Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

Jackie & the Cedrics set the stage for lo-fi garage surf in Japan. Their discs are generally poorly recorded. Then, along came the El Caminos with much better recordings. They captured the energy and power, and created some fine surf instros.

Picks: Reverb Explosion [Part I], Image Of A Surfer Girl, The Wedge, Rolling Sushi, Shock Wave '95, T. J. Slough, Death Race, Quite A Surf Party, Gerugugu, Journey To The Deep Sea, Pipeline, Miserlou, Reverb Explosion [Part II]

Surf (Instrumental)

Sort of a "Mr. Eliminator"-like song with with silly screaming girls and an "ah-ah" chorus courtesy the Chevrolettes. Really mean crunchy low-E surf riffs. It's a little like Jackie & the Cedrics recorded better.

Surf (Instrumental)

A light weight cover of the Dick Dale classic. Too much rhythm guitar presence.

Surf (Instrumental)

A pretty cool surf number with the trite-n-true Japanese caricature chord intro. Repetitious, but fun.

Surf (Instrumental)

Very cool vibratoed reverb crashes add a new dimension to this obscuro cover. Very nice reverent track.

Surf (Instrumental)

Really stupid Chipmunks vocal La La's throughout render it almost useless. Too bad, because it would be really cool without them.

Surf (Instrumental)

Very cool rhythmic number with the lead way too low in the mix, killing the effectiveness of the track.

Surf (Instrumental)

The Fireballs classic track written by George Tomsco, with a lot less delicacy, and a lot more energy. Quite nice.

Surf (Instrumental)

A super minimal melody line, but it reeks of Eddie & the Showmen influence. Tasty.

Surf (Instrumental)

From the title, I expected a variation on "Journey To the Stars," nut alas I was rewarded with a fluid and interesting original. The melody is a cut above most of their other originals, and the playing is quite good. The downside is the constant gurgling and bubbling effects, like Godzilla at the tar pits or something.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is quite a cool version, extremely thick and auditorium like, with evil howling and deep DEEP reverb. Makes you wanna get off the sidewalk outside and go in the hall where it can be heard up close. Pretty nifty.

Surf (Instrumental)

This was cut live at the "Rendezubous Ballroom." It's slow and sludgy, like the Gallon Drunk version, at least up to the point where they decide to launch rump with all their might. Excellent fiery power twang.