Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Famous Monsters - In The Night
 | Pheromone laden riot girl screaming garage attack surf-based club rock, more riff than melody, more attitude than music. The recording is live, often harsh stereo, poorly mixed and mostly just loud. |
Picks: Lone Wolf Massacre, The Haunting Of Planet Earth, Hairy Eyeball, Outerspace Deathrace #13, Satan Sends A Rat, Vampire Cosmonaut, Oui Monster Oui, F Is For Fiend, International Monster Presentation
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
Opening like the Dickster opens Miserlou, this is drenched in middle eastern surf, and has that primal tribal kinda magnetism that is so hard to resist. Minor haunting powerhouse. I found this really hard to move on from, playing it several times just for the emotional satisfaction it brings.
The Haunting Of Planet Earth Surf (Instrumental)
Fast and playful, surf for the drive through music that twangs at sixty m.p.h. like beat up Rambler with the top down and a belly board in the back seat. Completely fun. Like Homer says, "Ummm - bur-gers."
Surf (Instrumental)
This Russian traditional tune is delivered like it was written for the surf. Solid slithery guitar, and great drums action. The organ underneath is at just the right level to be effective without drowning out the tune. A very nice track, among the better versions.
Surf (Instrumental)
Randy Holden's classic rumbler, powered with solid guitar work and driving rhythms. Quite true to the Fender IV original, just in stereo.
Surf (Instrumental)
This melody is a little like "Titanic" in structure and arrangement, having similar warmth and endearment qualities. Solid infectious driving music. "Annihulation" (sp. Annihilation) opens with a gangster remarking "Be warned. He kills people in order to change their mind."
Surf (Instrumental)
Another Jim Messina & the Jesters song, delivered with the necessary energy and style. The trad arrangement works well for this track.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Oui Monster Oui" is a slow sludge piece, thick and more spy than surf. It's sports a simple progression riff, and a murky sound. Dark and evil.
Surf (Instrumental)
Murky thick B-movie music, ominous but not particularly memorable. Mostly a riff and an ambiance.
International Monster Presentation Surf (Instrumental)
Chunky stop start non-melodic garage... interspersed with girl chants. Nothing original or memorable here.