Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Huevos Rancheros - Dig In
 | Another aggressive CD from those Canadian Instronauts (Calgary, Alberta). The occasional surf-oriented track makes listening to these cats even better. This CD continues their development, with some rather cool results. I find the caliber of their writing to be consistently good. The songs are all about eating... Chowabunga! |
Picks: Secret Recipe, Whiteout In Wyoming, Rockin' In The Henhouse, American Sunset, Where's The Bathroom (In Spanish), 64 Slices Of American Cheeze, Gump Worsley's Lament, Jezebel, Evacuation, Girl From N. A. N. A. I. M. O., Who's Your New Girlfriend?, Rockin' Lafayette, Go West Young Bee
Track by Track Review
Secret Recipe Raw Link Wray Garage Rock (Instrumental)
Just a pattern... I already forgot what I heard.
Raw Link Wray Garage Rock (Instrumental)
My perennial Huevos Favora played incredibly well, but the recording is so weak...
Progressive Metal Jazz Surf (Instrumental)
Dark crunch and chunk, wah wah swirl, grumbly underbelly fuzz, and an angular melody. "Gone Fishin'" is difficult to listen to, yet attractive, particularly as the countrified coolness of the bridge comes in.
Progressive Metal Jazz Surf (Instrumental)
A bit of back woods hokum and some angularity conspire to generate images of woodsy adventure and small town smurfability. Kinda spy, kinda bee bop, and kinda dangerous.
Where's The Bathroom (In Spanish) Progressive Metal Jazz Surf (Instrumental)
This is a very well written, melodic piece, with pure trad and Ben Vaughn influences, and haunting atmospherics. It is dramatic, artistic, infectious, and has stuck with me for many years. It's a great track! In the heyday of South Bay surf bands, the Mallards included this in their set.
64 Slices Of American Cheeze Progressive Metal Jazz Surf (Instrumental)
Like a liquid slow "Wild Goose" rising from a foggy bog, this bio-inspired song sports a spooky and moody melody line with an unusual tone. "The Story Of Vanna White" is fun and a little adventurous. Aqua psycho daisy deluxe.
Gump Worsley's Lament Raw Link Wray Garage Rock (Instrumental)
A riff & a prayer...
Garage Rock Surf (Instrumental)
This is the Frankie Lane hit, not surfified like the Illusions' version, but tangoed and glissandoed like there's no tomorrow. Power driven, loud and determined. It has all the energy of the Jigsaw Seen. Yee-haw!
Rock (Instrumental)
Opening with a drum beat sorta like "Super Jet Rumble," this chunky chord grinder thumps and pierces. Cool.
Girl From N. A. N. A. I. M. O. Rock & Roll (Instrumental)
Rhythmic and chunky track from Canada's leading exponent of aggressive rock instros. There's a strong influence here I can't quite capture... some Samba Rock number from a past millennium. If you're familiar with Huevos Rancheros, then you already know about their fuzz edge groove. This tracks is from their "Dig In" CD, and is more melodic than many of their tunes. This is one hard working band with a considerable following.
Who's Your New Girlfriend? Vibrato Cowpoke Surf (Instrumental)
This is a theme for an imaginary western (not Felix Pappalardi's song). It's striking thematic qualities create an expectation of stage coach chases and hard rides across the prairie. With a shoot out anticipated at every cross road, this shimmers with distortion and power.
Vibrato Cowpoke Surf (Instrumental)
Dick Dale's surf grinder turned vibrato monster, with dry lead, throbbing rhythm, and solid rockabilly rhythms. It takes on a jazzy quality, without losing either the surf foundation or the rockabilly interpretation. Quite a nice variation on a common cover.
Go West Young Bee Raw Link Wray Garage Rock (Instrumental)
Whoa... more rodeo punk.