Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

Speedball Jr. play with unending intensity and volume. They are louder and harsher than Dick Dale these days. This is not your father's surf. For The Broad Minded is a complete energy drain. You may not be able to take it all the way through in one sitting. Aggressive, intense, and way over the top! the final track on the disc is a Christmas vocal called "Rudolph's Secret."

Picks: U69, Inferno, Orient Express, Laguna Beach, Scalped, What A Way To Run A Railroad, Suddenly Billy, El Camino, Caramba!, Pipeline, Le Chat Noir

Surf Rock (Instrumental)

Dark and heavy, "U69" verges on ugly, while being compelling. Very rock-toned and surf based, it suggests the nineties-onward side of Dick Dale's career in its aggression and flying glissandos. Quite powerful.

Surf Rock (Instrumental)

"Inferno" portrays dark skies ready to destroy you, but you just have to get that one last shortboard shredder in. Very powerful and aggressive.

Surf Rock (Instrumental)

Once more, there's no let up in tension or anguish as Speedball Jr. hints slightly at Vic Goddard's "Don't Split It," easily his most intense work, where he similarly borrows slightly from "Born To Be Wild" in the break, and buries keys that just hint at their presence. Superbly aggressive and compelling.

Surf Rock (Instrumental)

Treble Spankers' rockin' "Laguna Beach" is made very angular and shred-worthy, as if Dick Dale had written it. The muted lines and the heavy aggression, along with the ambulance references, make this a tuff track to follow.

Surf Rock (Instrumental)

Dick Dale's "Scalped" completes the nod to the King. Almost bigger than his, this track is a real power romp. Raw and intense.

Surf Rock (Instrumental)

The intensity of "What A Way To Run A Railroad" is unmistakable and remarkably nerve wracking. There's a very high energy bridge that is lower power than the song, leaving you with a false sense of calm by contrast. In your mug and all consuming. It's hard to imagine, but this is bigger than Huevos Rancheros' original.

Surf Rock (Instrumental)

Whammy dips and dark assaults on your sanity aggressively charge through the monitors. Not one ounce of rest, and lots of demanding double picked shredding. Super-fast glissandos and hard charging chords complete the image. Yikes!

Surf Rock (Instrumental)

Even with a title like "El Camino" that is generally associated with more "fun" surf, Speedball Jr. rocks like this is their last song. With all knobs turned to eleven, this powers along without restraint. Great drums!

Surf Rock (Instrumental)

If the title is what you exclaim upon enduring the energy assault here, then it's a perfect title. It's not the least bit Spanish, but it sure powers its way through the night!

Surf Rock (Instrumental)

This is a loud and very chunky monsterization of Brian Carmen and Bob Spickard's classic. If Johnny Thunders had understood surf, he probably would have done this instead of how he mangled "Pipeline." Way cool!

Surf Rock (Instrumental)

This uncharacteristically calm and soothing track comes none too soon. I'm worn out by the intensity, and "Le Chat Noir" is a welcome respite. haunting and dark and moody, and even, dare I say it with Speedball Jr., gentle! Really cool!