Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Killer Filler - Filler Up!
 | North Carolina's Killer Filler are extremely tight and very well schooled in the art of the vintage Stax-Volt instros which provide a launch pad for their updated punchy sound. |
Picks: Mallsville, Gogoductress, Gasboys, Mucho! (Mucho Tempo), Kiddie Pool, Suburbanite, Go This Way, Wild Trip, Fever
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
Heavy rockisms drive this sorta Davie Allan-ish biker number. It's more about the progression and organ than the dirty fuzz lead, which lives just too low in the mix most of the time.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Mallsville" features a very nice melody line, and a good blend of textures and tone. The bell-like piano is a very cool offset to the lead guitar's bite. Quite cool!
Rock (Instrumental)
Nifty lounge club combo fun lives in this totally playful romp. Not a drop of serious here!
Rock (Instrumental)
great drums and funky bass thump under combo guitars and organ in this soulful riffer. "Morgan's Alley" is fun in the way sixties soul instros were.
Rock (Instrumental)
great spy whammy and tone, muted surf rhythm, and a haunting image dominate "Gogoductress." It is a very well done track, with many contributing layers of guitar lines and keys.
Rock (Instrumental)
Spooky keys and long guitar, along with throbbing tremolo, create a spy carnival image. Slightly goofy, yet very satisfying.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Mucho! (Mucho Tempo)" is a playful number with the sense of easy joy that The Champs used to convey. No, it's not really Champs-like. I found myself coming back to this track more than any other here.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Kiddie Pool" might be the most 'normal' rock instro here, though that understates the coolness factor. There are times when the keys imply Johnny and the Hurricanes, and there's a spiffy glissando too, but overall, it's a well structured and executed pool-side treat.
Rock (Instrumental)
The whistling organ takes the delicate rhythm guitar and twangy lead off the beach and into the cul-de-sacs of the Inland Empire. Then, in comes some very tasteful surf reverbed guitar lines to anchor it on the coast.
Rock (Instrumental)
Surfish rhythms and whirling organ carry the song through its paces. Imagine if Stax-Volt was based in Malibu instead of Memphis... it's kinda like that.
Rock (Instrumental)
Sultry tremolo guitar plays a moody island melody against a vacation combo rhythm section. There are even some silky island whammy chords. "Go This Way" is a lovely track!
Rock (Instrumental)
"Wild Trip" is a percussive number with whistling organ and whammy chords. playful and fun, and very well executed. Twang and soul coexist here.
Rock (Instrumental)
Piano and smooth guitar lay out a simple and fun journey. The delicate double picked lines are very coastal.
Rock (Instrumental)
Muted surf rhythm guitar plays a deluxe circular pattern under whirling Ventures In Space like organ melody. Part goofy, part groovy.
Rock (Instrumental)
Peggy Lee's "Fever" is transformed into a funky liquid play land. Very nicely arranged and played!
Rock (Instrumental)
this is all Stax-Volt soul instro with guitar fills and lead organ. The drums and bass hold it together as was always the case with Booker T. and the MG's. Quite fun, and extremely tight.