Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

The third in the wonderful primal rock instro series compiled by Eddie Angel (Los Straitjackets). This comp sports a higher percentage of surf, as well as a higher percentage of well recorded tracks. Highlights include new tracks from the Halibuts, Jon & the Nightriders, and the Bent Scepters.

Picks: Overboard, Psychotronic, Island Uprising, Nitrous Peroxide, Sack O' Woe, Shalacko, Thunder Over Rincon, Solaris Stomp, F. U. J. I. M. O., Lunar Luau, Lou Siffer, More Booze, Less Ice, Betrayal, Devil's Punchbowl, Branded, Thar She Blows

Surf (Instrumental)

Double picked, angry guitar sound, and wet ambiances. The melody is good, and the rhythm is catchy.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a Mike Maxfield tune, not like "Cruel Sea," but more like a country backtrack. It's a riff a,d a bunch of country twang, and a rolling down the highway good time pleaser. Dedicated to B-movies everywhere, "Psychotronic" features the signature Insect dual leads over fine chunky rhythms. The trashiness of the black and whites is self-evident in this fine track.

Jungle Surf (Instrumental)

Tom tom laden exotic rhythm oriented tribal mantra organ churn from the bowls of B-movies. Infectious and very fun. This was originally cut by the Cherokees.

Garage Surf (Instrumental)

This is a great surf track to open with. A simple melody and a nice arrangement support this cool tune. It is infectious in it's simplicity, and the highlight of the disc.

R&B Jam (Instrumental)

Cannonball Adderley's tune never quite sounded like this. With a Booker T. & the M.G.'s delivery, it takes on a whole new character. An R"B / Jazz jam.

R&B Jam (Instrumental)

This tune uses a soft tone and a melodic riff, with spaghetti western tendencies, and friendly whammy lines, accented with Enio Morricone grunts and chants. Quite a tasty track! Nice use of harmonics, and solid chunky flow.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is the first studio outing for Jon and the Nightriders' incredible "Thunder Over Rincon." It is exactly that, a thundering ominous rumbler of a tune, gutsy and dark. John Blair's creativity is, as always, strident. His skill at generating genre-perfect instros on the dark power side of the aisle is without compare. Mean track.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is the best track on this CD! It's rhythmic, pristine, chunky, spirited, and carries you right on down the road with no effort at all. Great melody and gorgeous guitar tones. If this is any indication of this band's prowess (and it is - I've heard DAT of several other great tracks), they are a band to be reckoned with. Killer!

Surf (Instrumental)

Sounding a lot like Jim Messina & the Jesters, this track is loaded with power and energy. Very hot guitar work.

Surf (Instrumental)

Derivative of something I can't place, but infectious anyway.

Surf (Instrumental)

Crude instrumental jam, lot's of guitar trickery, but not much musical content.

Northwest Surf (Instrumental)

A curious blend of Northwest drinking instros and surf tones, with mixed results. The surf seems dominant enough tonally, and the Northwest influences are of the more melodic and less jam variety. Still, it is without any magic or draw. The glissandoes keep it in the surf groove, as does the damped second guitar.

Hawaiian Surf (Instrumental)

This is a pretty riff, with tasty lap steel and an exotic island melody in keeping with Tom Lopaka's best dreams. Extreme and annoying tape delay slapback on the percussion, a dull over all tone, and a pretty muddy sound.

Surf (Instrumental)

Thin sound! A heavy track. The performance shreds. A fuller sound would make it an ominous monster... HOT!

Surf (Instrumental)

An evil shout of "Thar She Blows" starts off the track, with dark sax work, and the Halibuts swimmingly cool sound. This track uses a swell riff backed by slide chords, and mighty fine tribal drums! It's good to hear a new Halibuts recording. Great fun stuff.