Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Intimidators - Raunchy and Other Hits
 | The Intimidators are from Brea, California. This is a frustrating release for me. Personally (and all reviews are just that - personal opinion), this coulda been a great CD with decent recording quality and a little more time spent on arrangements. Absolutely muddy sound with weak bass and thin ambient drums. Much of the music here is unimaginative riff rock, though there are some very cool original moments too. |
Picks: RPM, Point Blank, Raunchy, Wild Weekend, Mother Of Pearl, Satan's Chariot, Vendetta, Little Sister, Courageous Cat, Peter Gunn, Sixgun, Chief, Tarantula, Cannibal, Eightball, Stingray, Dragon, Untitled
Track by Track Review
RPM Surf (Instrumental)
"RPM" is a riff with possibilities. Really hard to listen to through the murk.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a cool song, with haunting whammy chords and a moody melody line. The arrangement is good too. It's just really marginal sounding.
Raunchy Surf (Instrumental)
This is more or less a reverbed rockabilly arrangement of Bill Justis' "Raunchy." Nothing new here.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Intimidators reverb and over-echo Tom Shannon's radio show theme from the fifties. It's an interesting arrangement.
Mother Of Pearl Surf (Instrumental)
Well now! It's not Brian Ferry's song, but "Mother Of Pearl" is a pleasant minimalist surf riff number.
Satan's Chariot Surf (Instrumental)
Sounding almost like it was recorded over the phone, the Deuce Coupes' "Satan's Chariot" is really thin and weak, at least until the lead finally comes in.
Surf (Instrumental)
Link Wray's angry "Vendetta" is all twisted and disquieting. It's an arrangement that would really be cool in the light of day.
Little Sister Surf (Instrumental)
An obvious surfable choice covered only by Surfin' Elvis (a Surf Coasters side project). Not very imaginative.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is kinda cool in a "Pink Panther" kinda way. Quite short, but very interesting. The nature of the song is not as harmed as others here by the lo-fi, though being able to actually hear the cymbals and drums would really make it groove.
Peter Gunn Surf (Instrumental)
A basic surf arrangement of Henry Mancini's classic detective theme.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Sixgun" is a slow moody spaghetti number. The writing is excellent, and the arrangement very sympathetic to the melody. Kinda sad, with an open desert feel, and an excellent melody line.
Surf (Instrumental)
Another original with a cool structure and minimalist melody riff that works well. Very Link Wray-ish, with tribal drums and hypnotic bass. Coulda been a contender.
Surf (Instrumental)
Almost tribal "Camel Walk"-ish, with a simple riff. A little more development, and it could be pretty cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
A little on the exotic side, this riff based number sports strange chord whammy and a circular lead. It's a little too unchanging, almost hypnotic, relying way too much on the strangeness.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Eightball" has an almost Christmas sounding melody line, and an odd rhythm. It's on the sad side, but like it still expects good things to come. Nicely written and developed.
Surf (Instrumental)
Slow and echoed rhythm guitar notes, a moody soft and low lead, and a walking bass portray an unchanging scene of a graceful floating "Stingray." This is a nicely written piece with potential.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Dragon" is kinda Henry Mancini-ish, a little too repetitious, yet quirky cool. Another example of a good idea masked by very muddy sound.
Surf (Instrumental)
Unlisted on the sleeve, track 18 is a spooky over-echoed song with a graveyard haunt feel, and a cool melody line.