Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Swiv-O-Matics - She Walks On Bars
 | The Swiv-O-Matics new CD is an epic power struggle, and they win. Huge guitar and plundering relentless drive. The disc continues their quest for a larger than life sound. Their fans will surely be pleased. The last track is a marvelous vocal, a cover of the Who's Boris The Spider that demands airplay.
For those who have followed the Berzerkers from their roots as Da Monz, you might find this fascinating. There's a lot about it that reminds me the backtrack to "Ten Cent Dance Girl." |
Picks: The $10 Stare, VE7-1111, The Bad, Bad Girl of Surf, Thong Song, T.W.I.N.E., I, The Swirv, Walker, Don't, Kam Fong as Chin Ho, Hot Rod Bunny, She Walks On Bars, The Backwards Cowgirl, Hey, Mr. Potentate, Thanksgiving With Mrs. Bellows
Track by Track Review
Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
Rising feedback gives way to thundering lumbering ominosity. Thick and grumbly, with a surf beat and a nasty storm surge edge. "The $10 Stare" is mighty BIG!
Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
A light weight, almost playful intro steps aside to let a grinder through. The melody line seems like a cross between stadium rock and rockabilly, while the heavy duty backtrack plunders the silence.
The Bad, Bad Girl of Surf Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
Big whammy chords and sub surf twang over a surf beat. The melody line is sometimes a bit riffy, but overall "The Bad, Bad Girl of Surf" is powerful and dramatic, with relentless energy.
Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
The chanted alley cat grunts of "thong song" give this otherwise very powerful track cute edge. The circulating riff is catchy in that minimalist rockabilly way, and in this context works very well. A fine excursion into Powerinstroland.
Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
Heavy damped chord chunk, bass thump, a surf beat, and whirling organ support a dark progression. Thick and unforgiving, with a disturbingly dangerous break. Very interesting track.
Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
A fast and infectious beat with heavy bass thunder grumble under an angular guitar line. Powerful and junkyard dog scrappy. Great title.
Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
On the slow side and augmented with claps and swirling guitar effects, "Walker, Don't" is quite a fine track. It has a spooky space epic feel about it, with ample drive and a catchy sound.
Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
A jazzy bass line and some very interesting guitar and bass work in the first verse give way to a power surge of grind and pump. The hard verses sound miles from the title, yet it all works well. Big rock thunder.
Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
Monster twango of the in your face power variety. More riffy than melodic, but hard to ignore.
Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
The title track sports some delicacy amid the power, with an interesting guitar line and a dark edge. It has some of the drama build of After Image's "Surf Generator" / "Part Of The Threat," and a very big sound.
Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
The slow ultra vibrato solo guitar is entirely suave, with a soft bass and percussion beneath. Under a minute, and transitioning between cuddly and dangerous. Very cool!
Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
Tweaky guitar lines and grumbly bass yield to big groan thrash and flow guitar. Moody and entirely too big to be sad. There's an air of the spaghetti western in it too. Quite nice.
Thanksgiving With Mrs. Bellows Junkyard Dog Surf (Instrumental)
Turkey in the dell, or pass the peas please... neither really,m though there is a sense of a turkey trot about it. Mostly it's big and bouncy.