Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Go! Tsunami - New Wave Order
 | If you wanted to boil down Go! Tsunami to one word, it would have to be loud. There is some very good arranging and hot performances too. I have one complaint, and that is the overpowering organ. It's level in the mix often created distraction from the lead guitar and sapped it's power. Many tracks would have rated another star except for this mixing issue. Very inconsistently mixed as well. That said, there are some firebrand tracks here. |
Picks: Camel Toe, Midnight In Exotica, Go! Tsunami, 40 Feet High And It Kills, Pirate Prostitutes Of The Peloponnesus, Dia De Los Dangerous, Hot Zombie, Bushwacked, Painkiller
Track by Track Review
Rime Of The Ancient Surfer Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
Water laps at the shore before the heavy guitar twang competes with overpowering organ. It's clearly a guitar song with heavy drums and bass, but the mix allows the organ to sap the tracks energy.
Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
"Camel Toe" is a heavy surf grinder with power drums and bass thunder. The melody is cool and the performance hot. The organ is less distracting, but still too hot in the mix.
Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
Decidedly original writing with some Middle eastern flair. The arrangement is really cool, and even the bird calls add to the dementia of the track- a particularly endearing trait. I like this a lot!
Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
"Go! Tsunami" is in many ways a surf-a-go-go track. Surf guitar, bass and drums, and go-go organ. Lots of energy and power, and a commanding intensity.
Curse Of The Flying Spider Monkey Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
"Curse Of The Flying Spider Monkey" is a riff rocker in the frat rock mold, but with surf tone. Aside from its fire and whammy, it is perhaps the least interesting track here.
Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
There's much more energy than melody here. "Mermaid vs. Sasquatch" depends on its thunder an fire to carry you through, but I don't think that really is enough.
40 Feet High And It Kills Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
Writhing rhythm and chunk back up a track where the organ and guitar trade leads. The melody line is somewhat middle eastern, and the rhythmic nature of the song is quite compelling. There are enough changes to keep it interesting, and the bass lines at tomes really strong. A standard surf beat backs it up.
Pirate Prostitutes Of The Peloponnesus Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
This is an interesting track. It is slower, with some intense but lovely guitar lines. The organ is a bit too prominent in the mix, but I still like it quite a bit. Some drama, some splash, and spiffy whammy.
Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
A gritty glissando and cascading drums launch into some really cool double picked guitar. The organ is overbearing at times, but the mysterious melody and grit are o be reckoned with. Darn cool!
Matango! Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
This is a bog power number with raging guitar and drums, but the organ saps it of all its spunk, leaving it to be mostly a wash of Leslie. A great idea gone south.
Mt. Midoriyama Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
IN an organ-guitar duet, the organ wins despite the guitar's incredible fire. "Mt. Midoriyama" is a simple riff rocker.
Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
With a taste of espionage and loud sound, "Hot Zombie" features intense energy. The break is like a whole different song, with a very cool middle eastern splash and intensity.
Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
With a ouch of spaghetti western, "Bushwacked" rides the trails, leaving spunk along the way. While its not really melodic, it sure is tuff.
Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
There sure is a lot of energy captured here. Some great guitar lines and drums drive "Painkiller" straight for the medicine cabinet. Wow!
Frat Rock Surf (Instrumental)
"Falcon 7" seems more about being loud than catchy. The melody riffs are OK, and some of the guitar fills are very strong, but I don't find it to be particularly cohesive.