Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Retroliners - Raybans, Roadtrips and Reverb
 | The Retroliners make a nice blend of country accented with some surfisms. This CD is all instrumental, and all original. It's written pretty well. The orientation is country of the Nashville variety, with delay in lieu of reverb, and alfalfa in lieu of kelp. Enjoyable, with hints of surf. |
Picks: Downshift, Rumble In The Stratosphere, Monica, Steve McQueen, Gatorbait, Shelby County Line, The Transylvania Twist, Sioux City Surf, Banshees and Bombardiers, Velvet Lounge, The Average Wedding Band, Jackson Street Stroll, In Cognito, Allen Wrench, Front Porch Blues, Private Dick, Sally Sue, Java Bustante
Track by Track Review
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Echoplexed fifties styled melody, with shimmering guitar tones, and an infectious vibrating feel. It's a little one dimensional, but still quite nice. Not surf here, just a good rockin' instro.
Rumble In The Stratosphere Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
A minimal tune with a rhythmic gentle backtrack, and Link Wray-like sparsely placed lead guitar notes. This works really well. It doesn't change much, but the vibrating shimmer is most endearing, and the happy melody worms it's way into your being. Very nice track.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
This is a gent track, delicately played, with images of quiet lagoons, sunset drives, and wahines. Very nice track, easy to listen to, and pretty. Shimmering fluidity. Among the better recent releases in the slow and pretty mold.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
With great expectations, I started this track, expecting to hear a shimmering biker-edged instro oozing the screen persona of Steve McQueen, but alas I was greeted by a fifties rockabilly boogie kinda number, with a fairly thin sound, and not much of a melody.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Vibrato shiny with an unusual melody that features really quick sequences of notes at the top of each line that seem just barely there. It's mostly jam oriented, but quite fun.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Country pickin', gentle gingham esthetics, and picnic ham flavor.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
A stroll for the undead, a vibrato lurk for the evil ones, a shimmering mirror of no reflection for Renfield's return. This is a delightful track, rockin' with joyous vibrato and shimmer.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Echoed chord slams don't equate to surf, but the track is very good. The semi Indian toms are cool, the imagery is good, and the over all vibes are enjoyable.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Some almost double picking, low-E leads, rhythmic nearsurfisms, and too much dependence on a progression. That's not necessarily bad, but it doesn't seem to go anywhere. It has some bright moments, particularly in the break, but it doesn't stand out much. Great title.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Silky bachelor pad mentality, sleepy dinner shimmer, vibratoed accents, and a somehow big sound for a small place. Minimal, soulful, soothing environment creating mood pulsing instro fun.
The Average Wedding Band Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Well, if the average wedding band is melody free, and the sound is disconnected from reality, then this is it. Like Captain Beefheart Funk played by accountants. I think that's the point. Funny little number.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Countrified almost folk guitar riffs, and a Nashvillian melody, with shimmering tones and a gentle lilt.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Cool tune, closer to surf than others here. This sports a rolling drum cadence, shimmering vibrato, surfish melody, and dramatic flair. It's still pretty simple, and there's plenty of plaid tablecloth and overalls, but the wave visions are also quite prominent. I like this track the best. It will fit well into a surf set.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Twango de la Nashville con back alley, spunky, rolling sensible beat, and jam based progressions. Blues and corndawgs.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Like the title says, it's a plucky suburban Southern afternoon at grandpa's kinda tune, a jam for the pickin' uncles and neighbors.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
With homage to Harlem Nocturne and Surf Tracy, this is a fine track, with shimmer, pulsating imagery, and minor drama. A bit tedious at times, but mostly pretty damn good.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Country funk and pass the pickles Mable.
Country Semi-Surf (Instrumental)
Chunky percussive, vibrating, and dramatic. This is among the more interesting jam based tracks here, if only for the chunka chunka rhythm guitar.