Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Reigning Monarchs - All Summer Single
 | Three tracks from Los Angeles' The Reigning Monarchs in a large, sophisticated sweep of sound. Excellent! |
Picks: All Summer Single, Lion and Bones, Attack Sweater Attack
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
Trumpets herald the arrival of a splendid, if slightly pompous, instro. Fuzz and reverb, great drums, and pumping bass. The bridges have elements of spy, and the break is echo-driven psychedelic with wonderful drums and a soaring lead line. Very strong!
Surf (Instrumental)
"Lion and Bones" has an unusual stilted rhythm pattern with a sort of old world feel to it. The middle slows and slithers, with horn and dub-echoed rhythm and a bit of meandering ganja psych.
Surf (Instrumental)
Title aside, "Attack Sweater Attack" is slow and dramatic, with very cool drum work. Ska rhythm guitar rounds out the arrangement. I wasn't initially drawn into this, but by the time I reached the midway point, I was fully engaged.