Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Savvy Show Stoppers
 | This CD is a compilation of the band's seven inch single releases Love Without Words (8/95), Wow, Flutter, Hiss '86 (4/86), Schlagers! (4/87), and TTD (2/88). If there's an essential Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet release, this is it. |
Picks: Good Cop Bad Cop, Musical Interlude, Theme From T.V., Zombie Compromise, Malfunction, Shake Some Evil, You Spin Me Round '86, Run Chicken Run, Bennett Cerf, Egypt Texas, Customized, Our Weapons Are Useless, Shadowy Countdown, Harlem By The Sea, Having An Average Weekend, Misty, Summer Wind, Big Baby
Track by Track Review
Post Surf (Instrumental)
Big fuzzy whammy bass laden groovy menacing thunder... yup, that covers it. It's a great heavy riff, lumbering danger, Link Wray tinged, and fluidly moving. Among their more necessary tracks. This CD is a compilation of the band's seven inch single releases.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
This is more melodic than the title might imply. Rumbly and fluid, it's twangy and spunky.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
Crunchy dangerous grind, with a minimal riff and a menacing ambiance.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
Disjointed and slightly nasty crunch, with a monotonous danger chord churn, a menacing relentlessness, and big chord whammy.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
rapid percussion, rumbling bass, then... musicus interruptus... as a malfunction breaks. It's a brief track that's all about malfunctions.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
Lumbering low down and grody, "Shake Some Evil" moves like a behemoth through the night, a Link Wray inspired danger zone. Quite nasty.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
This is a raw live capture of Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, originally issued in June of 1987 at gigs and the like on their private issue 46 1/2 R.P.M. single. It's a whirling organic thing with a Pacific Northwest influence, as well as a Memphis edge.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
This is a rockin' mess-with of Link Wray's chicken bop classic. Thrash and cluck, and lotsa fun.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
An ancient track from an early single and album. Their early work was more song oriented, less quick hook that goes undeveloped. This is pre-Kids In The Hall theme ("Having An Average Weekend"), and is pretty nice. Hints of surf, but not too.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
"Egypt Texas" presents an interesting brooding melody against choked chops for a moody effect. Nicely constructed, a little dramatic, and smooth. The melody is catchy, yet the track retains a primal crunch.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
Chunky in a garage sense, "Customized" is built around a riff and some cool chops. It's percussive, yet flows pretty well.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
Slightly dissonant, "Our Weapons Are Useless" hints at cloak and dagger espionage, while displaying fluid playing and inventive motifs. Quite friendly and gutsy too.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
Yup, they count down over a relentless bass line until they blast off. The riff is fairly melodic, and the power satisfying.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
This Earl Hagen tune finds its hidden edge in the guitar. Very similar to the Perry Mason theme, "Harlem By The Sea" rocks and flows with a smooth liquid line accented by stinging whammy. Very cool.
Having An Average Weekend Post Surf (Instrumental)
This is the infectious and powerful theme to The Kids In The Hall TV series. Hard driving, spunky and spirited, and diverse in direction and energy, "Having An Average Weekend" is their most recognizable track.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
Earl Garner's "Misty" is beautifully poured out in an almost Santo and Johnny sweetness. Delicate playing, cool damped chops, and subtle percussion. very suave and short.
Post Surf (Instrumental)
Johnny Mercer's "Summer Wind" flows from the speakers like post surf breakwater foam. Pretty, bouncy, a little sad, and quite appealing.
Buried Treasure (Vocal)
Slowly it peaks around the corner from the shadowland it was lurking in. "Big Baby" features narrated silliness 'bout buried treasure in the back yard. A fine little story.