Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

Disc one of this two-disc set is a cross sectional adventure in the land of the Ziggens vocals. Disc two is all about the surf, with eleven of the fourteen tracks being from their instro history. They remain one of the more unusual bands of the nineties, like a fast-forward inversion of the Toy Dolls.

Picks: Surfin' You Say?, I Fought The Lawn, I Don't Have One, Goin' Richter, Stranded On Clicker Island, 61.9, Surfin' Buena Park, On And On, Rincon, Sea Kelp, Burpin' U. S. A.

Aggro Surf (Instrumental)

This is a fluffy afternoon tune, breezily drifting through the palm fronds. It's funny, but it's so cool, that the "da da da" chorus even works. It has a Latin edge, and very pretty melody. This track includes Elliott Easton on string bass.

Aggro Surf (Instrumental)

A great title for an instro! The anticipated musical references to "I fought The Law" are not here. Great rhythm and drum thunder, with kinda riffy chord guitar lines. It has power and style, but not really a memorable melody.

Aggro Surf (Instrumental)

This song is a kind of eighties instro - more than a back track, less than dominant. The melody line to "I Don't Have One" borrows some from the Motors' "Dancin' The Night Away." Even so, it's enjoyable and spunky.

Surf (Instrumental)

A pretty cool surf instro awaits within the little silver bumps of this track. Right from the double picked intro, it bounces right along. It is melodic, energetic, snappy, happy, and infectious. Nice job! It even has that Surf Trio edge, plus a happier more melodic dance in your pants kinda feel. Vince Meghrouni plays sax.

Surf (Instrumental)

At first, I didn't like this much. It seemed more backtrack than song, but it has some sorta addictive quality that hooks you, and there is just enough adventure and pomp to make it stick. The Spanish double picked midsection is very nice, and could be a song in itself. Elliott Easton plays guitar.

Surf (Instrumental)

A semi funky kind of song with a playful guitar lead and a light hearted feel. The rhythm guitar and bass work very well against the lead. Interestingly simple and unique. The "ah" chorus is either cheesy or cool, depending on your mood. There are a few borrowed moments from "Pipeline."

Aggro Surf (Instrumental)

This is a demo version of one of the Ziggens' more bipolar songs. It opens as a reggae based floater, descending into a faster big surf guitar rage, and eventually producing a speedy glissando. The melody is catchy, partly because it's reminiscent of War's "Low Rider," and partly because it's so edgy and tight.

Aggro Surf (Instrumental)

Big guitar grind goes forth with a cool melody line and chop chord rhythm. Some whammy, some chunk, and some surf adventure. "On And On" defies the insinuation of its title. Cool track.

Surf (Vocal)

Beautiful island chords call to the tourist in you, and the chorus cements the feeling. "Rincon" is a vocal that's warm and inviting. The multifaceted Ziggens have an extreme knack for using any-all genres they feel like to make their songs work. A great modern surf song.

Surf Punk (Instrumental)

This is a suave instro, melodically seaworthy and fun. The rhythm track is playfully infectious, and the lead guitar issues forth a pleasant lead line, un-effected (no reverb). It's a pretty nice track, listenable, entertaining, and with the whistling middle section, it's catchy too.

Punk (Instrumental)

Yikes, what lows we have stooped to... opening with a dedicated belch, this instro is a progression based slow punky grind with an "ahhh" chorus line. Without the burps, it's not very interesting. With the burps, it's just adolescent silly.