Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Goldentones - Atmosphere
 | Much of this is non-melodic riff rock better suited to backtracks than upfront listening. The sound is remeniscent of the Evasions, but without the cute hooks. This is the first CD from the now defunct Goldentones from Royal Oak, Michigan, originally issued in 1993. |
Picks: O.J., The World Traveler, The Loner, Junior, Holeshot, The Soul Of Doom, The Ever Expanding Head, Ginger Grant, Keen Aqua Pie, Fudge, Rooftop Baby, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Miserlou, Pinball Pat, Lolly Vegas, Thatz Why, Bash, Eppis (Estep), Surf-A-Billy
Track by Track Review
O.J., The World Traveler Surf (Instrumental)
A jet passes overhead as it climbs out. Then a relentless and very eighties sounding riff evolves. Non-melodic and kinda grindy.
Surf (Instrumental)
Low and guttural, and gloomily melodic, "The Loner" is morose and singular. All soft grumbled and low fuzzed.
Junior Surf (Instrumental)
Big digital reverb and no melody. Just big noisy guitar and thrashy energy. The bridge is interesting, and the power at the core effective. There's also drama and twang. It's just not much of a song.
Surf (Instrumental)
A car drives past (right to left), and then the two note relentlessness takes over. Whether it's the double or single picked verses does not matter. Only the intensity of the nervous energy is interesting. No melody at all.
Surf (Instrumental)
Distant thunder rolls in towards a shimmering tropical vibrato guitar, which yields to a chord progression hinting of the Penetrators' "Melodie's Dilemma," though I'm sure this predates it.
Surf (Instrumental)
Non-melodic power driven guitar lines, some thrashed, some double picked, all pushed to the limit. Despite the lack of fluidity, it's catchy and durable. So, is "The Ever Expanding Head" growing from knowledge, ego, or tumor? You decide.
Ginger Grant Surf (Instrumental)
"Ginger Grant" just doesn't go anywhere. Just chords and splash and changes.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Keen Aqua Pie" is strictly an interesting percussion exercise. No music, just the beat. Cool actually.
Surf (Instrumental)
Opening like it wants to be "Pipeline," this evolves into a dark and dangerous into the rocks kinda tune, with glissandoes and dissonant non-fluid progressions.
Surf (Instrumental)
With a riff and beat a little like cross between John Anderson's "Madame Prairie Dog" and John D. Loudermilk's "Windy and Warm." Playful and fun.
The Greatest Story Ever Told Surf (Instrumental)
Great cowbell percussion and relentless two note bass lines, with digitally reverbed ultra fuzz guitar leaning on the same note for way too long. Edgy and unnerving.
Surf (Instrumental)
The middle eastern pop tune that Dick Dale made into a household word is delivered fluidly, a bit slower, and with an infectious arrangement that's not quite trad, but very close. The digital reverb gives it a distant feel in lieu of the upfront power of other arrangements. Tasteful.
Pinball Pat Surf (Instrumental)
This is a bit of a nod to the "Munsters Theme" and Butch Patrick's "What Ever Happened To Eddie." It's just not melodic or interesting. More thrashy and jammy.
Lolly Vegas Surf (Instrumental)
A long splashy glissando opens this otherwise fuzz grind riff rocker. It's big and powerful, but sounds nothing like any of the Vegas Brothers' endeavors, not the Avantis nor Redbone.
Thatz Why Surf (Instrumental)
Gloom and doom in a future without melody. There's no surf feel here, and little to catch attention. It would make a fine backtrack probably.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Bash" opens with promise of a light and playful popster. Delicate and circular, with a pleasing melody line.
Surf (Instrumental)
Chop chords, whole track digital reverb, liquid danger, and a haunting melody are the main features of "Eppis (Estep)." The ominous nature of the melody and sound are effective and intriguing.
Surf (Instrumental)
Like the title says, rockabilly reverbed. All the elements that are found in rockabilly instros are here. Bouncy beat and riff rockin' fun.