Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

Celebration Of Life presents a fine set of powerful surf blasts from 5 great bands, all captured live. The Insect Surfers display their unique dueling guitar style, the Dynotones chunk and romp, the Sand-Dunes drive the curl hard, the Surf Kings swirl and shred, and Slacktone - well - what needs to be said about Slacktone! Incidentally, the Dynotones also do a fine rompin' reverb thrashing of the Cramps' "Goo-Goo Muck."

Picks: Mojave, Electric Marlin, Volcano Juice, Hotline, Von Zipper's Revenge, Spandito Bandito, Green Room, Space Odyssey, Tears Of The Dolphin, Misirlou, Out Of Control, Coffin Closer, Glide, The Wedge

Desert Surf (Instrumental)

This is one of the most spectacular middle eastern surf songs around, and the Insect Surfers are in top form. Bouzoukis and belly dancers drip from every corner, while it also cries out southwest desert. A fine performance, energetic, melodic, and absolutely infectious.

Surf (Instrumental)

This new song pumps and writhes on a flatbed truck heading down the coast to glassy walls unknown. Fast and delicate, large and looming like the call of the sun, "Electric Marlin" is rhythm dominated and full of guitar adventure. Way cool. Even Ferenc's bass solo rules!

Surf (Instrumental)

Talk bout classic Insect Surfers rhythm! "Volcano Juice" is a powerful instro with a rolling bass line under a grand Bo Diddley tom tom cadence, topped by a relentless series of ever-building crescendos. Always a thrill to hear!

Surf (Instrumental)

The Dynotones are in fine chunky form as they rip into "Hotline." Great glissando action and reverb splendor, along with a powerful rhythm. Great stuff!

Surf (Instrumental)

"Von Zipper's Revenge" is way better here than on their CD. It's a tight little number with a surf beat and a solid frat progression. The stop-start structure and great drums work really well. This is a retitled cover of Frankie Stein's "Bodies Under The Bridge."

Surf (Instrumental)

The Sand-Dunes continue to get better and better. "Spandito Bandito" is a solid rockin' instro with ample reverb and punch, and a warm progression that speaks of classic surf, while splashing in modern shorebreak.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Green Room" is a rock solid splash of Spanish surf adventure, with solid rumble and a great riff. Open road traveling and long board action drip from every chord. A great drum break accented by crashing reverb tops it off. Great stuff!

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a fast surf blaster that's in a heck of hurry to some new break. Great melody and a ton of action. "Space Odyssey" is solid top to bottom, with slithering glissandos and great drums, and solid bass rumble too. This is an early version of the song that became the Nebulas' "Cosmos 954."

Surf (Instrumental)

This longtime Surf Kings song just gets better and better. Long minor key gloom and sadness, and haunting beauty cohabit this very Mermen-esque track. Fine writing, and splendid arranging. Fluid structures and very moody sounds make this a definite hair raiser.

Surf (Instrumental)

Tom Stanton rips the curl on a hard drivin' whammy intensified blast of "Misirlou." Thoroughly tuff and intense, this is a must for fans of this classic surf shredder. very powerful!

Surf (Instrumental)

One of the Crossfires most energetic blasts played grodie, growly, pounding, and powerful. Great fire and angularity, and string bending intensity. Yikes!

Surf (Instrumental)

"Coffin Closer" opens with a dramatic progression, but soon launches into that signature Dave Wronski power shred. Amazing precision and speed, and those great glissando-chokes of Dave's. A monster performance from THEE modern surf band!

Surf (Instrumental)

"Glide" is adventurous and spicy, with the feel is of a joyous surge. There's fire and power in all corners, and Dave's busy fingers work the magic, while Dusty and Sam pump like Hell! magnificent!

Surf (Instrumental)

Dick Dale's first original firestorm "The Wedge" is driven by high potency playing and extreme energy. Great work from all concerned here!