Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

This is way off the beaten path, and not a surf disc by any stretch of the imagination. Joe Goldmark is a lap steel legend. He's been supported in studio by lots of local royalty over the years, including metallic green surf guitarist Eric Lenchner (though not on this disc). His recordings are often adventurous and always instrumental. There are a couple of gems that surf bands often do, and hearing them on lap steel is quite an adventure.

Picks: Steel Guitar Paradise, Vertigo, Kathi's Tune, Ocean View Drive, Snake Eyes, Just Idling, And Your Bird Can Sing, You Are Everything, Telstar Stomp, Rumble, Chocolate, Alison, More Today Than Yesterday, Harlem Nocturne, Get It, Romeo and Juliet, East Bay Express, Jet Lag, My Mother's Eyes, John Henry

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Joe Goldmark's progressive cowboy anthem grooves like an imaginary outtake from a Nice session transposed for lap steel, and all that in 1:37.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Intense overdriven steel and fuzz bass give this smooth melody a harsh edge. Very nice track, with a loud sound and a distant sway.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Playful lap steel meandering in a slithering sub country post soundtrack groove. If you were to Blue Coral ® an inverted NRPS, you might get "Kathi's Tune."

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

You might expect "Ocean View Drive" to be aquatic, but it's not. It is scenic, maybe even panoramic. On the slow side, it floats on clouds of uninterrupted views.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Allen Toussaint's bluesy instro gets a facial and body rub. This warm country treatment makes it bounce and grin.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Long leaning overdriven reverbed lap steel notes drive a meandering afternoon cruise on an open country road. Very nicely done.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Light weight pop songs can be morphed into almost any genre, and Joe Goldmark proves it by creating a cactus afternoon out of an English pretense. Pretty cool.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Ultra soft MOR for an upper crust lazy afternoon on the back forty. Quite pretty, but also uninspiring.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Joe Meek's "Telstar" sweetly slides off the lap steel from a crying orbit. It's amazing how well this venerable melody works in so many formats. Great stuff!

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Link Wray's fuzz monster is a perfect vehicle for fuzz lap steel... big, slithery, leathery, and liquid. Not as big as some, smoother than most, and very cool!

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

An ode to the brown drug of choice, "Chocolate" dances on delighted children's eyes. Groovy goodies melt in your hands as it should be.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Elvis Costello's melodic pop writing translates well to the liquid steel, and this romantic slide treatment gives it a sweeter edge. Very nice track.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

I never thought I'd like any version of this popster, but Joe Goldmark makes even the poppiest syrup seem palatable.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

I can't recall any versions of Earl Hagen's "Harlem Nocturne" that I don't enjoy. This bluesy lap steel interpretation cries and howls, and brings home the bacon.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Country bounce, lap steel wiggle, and a kinda pokey jerky melody line... doesn't grab me.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Motown goes to Texas... interesting translation, liquid and fluent in dusty road adventure.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Kinda jazzy, sorta R&B bumpy, a little funky, and the lap steel is wah-wah effected.

Lap Steel (Instrumental)

Dripping country airport hangover, "Jet Lag" is pure Nashville slide, only better. Very cool track.