Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Plungers - Surf Americana
 | This third CD from Austin's thoroughly unique Plungers. Very high caliber, full of richly arranged and produced recordings, and a pleasure to enjoy. |
Picks: High Plains Surfer, Flaming Arrow, Surfin' Byrd, To Be Young, Bongo Beach, El Toupee, Runaway Day, Black Pool, Riverside Nights, Clipper, Surfopolis, Wonder Wheel, Thundercloud, Hollie Days, Workin' Out The Kinks, Unchained Medley
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
In a delightful tribute to the spaghetti sounds of surf, the Plungers drive this very infectious and rhythmic song with very cool sound and energy. Visual and well arranged, with lots going on.
Surf (Instrumental)
With just a bit of an Indian flavor, perhaps the way European bands use it, "Flaming Arrow" is motion oriented and richly textured. It's a fairly thick song with a straight surf beat.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Surfin' Byrd" is brilliant! Introductory chords borrowed from the Byrds' "Eight Miles High" bring on a dramatic and sweeping spaghetti surf epic with Byrds jangle and desert surfability. Totally cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
"To Be Young" is a lovely slowish song with a very fluid melody that's not unlike some Christmas songs in its simplicity and beauty. This is simply lovely, and very fit to surf.
Surf (Instrumental)
As you might expect, "Bongo Beach" employs bongos to add a bit of exotica to a wonderfully muted surf song. This is very hard not to like!
Surf (Instrumental)
Images of topdown runs and the Ventures sense of melody and structure combine for a wonderfully warm summer run. "El Toupee" is really cool, with a grin and an infectious sound, especially with the varied glissandos. Wonderful.
Surf (Instrumental)
A great dribbling glissando launches "Runaway Day" into a summer on the plane song with a sensational sense of travel. It's warm and sunny, and quite scenic.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Black Pool" is an interesting sidetrip that starts with chords and sounds that reminded me of MFQ's "Lifetime" a bit. Then, as the main body of the song takes over, it becomes a more regular Plungers song on the slower side of their happy aisle. The break is almost Christmas-like.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Riverside Nights" is an epic sweep of the sunset riders. Warm and Southwestern in some ways, big and playful in others.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Clipper" is a happy playful romp through coastal territory with shipping lanes in view. Infectious and bouncy and very nicely done.
Surf (Instrumental)
With an opening hinting of "Comin' Home Baby" followed by a slithery glissando, "Surfopolis" quickly launches into a picturesque ride through wild country. It's large and richly arranged.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Wonder Wheel" is a slower number with beautiful tone and rich arranging that supports it very well. The many muted guitar lines are splendid!
Surf (Instrumental)
Stormin' thunder and glissandos rage in a thick wash of weather and hope. Big drama in the drums and long sustain, coupled with a Christmas-like melody line create a really cool track!
Surf (Instrumental)
Big and surf on the chimney cool, "Hollie Days" is a panoramic sleigh ride of a song with a very inviting melody and sound. Naturally, the Christmas-titled song is less Christmas-like than a few of the others here.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is too cool! Infectious muted reverb guitars, and a rhythmic nature make "Workin' Out The Kinks" a pleasure to behold. It's maybe a little bit Kinks-like, but not so you'd really be distracted. Splendid!
Surf (Instrumental)
"Unchained Melody" and "Tammy's In Love" merge for a lush and very smile-inducing ride down nostalgia lane. Very cool!