the most part I agree with your assesment of the Surf
> Coasters change over time.
> But I think that "Surf Is Dead" is Pretty good, not perfect,
> but many goose bump inducing moments in my book.
> maybe give that one one more listne and turn it up loud on a
> real stereo if you've been listening on headphones. :-)
Jeff, I've owned that one for quite a few years now. I've given it
plenty of chances. Lots of energy, lots of bombast, no songs. :(
IMHO, of course.
Ivan
Brian,
Over the 6 years that I workrd at Phantom/Digital Waves( cd importer)
we had about half of the 20 surf coasters cd's at one time or
another. They probably don't stock them now, but anything can be
special ordered. But now that they were bought by Super D( i.e.
super dicks/and layed me and 60 other people off) they have really
dropped the ball on doin special orders.
I recall Phil or Ferenc posting a link to a Japanese online
site that you could get most of them from. But they are way high
priced.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
--- In , "Brian Neal" <bgneal@g...> wrote:
>
> This very interesting discussion leads me to a side question. Now that
> the 'Coasters have a foot in the door of the USA, is there any chance
> their CD's can be made more widely available (and cheaper!)?
>
> I have huge gaps in my collection...
>
> Thanks,
> BN
>
Ivan,
I understand it's your opinion, and am not arguing with you.
But their version of Baja( not trad of course), was the most soulful
and soaring guitar work I have heard them do. almost in Mermen
territory I thought.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@g...> wrote:
>
> Jeff, I've owned that one for quite a few years now. I've given it
> plenty of chances. Lots of energy, lots of bombast, no songs. :(
> IMHO, of course.
>
> Ivan
>
--- In , "Jeff" <bigtikidude@y...> wrote:
>
> Ivan,
> I understand it's your opinion, and am not arguing with you.
> But their version of Baja( not trad of course), was the most
soulful
> and soaring guitar work I have heard them do. almost in Mermen
> territory I thought.
Yeah, it has its charms, and it's atmospheric, but I'm not really a
fan of bringing heavy distortion into surf music. I can forgive
Shigeo for it cause he makes up for it in other ways on many, many
other tracks. But when I hear him play heavy, I usually go to the
next track. :( When I want distortion, I'll put on some Iron
Maiden. :)
Ivan
--- Brian Neal <> wrote:
> This very interesting discussion leads me to a side
> question. Now that
> the 'Coasters have a foot in the door of the USA, is
> there any chance
> their CD's can be made more widely available (and
> cheaper!)?
Probably not. The Surf Coasters have been on so many
labels (some now out of business), and with the high
price of licensing, it would be a very expensive CD to
put together.
fd
__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
--- Jeff <> wrote:
Cut to the chase, eh Jeff?
> How was the attendace #'s at the shows.
Varied for each show. I think at the first show most
of the people were there to see the band before us, a
non-instro noise band. But about 40 people remained to
see us and the SCs (in a club that could hold 50). The
second show, an all instro show was lightly attended,
maybe 25 in a club that could hold 100. The show with
Nokie- both sets were sold out, though the room only
held 35 (tix were $50). Yokohama show was nearly sold
out, though it didn't feel packed as the club had a
lot of tables and no dance floor. Last show was sold
out in a club that held about 80.
> Did you do good on selling Merch?
Average of 6 CDs per show, maybe 5 Ts per show. They
loved the free stickers...
> Were the Japneese fans, aware, and looking
> forward to your coming over? , or were they mainly
there to see the
> SC's?
There were a few fans who were very aware (already had
CDs) and some who had heard of us through the SC
connection, but mostly not.
fd
__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
Ferenc,
what are you saying? Do you think I won't read the Blog?
I promise I will.
Thanks for the info, hope it was a great trip, sounded like it
was.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
--- In , Ferenc Dobronyi <ferencnd@y...>
wrote:
>
>
>
> --- Jeff <bigtikidude@y...> wrote:
>
> Cut to the chase, eh Jeff?
>
> > How was the attendace #'s at the shows.
>
> Varied for each show. I think at the first show most
> of the people were there to see the band before us, a
> non-instro noise band. But about 40 people remained to
> see us and the SCs (in a club that could hold 50). The
> second show, an all instro show was lightly attended,
> maybe 25 in a club that could hold 100. The show with
> Nokie- both sets were sold out, though the room only
> held 35 (tix were $50). Yokohama show was nearly sold
> out, though it didn't feel packed as the club had a
> lot of tables and no dance floor. Last show was sold
> out in a club that held about 80.
>
> > Did you do good on selling Merch?
>
> Average of 6 CDs per show, maybe 5 Ts per show. They
> loved the free stickers...
>
> > Were the Japneese fans, aware, and looking
> > forward to your coming over? , or were they mainly
> there to see the
> > SC's?
>
> There were a few fans who were very aware (already had
> CDs) and some who had heard of us through the SC
> connection, but mostly not.
>
> fd
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
>
>
