Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Thurston Lava Tube - Live at the Rescue Rooms 2004
 | This is a hidden bonus album in mp3 format lurking on the disc of The Pink Elephant With Nipples For Tusks. Recorded live, performed with a grin, and enjoyed by the inmates, the Thurston Lava Tube is captured in full regalia. Very nice to hear. |
Picks: Fox Sharp Badger Minor, The Anchor Pigs, Gluon Boy, Shit Weasel, I Am The Walrus, Beep Beep Beep Inner Swamp, Argentinasaurus, I Wanna Be Your Man, What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body, Free As A Bird, Fireball Xl5, Forget About Freeman
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
Thick chords opens an interesting instro with haunting organ running below tribal drums and a slow melody with a sad feeling. Moody in slightly bluesy surf way. The song moves down a long corridor away from its melancholy past. Quite cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
The haunting swirl of the Leslie organ and the moody bass lines are accented with tribal drums. Together, they create a mysterious bed for the guitar melody. On the slow side of mid tempo, "The Anchor Pigs" is an inventive and emotional song with an interesting hook into the soul.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Gluon Boy" is a thick song with distortion on the guitar and stereo Leslie swirl. Big in a kind of psychedelic way, like surf from a time warped show at the Matrix circa '66. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
Big drama, moody danger, tension, and a plodding progression. "Shit Weasel" is not melodic in the beginning, but it develops a melodic guitar line and a sense of a thickened Iron Butterfly song.
Surf (Instrumental)
In the earlier studio version of the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus," I was left a tepid impression. Live, the song is significantly more engaging.
Beep Beep Beep Inner Swamp Surf (Instrumental)
The drums are cool, the swimming whammy brings on an island danger, and the thickness of the tone adds an unnerving edge. The melody is intriguing, and the the song sports several changes, and a guarded optimism.
Surf (Instrumental)
A very catchy tropical beat and rhythm pump out the fun under a liquid guitar line. Perhaps the most catchy and grin-inspiring track here, "Argentinasaurus" is warm and endearing, and quite memorable.
Mall Organ (Instrumental)
"I Wanna Be Your Man" started life as a Beatles discard that ended up in the Rolling Stones songbook. Great drums and cheesy organ leads, and fun throughout.
What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body Surf (Instrumental)
From a light hearted launch to a cacophonous collapse.
Q: "What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?"
A: Your Elbow, unless you are Lyle Lovitt, in which case it would be your head!.
Mall Organ (Instrumental)
The ocean laps at the shore while tribal drums gently provide meter for a shimmering vibrato guitar. "Free As A Bird" is very pretty in a lagoon summer kinda way. The slow stereo motion of the organ gives this a surreal feeling. It sounds like its title. Way fun!
Surf (Instrumental)
With a bit of a nod to the Tornados and all who followed to praise space exploration in the early sixties, "Fireball Xl5" is an optimistic adventure with the correct pedigree.
Surf (Instrumental)
Blend "Hawaii Five-0," bubble gum's childlike enthusiasm, something approaching the C.H.U.D.'s image of the sixties, and you might get the idea of this track. Not exactly melodic, more like several periods all mixed up.