Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Bottletones - Corn Rampin'
 | The Bottletones are a rockabilly band from Carbondale, Illinois, with a penchant for surf oriented instrumentals, and a rockin' appreciation for American roots music with a modern edge. This debut CD displays their hard driving almost psychobilly intensity and traditional voicings with 9 strong vocal rants and 5 excellent instros. Deluxe energy, fiery double picking, driven power, and lots of flair. Look out! |
Picks: Miss Talladega, Mickey Dora, Snazamiter, Magnum 440, El Coolo
Track by Track Review
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
Solid rompin' rockabilly riffin' fun, with lots of flair and drive. The lead work is very jam-like stereotypical rockabilly, with much more riff than melody, but plenty of fire.
Surfabilly (Instrumental)
Big chord power, echoed damped lead riffs, a surfable feel, with a rockabilly tone. "Mickey Dora" holds a modern surf drive in its hands, with a relentless flair and twang. Slightly influenced by "Wipe Out."
Surfabilly (Instrumental)
I have no idea what a "Snazamiter" is, but this is an infectious slightly espionage-lounge lead with damped second guitar, and percussive playing. It's disturbing anit-melodic sense is attractive and chunky.
Surfabilly (Instrumental)
"Magnum 440" is the most surfable track from the Bottletones. The sound is thick and the echoed-reverbed production is quite surf oriented. It's a rhythmic percussive track, somewhat reminiscent of "El Toro.." Some double picking and glissandoes add even more. Excellent.
Surfabilly (Instrumental)
Spanish fluidity, watery whammy, sensual visuals, and warm tones. "El Coolo" plays with the Mexican village ethic in an almost Treble Spankers way, with a distant interpretation of the more inviting side of peasant life... but then, about two and a half minutes in, it speeds up, delivery a mighty double picked fiesta of thrashing party waves. Very nice track.