Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: The Boss Martians vs. The Surf Trio
 | This seems to me to be an odd coupling of bands, or maybe an ideal contrast of irreconcilably different bands. The Surf Trio is among the best edgie modern shred-conscious bands around, with a long history, and numerous album and single releases, culminating in their providing the soundtrack music for the TLC series Neat Stuff. The Boss Martians have been around for a while too, but have had less of an impact. Where the Surf Trio is powerful and edgie, the Boss Martians tend more towards a thinner less dynamic sound. From a personal perspective, the Surf Trio is an important band with a legacy of many melodic and lasting instros and well thought out vocals like Where Ya Gonna Go, while the Boss Martians can be boiled down to a lone instro from years ago called XK-E. Each band provides one vocal and one instro. This single marks a shift for both, with each stylistically meandering into new territory. |
Picks: Ape Hangers, Foglifter
Track by Track Review
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
In a major departure from the Boss Martians' sound, this track presents a decidedly Davie Allan sound, though considerably thinner. Crunchy and squarewave edgie. Not very melodic, but nicely put together.
Pacific Northwest (Instrumental)
A smoother sound for the Surf Trio, with an organ accompaniment that gives it a sound not unlike the Wailers' Mashi, but less frantic. Jazzy, Pacific Northwest cool, with that R&B groove required to convey that PNW period.