Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Los Coronas - Surfin' Tenochtitlan
 | Surfin' Tenochtitlan is a best of release with many gems to get you into this fine band. |
Picks: Polk Salad Annie, Youza, Supertubos, Hacha De Guerra, Go Kato Go, Honky Tonk, Secret Agent Man, Estacion Uranus, High Sierra, The Wedge, La Huida, Day Tripper, Last Wave, Capra 414, Maremoto, Coronas Stomp
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
This is pretty fun! Tony Joe White's "Polk Salad Annie" is fine fodder for Los Coronas. It's pure rock, and harsher than the original. Cool percussion and great drums, along with a rock solid delivery from the rest of the band.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Intense hard-edged twang backing an espionage escapade. Great rhythm, pulsing bass, a galloping gate, and an infectious hook. In some ways, "Youza" reminds me "Hawaii Five-0," though it's a long way from that song. Heavy, powerful, and way cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
Very cool raging drums and bass. The lead line is almost jazzy in a ringing blues surf sorta way. Quite nice.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Thundering tom toms launch into a rompin' rhythmic number with a melody line that calls to Spaghetti West."Hacha De Guerra" is an infectious track with a galloping rhythm and lots of energy. Quite spectacular.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Double picked aggressive, drum powered, bass pumped, and well developed. "Go Kato Go" calls to the surf in a short board world of liquid danger. Intense, powerful, and very aquatic.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Bill Dogget's sultry "Honky Tonk" hasn't sounded this good in ages! Solid, edgy, rockin' smooth, and bluesy without being particularly derivative. Excellent!
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Phil Sloane's TV spy ditty that was a hit for Johnny Rivers is adapted to a more rock combo sound, and the result is fresh and cool. Powerful yet reverent. The twin guitars duel to create interesting effects with the lead. It draws you in.
Surf (Instrumental)
Surfin' through the solar system to Uranus. The staccato melody hook & the whammy add up to an infectious track.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Taking its time at a leisurely pace, "High Sierra" is a solid and moody piece with intriguing semi-military drums, haunting guitar, and solemn bass. A bit of spy, a touch of spaghetti, and an enticing European feel. This is quite a cool track.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
One of Dick Dale's signature songs is rocked and rolled and surfed to perfection. This is perhaps the most interesting arrangement since the Detonators slowed it way down. "The Wedge" is full of energy and twin guitar drive, tuff glissandos, and pumpin' power from the bass and drums.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
This is a tuff bluesy angst fest with big guitar, spy underpinnings, and a bottle of whisky on the table. Very edgy.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
The Beatles' "Day Tripper" is toughened up and instrumentalized with edge and pumpin' energy. Bigger than the mop-tops, more genuinely rock 'n' roll, and quite effective.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Another surfish rocker, "Last Wave" is gruff and hard edged, yet melodic. Great rhythm and intense guitaristry without wankage. Great track!
Surf (Instrumental)
reverb and drums, infectious rhythms and textures, cool trumpet lead, and great energy. The melody circles while the drums rock. "Capra 414" is a splendid track, though perhaps a big jammy. Excellent guitar work.
Surf (Instrumental)
Pounding drums, ringing guitar tones, and a whole bunch of energy. This is not very melodic, but it is perfect driving music, rolling drums and hypnotic lead notes make the whitewater lines melt together.
Surf (Instrumental)
Opening with Church Key whammy dips, this quickly becomes the sort of melody that Laika and the Cosmonauts would do, playful and happy, with a bunch of hot glissandos, and plenty of drum-driven energy. Intense and infectious.