Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA  | This is an mp3 album from CUTBACK's website. More material in a harsher rock vein than their Hang Six demo. Surf from a rock perspective. |
Picks: Walk Don't Run, The Liquidator, Calhoun Surf, Bravado, Pipeline, Sleep Walk, Last Moped In Schenectady, Drive
Track by Track Review
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
The arrangement on "Walk Don't Run" is fresh enough, and familiar at the same time. It's very rock oriented, moderately paced, and deliberate.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
From the title, you'd expect "The Liquidator" to be a monster, like the Detonators' "Liquid Chaos," but it's much more deliberate, and influenced a bit by "Hawaii Five-0." The wah-wah break verges on psychedelic. Rumbling tom tom rolls and rock attack.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Danny Amis' first composition from his days with the Overtones is nicely done in a rock format. The track is a little low on energy, yet it has a very endearing sound. It's amazing how many bands have covered this song, the earliest of which were the Thrusters (Santa Cruz) back in the mid eighties.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
This is a fine modernization of the Aqua Velvets's lovely and spirited "Bravado." It's very true to the original, yet sports much edgier and updated rock sounds. A thoroughly enjoyable track.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
The sea laps the shore on a foggy day, the gulls cry i the distance, and the guitar comes in with that classic rhythm. Big guitar twango and edge, with solid energy and power. The glissandos are panned across the channels, and some of the guitar lines fly. Some inspiration may have been from the Stevie Ray Vaughan-Dick Dale rendering.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
This is a fairly straight rock treatment of Santo and Johnny's lovely "Sleep Walk," less the slithery romance.
Last Moped In Schenectady 
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
This is a totally fun track. memory fails, but I suspect this is Davie Allan and the Arrows' "Another Moped In Schenectady" with less fuzz and edge and a solid club rock attitude.
Surf Rock (Instrumental)
This is a rocker for sure, perhaps Gary Hoey's song. Harsh, rock guitar screaming, big attitude, and noisy.