Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

It seems like a long time in the pipe, but the CopperTones first CD is out. A good first effort with mostly originals in a very similar vein. In my opinion, the mix really needs to be rethought. the cymbals are harsh and the drum panning sometimes detracting from the song. One other thing to mention, many of the titles have been used before for very common and high profile surf instros. With the exception of "Hava Nagila," they are originals, but the casual grazer in CD bins is likely to pass by what looks like another CD of covers.

Picks: Boogie Board, Endless Summer, Surfer Stomp, Shark Bite, Couch Surfin', Undertow, Sassy, Shoot The Tube, Hava Nagila, Who, Tsunami, Hot Doggin', Sunset Beach, CopperTones Are Go!!

Surf (Instrumental)

"Boogie Board" is all about energy. The basic melody riff is driven by rippin' drums.

Surf (Instrumental)

Great tom toms and rumbling bass run beneath a melody line that's very coastal. Fast-ish and spunky. This is not the Sandals' legendary song.

Surf (Instrumental)

It's a stomp alright! The rhythm is sort of "I Need You" (Kinks) and the riff maybe late fifties rock instro. Syncopated "Surfer Stomp" is not the Mar-Kets instro.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Shark Bite" romps with flair and a circular guitar riff. Lots of energy and flair. The break is borrowed from the Treasures' "Minor Chaos."

Surf (Instrumental)

The melody riff in "Couch Surfin'" is pretty interesting, and the tom toms are great. The high hat gets in the way, but the song mostly rips.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Undertow" is a progression rocker, much more rock than surf in style. Occasionally moody, nicely whammied, and verging on dark.

Surf (Instrumental)

This song sports "sassy" guitar slide for a cool gimmick. It's the sort of thing rockabilly bands used to do, but works well in the surf idiom. Pretty neat.

Surf (Instrumental)

Dark and whammified, "Shoot The Tube" paints a picture of danger on the surf. Mean and brooding, without being slow. Nice track!

Surf (Instrumental)

One of Dick Dale's arrangements of "Hava Nagila" morphed just slightly into the CopperTones mold. Very straight forward, but enjoyable. The slow to a stop break is interesting.

Surf (Instrumental)

The melody line in "Who" is curious. It's not very surfy, but seems to work just fine anyway. Spunk and chunk.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Tsunami" is on the dark side, with tasteful whammy and moody bass. It's a solid track with some very nice moments.

Surf (Instrumental)

An adventurous and upbeat song with a friendly melody and dramatic bridge. It's more chord-dependent than most surf instros, and is engaging. "Hot Doggin'" is not the Astronauts' song.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Sunset Beach" must be written about the beach in San Francisco, 'cause it's a cold and sullen song. Very nicely flowing. This is not the Sentinals' tune.

Surf (Instrumental)

Lots of spunk and drive as the CopperTones race through this one minute shorty. The CD's title track sounds like it was produced in the same session as "Hot Doggin'."