Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Surf Guitar Greats
 | What a great budget compilation of the instro bands on the Upstart label. Easydisc must have licensed out the store, or be a subsidiary. A solid compilation sampler of tracks from bands with great full CD's. If this doesn't get you into the Upstart family of surf artists... |
Picks: Mission Impossible, Tailspin, Suicide Bay, Fadeaway, Pier Pressure, Itchy Chicken, Misirlou, Hammerhead, Surf The Wild Gowanus, Seville, Tico Tico
Track by Track Review
Euro (Instrumental)
The "Mission Impossible" theme is organic chunka chunka espionage themeage, high energy and fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
From the double picked intro slam, the track sucks you right in, as do most of their monsters. It is very fast, fun, high energy, and mostly a riff slammed into your subconscious, emphasized with major low-E double picked rage during the bridge.
Surf (Instrumental)
The "Buts" slaughter the boundaries with super fast double picked wonderment, not unlike that which must have inspired Eddie Angel to do the surf thing. This longest running surf band always delivers the good. A fast and furious performance.
Euro (Instrumental)
Slow and silky romantic easy to swallow melodic and smooth. This is quite a pretty song, and the guitar work is delicate and tasty.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Pier Pressure" is not as surfy as the title might imply, but it definitely rates as cool. Glissandoes fly, notes splash, and the general bent is rolling break. Quite nice.
Surf (Instrumental)
Bison boppin' barnyard rockin major fun, as only the physically restrained canned do. Chunky, quirky, and plucky. Viva Los Straitjackets!
Surf (Instrumental)
A very surfy and wet delivery, with a definite Euro bent, and a totally unique arrangement. A fine track, with lot's of shimmer to suck you in.
Surf (Instrumental)
This almost bell-like ringing melody is just a joy. It is dramatic, as well as playful. Thundering drums and bass under the flippant lead is a mighty fine combination, almost an oxymoron, but the differences create a unique synergy. Great listening.
Surf (Instrumental)
This otherwise unavailable surf shredder is horribly produced, and mostly rhythmic, but is a necessity for the shore pound crowd. Solid playing, edgie gutty guitar, twang, and glissandoes abound.
Opera Surf (Instrumental)
A Dick Dale styled performance, King's runs and all... what a cool way to treat "The Barber Of Seville!" Like, why didn't the King do this? Great melody, real surf fluidity, and great tone. Too fun!
Surf (Instrumental)
Tex-Mex polka twang. Cool and rhythmic, and so fun. Like the Fabulous Poodles' "Rum Baba Boogie," it slithers into your soul when you're not looking. Great Latin track! Dry as a bone, not surfy at all, but will fit in your best surf set just fine.