Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
JFA - S/T / Mad Gardendotdotdot
artworkThe early eighties in Arizona found Jodi Foster's Army playing some mighty singular skate punk, and spiking it up with surf punk instros. They were ahead of the curve, and a force to be reckoned with. Their sound is crunchy, fuzz laden, and reverbed too. Their adoption of Vince Guaraldi's "Linus And Lucy" under the name "Charlie Brown" is among the earliest surf renderings of pop themes from an eighties band. This CD combines their two studio albums.
Picks: Deltitnu (Untitled), ABA, Standing On The Verge, Pipetruck, Untitled, Charley Brown

Track by Track Review


Deltitnu (Untitled) dotdot
Surf Punk (Instrumental)

"Deltitnu" is "Untitled" backwards... clever, eh? And, well, it is the track called "Untitled" run backwards, which is itself just a snippet of random noise.

ABA dotdotdot
Surf Punk (Instrumental)

Ah the drama of it all... huge chords open, raw chunk carries it forward, then fast skate thrash progressions maintain the energy. This track works much better in-studio than the live version. It is still more like a backtrack looking for a melody.

Standing On The Verge dotdotdot
Surf Punk (Instrumental)

Big power chords and an almost melodic yet discordant lead line. Redefining quirk, it reminds of Zappa if he wrote a little less intentionally and a little more fluidly.

Pipetruck dotdotdotdot
Surf Punk (Instrumental)

Major power and twang erupt as JFA slam through this cover of the Dead Kennedys' variation on "Pipeline." Lots of crunch, plenty of zing, and fit for a crash and burn in a half-pipe.

Untitled dotdot
Surf Punk (Instrumental)

A snippet of studio messing around as they find their instruments actually turned on... short, and not a song at all.

Charley Brown dotdotdotdotdot
Surf Punk Jazz (Instrumental)

This redefinition of the now classic Vince Guaraldi theme used so many times in Peanuts specials is brilliant. The melodic sense of this song is perfect for their approach, and just waiting to be a surf classic. Fine performance, blending a lot of the original subtleties with big electric guitar sounds. A must have for the collector of instros from the outskirts of surf.