Surf Tribute To Burt Bacharach! - That's New Pussycat

Are you in the mood for something different? Let me rephrase that: Are you looking for something that marches to a different drummer, that's slightly weird and off-color? This Surf Tribute To Burt Bacharach!

That's New Pussycat fits all of those descriptions and more. The cover alone is a good indication of what you are in for.

The surf-instro world has been quite adventurous lately, covering everything from Bach to Bacharach. The instrumental segment of this compilation is brilliantly done. I wish I could to say the same for the groups that decided to sing. Some of the vocals are dreadful. Then, in the same token, some of the vocals are excellent and perfect for the composer's songs, a good example is the tracks with the lovely female background vocals complementing the instrumentals.

That is perfectly appropriate for a Bacharach interpretation. I am sure Mr. Bacharach is flattered that he has been honored with a tribute from such an unlikely genre. I am not sure he would appreciate how some of his greatest songs have been turned upside down to sound like punk and alternative music, though. It's noted that some of these groups are not surf-instro groups, and do not claim to be. This may be a very good reason why some of this music doesn't sound as good as it could be.

For the most part, this was a delightful disc. How can you miss with twenty-five tracks? That's more than enough music for anyone to choose from. Some of the premier surf-instro groups appear- Susan and The Surftones, Pollo Del Mar, Fifty Foot Combo, and the Tiki Tones- some of the names you will quickly notice gracing this unusual compilation. There was plenty for me to sink my teeth into on this CD. All criticism aside, this was a lot of fun to listen to. These ears appreciated all the effort and time that went into this project. Any guitar freak would revel in this vast expanse of saltwater refreshment.

Granted, this is different and veers off the beaten path a bit. The one attribute surf-instro music has that can't be taken away is its uncanny flexibility and ability to mold any music into something that sounds like it belongs within the framework of the genre's particular sound and style.

Some of this music is undoubtedly as fantastic and enjoyable as it gets. It will make any surf-instro fan smile and come back for more.

*A Special Thanks To Susan Yasinski of Susan and The Surftones for providing me with a copy of this CD for review!

Keith "MuzikMan"  Hannaleck 

May 27, 2000

Tracks:

01. 24 Hours From Tulsa-Apeman  

02. The Blob-Aqualads

03. Trains and Boats and Planes-The Baronics

04. Casino Royale Theme- Big Ray and The Futuras 

05. Baby, It's You-Brapidos Four 

06. God Give Me Strength-The Chubbies

07. The Look Of Love-Cosmonauti 

08. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head-Deadbolt  

09. The Windows Of The World- Fabulous Planktones

10. Italian Fuzz-Fifty Foot Combo 

11. Baby It's You-HiFi Ramblers 

12. Walk On By-Mill Valley Taters

13. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head-Mummy And The Peepshow  

14. This Guy's In Love With You-Nose Riders 

15. Baby It's You-Petty Booka 

16. I Say A Little Prayer-Pollo Del Mar

17. Do You Know The Way To San Jose-Seks Bomba 

18. Close To You-Squid Vicious 

19. Bond Street-Surfones 

20. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance-Susan and The Surftones 

21.What's New Pussycat?-Tiki Tones 

22. Anyone Who Had A Heart-Ritchie Venus 

23. (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me-Voodoo Court

24. Downhill and Shady-Waistcoats  

25. Trains and Boats and Planes-Wrong Corpses