Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
Gary Hoey - Endless Summer IIdotdotdot
artworkLeading the way into metal wankage and post surf self abuse, Gary Hoey nevertheless does come to some solid tracks on this disc, though mostly so far away from any semblance of the surf genre that it's hard to imagine why he thinks it's surf music. Notable are "Linus & Lucy," "Shake & Stomp" with Dick Dale, "The Deep," "Escape," and particularly the ska treatment of "Endless Summer." They each offer different approached, and do show that Hoey is a fine player when he drops the guitar hero routine.
Picks: Riptide, Blast, Sweet Water, Low Rider, Walkin' The Nose, Drive, La Rosa Negra, Linus and Lucy [Charlie Brown], Surfdoggin', Pipe, Shake-N-Stomp [Part II], Theme From The Endless Summer, Escape, The Deep

Track by Track Review


Riptide dotdotdot
Guitar Hero (Instrumental)

This is a lumbering track without too much guitar hero stuff, though way more than fits any surf genre. The melody is minimal but effective, and the keyboard's throbbing is cool, as is the very fine bass work. Intense and edgie, with nicely deployed effects on the guitar.

Blast dot
Metal Guitar Hero (Instrumental)

This track is a self indulgent noodle fest, it the overworked big venue guitar hero sense. No melody, just leaning back with hair flying in the artificial wind while long sustained notes burst the ear drums.

Sweet Water dotdotdot
Blues Rock (Instrumental)

Funky plunky blues based noodle fest attempt at the coolness of "Senior Blues" or maybe War at the beach. Riffs without purpose.

Low Rider dotdot
Metal Guitar Hero (Instrumental)

The best cover of this song is from Spiral Jetty. This is too heroic, too spotlight, and not funky enough. This is ok, just too predictable.

Walkin' The Nose dotdotdot
Blues (Instrumental)

Bluesy struttin' thing fit for a break time tune at the local bar. Not interesting or inventive.

Drive dot
Metal Guitar Hero (Instrumental)

Thick, guitar hero metal riffs, waiting for a song to arrive on scene. No more than a riff, and over indulged stylized string bending.

La Rosa Negra dotdotdot
Fusion (Instrumental)

Latin percussion and a Ray Barretto-Sergio Mendez feel, with fusion guitarology, like Santana maybe. A nice track for sure.

Linus and Lucy [Charlie Brown] dotdotdot
Cartoon Metal Fusion (Instrumental)

Thick sludgomatic introduction to a metal grunge rendition of the classic Vince Guaraldi theme for the first (and subsequent) Peanuts Special. This is cool, but not as cool as the JFA studio version. Interesting treatment, giving a whole new meaning to mindless cartoonage.

Surfdoggin' dotdotdot
Country Bumpkin (Instrumental)

Country bumpkin Tony Joe White (quickening version) kinda tune, well played and mighty infectious. No surf of course, but way fun and well suited for a hay ride.

Pipe dotdotdot
Blue Jazz (Instrumental)

Slow and flow, precise percussion, exceptionally low flowin' bass, and a jazzy blue sax underpin a nicely played sorta late seventies Quiet Sun kinda guitar. It's really quite a nice track.

Shake-N-Stomp [Part II] dotdotdot
Surf Rock (Instrumental)

King of the Surf Guitar Dick Dale adds his considerable weight to this track, with his obvious talent overshadowing Hoey's. While Dick flies off on his usual trip, Hoey just plays along. His leads are far less interesting than Dick's, and certainly less interesting than Stevie Ray Vaughn's work with Dick on "Pipeline." Fiery and powerful, but overbearing.

Theme From The Endless Summer dotdotdotdot
Surf Ska (Instrumental)

This is a splendid rearrangement of the Sandals' classic. The ska backtrack is way cool, and the guitar work is much more reverent than the other work here. It's a nice blend of elements, from the horn and the ska, to the smooth almost clean-surf guitar. Really tasty track, I think.

Escape dotdotdot
Wind Blown Hair Rock (Instrumental)

Funky underbelly of seventies blacksploitation soundtrack with heavy metal guitar and disco high hat. Big venue wind blown hair rock anthem, only just a bit better.

The Deep dotdotdot
Metal Guitar Hero (Instrumental)

Watery scenes from the gloomy side of the sea. Slower and moodier, this is actually a listenable and visual track, though itÕs entirely too long. After the lengthy intro, it swells to a howling evil thunder and shrill scream that might have come from the Scorpions in Ō74. The more delicate work just past that is enjoyable. ItÕs a very pompous track, but has more art to it than others here. A little less festival guitar stuff would keep it from losing the thread. It is an effective track.