Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

What a splendid idea! SurfGuitar101 (Yahoo! discussion group) has assembled a fine mp3 comp from submissions of list members. The variety is wide, and the majority of the songs are both original and interesting. Great idea!

You can download the entire album at SurfGuitar101.

Picks: Kung Bao Surf, The Island Speaks, Duane Stomp, Cucumber Lotion, Macho Muchacha, Homercles, Bruce Lee, Ripped, War Song, Hurricane Ashley, Go Go Gone, Drink, Stomp, Twist, El Cumbanchero, Liquid Chaos, Mr. Quench, Wrath Of The Mercenary, There Goes That Dude, The Infantile Surf, Chandelier Rock, Penetration, Coney Island, Scooby Chase, Dare Devil, Kaikoura, I'm Branded, Surfacing, Beach Blanket Inferno, Hawaii 5-0, Penetration, Misirlou, Rockin' Crickets, Watery Grave, Tiki Man

Surf (Instrumental)

"Kung Bao Surf" is a somewhat Spanish piece with a genuine surf feel. Nicely written and played, with a catchy melody line. Stereo panoramics add to the opening effects, but the track itself is mono.

Surf (Instrumental)

Sounds of the shore give way to muted reverb guitar and gently dribbled lead guitar. The melody line is a very slowly growing progression that suggests doom in contrast to the deceptive calm of the fall surf and island breeze. John Barry's "The Island Speaks" conveys a sense of ignorance of turmoil just over the horizon.

Garage (Instrumental)

"Duane Stomp" romps and rides with energy a lot like the new arrangement of "Cowboy Surfer," It's energy is solid and the infectious factor good too.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a nicely flowing gradually evolving song with a bit of the Cossack tradition. It's simple, yet hooks you in to the gradually building rhythm. Repeated listenings have made "Cucumber Lotion" more attractive. Very nice track.

The Bombers are not to be confused with Finland's Bomber.

Surf (Instrumental)

Acoustic guitar and surf guitar paint a picture of a Baja vacation in the warmth of the afternoon sun. A very nice track with an endearing melody and sound.

Surf (Instrumental)

Great drums and dirty guitar crunches a kind of optimistic downer. Like danger in flower lady's clothes, "Homercles" deceives you into a sense of safety when just over the rise is a pair of thugs waiting to relieve you of your longboard. Splashy, fun, and inventive.

Surf (Instrumental)

Pulsing bass and gurgling water, along with sampled voices and bongos. It's not surf by any stretch of the imagination, but "Bruce Lee" is an interesting construction.

Surf (Instrumental)

A swirly organ riff gently opens "Ripped" like a late sixties East Coast psych track, but once the surf guitar comes in, you know the curl is in sight. "Ripped" employs an interesting blend of surf and non-surf elements to create a hybrid that's very enjoyable.

Surf (Instrumental)

An odd melody for surf, a dark swirl of reverb, and a touch of optimism just peaking out from under the murk. A few lines from "Walk, Dont Run" are interspersed, and hand claps give this otherwise ugly track a surreal sound.

Surf (Instrumental)

gentle reverb and haunting chords, deep atmospherics, and moody melody lines create an eerie sense of the magnitude of post-hurricane realization. "Hurricane Ashley" is a splendid song with a very interesting and engaging ambiance.

Surf (Instrumental)

A circular riff runs above tom toms and bass thunder. The melody is warm and inviting, and maybe a little spy-ish at times. A rich sense of summer sun and innocent adventure. Quite a nice track.

Surf (Instrumental)

This has the makings of a mighty fun song. The melody is playful and full of motion, and there are plenty of glissandos. Harsh stereo surf guitars, grumbly bass, and barely audible drums.

Surf (Instrumental)

This version of "El Cumbanchero" is splendid. Totally fun, all reverbed out, and very entertaining. You can not listen without grinning. The "surf" banjo is an interesting touch, and fits very well with the almost country backtrack. Entirely cool!

Surf (Instrumental)

"Liquid Chaos" has become an ominous thick chorded and mysterious monster. Very powerful and dangerous, with an almost middle eastern mystique about it. A really fine track!

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a somewhat ominous track with a bit of a spy edge atop semi-monster surf. Great reverb and charm, with a slightly sad melody line.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Wrath Of The Mercenary" is a surf instro with a powerful melody deserving a good studio recording. This live mono mp3 is pretty trashy soundwise, but it displays a very cool instro in the works.

Surf (Instrumental)

Big and dark, "There Goes That Dude" has a mean and almost ugly feel to it. The mono sound lessens the potential for the dark power of the track, as does the no-hi's audio. If the Liabilities record this for real, it will be quite something!

Surf (Instrumental)

"The Infantile Surf" has a mysterious and somewhat dangerous sound to it. The melody flows really well, and the long sustained chords with reverb and whammy add real drama. This is a big and very surf worthy track that will bring you back. The imagery is like the rain on your windshield from very dark clouds as you drive south on a coastal highway. Something reminiscent of the Surfaris' "Storm Surf" completes the picture. There's something very engaging and compelling about this.

Surf (Instrumental)

A moody wash of dark cellar ambiance creates a mood for this track. It's part surf drone, part nightmare. An original concept, but "Chandelier Rock" did not bring me back a second time.

Surf (Instrumental)

An original arrangement with fuzz bass and ever-changing guitar textures. Big guitar hero runs and warm guitar oppose each other. The drum machine makes "Penetration" sound modern, but it's also not an inviting sound most of the time in surf.

Rock (Instrumental)

Some sections of this song are angular, like Eddie Angel strained through the Flat Duo Jets, while others are almost surf. "Coney Island" is a modern instro that only relates to surf via a few double picked lines.

Surf (Instrumental)

Chord dominated at times, but featuring a nice melody that circles and rises to splashy peaks. The arrangement sounds to me to be too intentional, though some of that is a result of the lo-fi recording. Dull mono sound reduces the effectiveness of an otherwise enjoyable track. Having said all that, the song itself deserves a better recording.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Dare Devil" is a dark song with evil fuzz low-E guitar and twangy surf second guitar. Together, they deliver a spooky sounding piece that demands your attention.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is quite a nice track, with great tribal drums and an engaging melody. The production (ambient?) could be better, but the song is great, with beautiful island chords ringing over wonderful drums.

Surf (Instrumental)

Urban Surf Kings always drive the surf with a dark and powerful edge. Link Wray's classic "I'm Branded" is direct and grumbly as it should be. The ambient sounding recording is even somehow complimentary.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Surfacing" is all about liquid chords and tropical distant reverb. Moody, delicate, and peaceful, but with just a bit of concern. This solo guitar and bass track quite a contrast to other tracks here. It's not a melody you'll drive down 101 humming, but if you sit quietly looking out the window into the woods in the mist after a rain, this will compliment the scene nicely.

Surf (Instrumental)

With introductory chords inspired by "Moovin' and Groovin'," this song romps with optimism and energy. The uplifting melody line is playful and warm, and the island whammy suitably inviting. "Beach Blanket Inferno" is an excellent track.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a totally original and complete remake of Mort Shuman's TV theme. Liquid exotic-lounge opening barely lets you imagine the liquid vibrato to come. Once the lushness of the opening gives way to the main body, the silky reverb guitars deliver one fine rendition. The Swamp Coolers have made this their own!

Surf (Instrumental)

Bongos, liquid near-jazz chords, an exotic air about it, and a simple warmth. This is an original take on a venerable classic that's very memorable and well worth the time to listen. Just two guitars and bongos renewing the Pyramids' "Penetration" as if they wrote it. Very nice!

Surf (Instrumental)

Not a classic surf arrangement, and played against drum machine, yet the Tie Dyed Jellyfish have made an enjoyable and unique recording of "Misirlou." More gentle and fluid. This is a very restrained and tentative version of Nicolas Roubanis's surf classic, not that he intended any such thing back in the thirties.

Surf (Instrumental)

The is a very nicely done cover of the Rockin' Rebels' 1959 single "Rockin' Crickets," with reverb, cool percussion, and wonderful tone. The warmth of the melody and the playfulness of the melody over the damped reverb rhythm is very attractive. It's a fine track!

Surf (Instrumental)

Surf and rock and glissandos, a relentless drive, and some compelling ideas. "Watery Grave" has a solid melody and beat, though the arrangement is too unchanging. The stereo is almost mono.

Surf (Instrumental)

Exotica rhythms, sparkling reverb guitars, and a brilliant rearrangement of Deadbolt's "Tiki Man" combine with lush sound to create a wonderfully dark jungle adventure. This is spectacular, rich, and moody.