Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Crestriders - Cowabunga Christmas
 | Aside from the Los Straitjackets variety of the surf beat, this is just not surf. It is, however tastefully Ventures like at times, and quite suitable for a holiday party. |
Picks: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, From Heaven Above I Come, Deck The Halls, Santa's Surfin' Holiday
Track by Track Review
Angels We Have Heard On High Rock (Instrumental)
There are some very nice guitar duets as "Angels We Have Heard On High" unfolds. The guitar work is light and soft, approaching unobtrusive. Only the drums are really rockin'.
Joy To The World Rock (Instrumental)
Pleasantly fun, "Joy To The World" is easy to have on in the background while the fire burns. Excellent playing, but not the sort of thing that will make you cross the street.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Rock (Instrumental)
Perhaps the rockin'est track on the release, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" sports some fine guitar picking and a spunky sound. Quite nice.
We Wish You A Merry Christmas Rock (Instrumental)
Acoustic and/or soft electric guitar with organ. It's a duet that is very ho-hum.
O' Come Emmanuel Rock (Instrumental)
Heavy sound with harmonics and a lumbering pace is what you will find as "O' Come Emmanuel" unfolds. It never really approaches interesting.
Rock (Instrumental)
An almost infectious rhythm attempts to bring up in, and in the break, the tonal changes and beat do in fact work pretty darn well. "From Heaven Above I Come" is spunky and upbeat, and even inventive at times.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is a crisp rock treatment of this classic song. The arrangement of the guitars is really nice. If you imagine Fenders and reverb, you'd be smiling big.
Ave Maria Rock (Instrumental)
"Ave Maria" is played as a gentle guitar and organ duet. I have to say that this is really boring.
Rock (Instrumental)
Slightly dark, with crisp rhythm and heavily effected lead, "Santa's Surfin' Holiday" is, well, only surf in the beat department. This is a fine song arranged pretty well, but tonally all wrong for surf.
O Come All Ye Faithful Rock (Instrumental)
Maybe a little like The Ventures, but with straight rock treatment. While quite pleasant, "O Come All Ye Faithful" just doesn't grab you at all. It's been done so much better by so many real surfbands.
O Christmas Tree Rock (Instrumental)
This is a fun fifties jivin' arrangement, with dry tone and cheesy keys. The fun wears off quickly. It's just not more than a bar band kind of track.
Silent Night Rock (Instrumental)
The first half of the song is played really slowly and sans chemistry, but the second half is brought into a Ventures-like arrangement. To little too late.