Surf Instro Review: Chum-Cheater Five

Note: The music I reviewed at the time was not the entire album included here for streaming, which is the Dewey Decibel System. It was a long time ago, so the band may have sent me a sample or demo to listen to.

If you are not familiar with the lore of the sea, chum is a mixture of fish, blood, and various other parts used to lure sharks. Musically, this isn’t chum. It’s surf-instro, nothing fancy. That’s why Chum’s Cheater Five has an appeal and a certain charm.

In surfing, a "Cheater Five" is a maneuver where a surfer moves their front foot to the very tip of the board's nose while maintaining most of their weight on their back foot.

Of course, seeing the world through your mama’s brown-eye isn’t charming. But this band's carefree and fun attitude is undoubtedly entertaining. I tend to laugh at what others may find disgusting, what can I say? I got a good laugh when I looked at the sub-title of track two. Their attitude is much like their music — carefree and fun.

This group, a typical surf-instro trio, is a delight to listen to. Their music is carefree and fun, much like their attitude. This CD serves as a good introduction to musicians with some promise. However, five songs are hardly enough to satisfy our appetite for their music. I, for one, am eagerly awaiting more.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
January 16, 2001

Tracks:

1. Surf Song

2. In The Green Room (Through Your Mama’s Brown-Eye)

3. Raptor

4. Spinout

5. Cheater 5