Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The BoomSticks - The BoomSticks
 | The BoomSticks have a great drummer and bassist. The writing is often too jammy, and relies on the same chord drama. High energy with often chaotic sounding arrangements, and very poor quality drum recording. This album really suffers from a poor mix and lack of arranging. |
Picks: Jericho, North Shore
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
using a Middle eastern theme, "Jericho" has mystery, whammy chords, gritty glissandos, and dry desert tone. It's an interesting track with strong energy and enough changes to keep it engaging throughout.
Rock (Instrumental)
Whammy chords and guitar riffs intersect. The melody line is not as dominant as the chords, rendering a non-melodic sound. Some great drums and bass.
Rock (Instrumental)
Stereo whammy chords spread the joy as the guitar runs through a circular riff. "Pizza And Wings" is too jammy for my taste, though there are parts that rumble and some tasteful dry muted chord chops.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Skittlebrau" has a poppy melody and some interesting second guitar parts. Excellent drums and bass.
Rock (Instrumental)
Tremolo danger, chord drama, and circular riffs. Aside from great drums and bass, the arranging seems chaotic. The second guitar pattern is much more interesting than the melody.
Rock (Instrumental)
tension rises as "Tang" progresses, but the song seems unnatural, with a cycling riff that's kind of rushed feeling. This just feels nervous and not aquatic at all, except for the drums and occasional glissando.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Katia" implies a Middle Eastern theme. Cool drums are distant and cardboard sounding. I liked this at first, but by the time it was half over, I was already losing interest.
Rock (Instrumental)
Crude mono sound and rough playing suggest this is just a rehearsal recording. The melody line is OK. The trio arrangement is refreshing after the chaos of the overdubbed tracks.
Surf (Instrumental)
"North Shore" is a genuine surf track. Cruddy drum sound minimizes the drummer's performance. It's kind of riffy, but it's also infectious. The coolest parts are the glissandos that pan across the speakers. This is easily The BoomSticks best song.
The City Of DEAD Children Rock (Instrumental)
"The City Of DEAD Children" is a slow moving song in a trio arrangement. The sparseness of the arrangement makes the poor drum sound stand out. It's interesting briefly, but quickly fades from attention.