Surf Instro Review: The Stingrays Surf Band - Don't Fear The Reverb

What do three kids from Southern California have in common with surf music? You wouldn’t think all that much. To the contrary, they play the music like they were born to spread the word of reverb like it was Gospel.

Their ages range from 14 to 16, and they are The Stingrays Surf Band, and their album is titled Don’t Fear The Reverb (their nod to Blue Öyster Cult). 

This is what it was like in the 60s. High school kids would surf, dance, and play this new thing called surf music. This is 1999, and things have changed. The excitement of the music is still alive, but the kids are different and have more resources available to them.

 

The talent of this young group is far beyond their years of experience.

 

They sound more like a group of seasoned veterans rather than a bunch of overzealous teenagers. They’re a lightning speed power trio with all the exuberance and optimism of youth going for them, plus a great future to look forward to. What more could you ask for? Life is good for The Stingrays.

 

On the track "La Chancha," a Latin-salsa flavored trumpet gives it that south-of-the-border feel. That was an unexpected pleasure. They also do some good covers of the classics, "Pipeline" and "Nitro." However, it's their unique interpretation of these classics that truly sets them apart. Every song is very well done with the essence of that classic reverb-filled surf sound.

 

I can’t imagine how these young men will sound once they are further along in development. I wish more teenagers would start picking up guitars and create music like this. Who knows? Another golden age of surf could begin again...

 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

December 29, 1999

 

Tracks:

01. Don’t Fear the Reverb

02. Los Mosquitos

03. Sunnyside Up

04. La Chancha

05. Hawaiian Pullout

06. Bodybag

07. Weiners and Beans

08. Pipeline

09. Larry’s Got A Longboard

10. Impact Zone

11. Sabrina

12. Gone Surfing

13. Nitro

Surf Instro Review: The Neptunes - People Of Earth, We Are The Neptunes

https://www.facebook.com/TheNeptunesBand/

How many people does it take to make one great surf group? Three very talented musicians, that’s how many. It’s all done very simply with guitar, bass, and drums. Tom Walzem (guitar, bass), Steve Carter (guitar, bass) and Eric DeGroot (drums) are The Neptunes. I am not sure if they are people of the Earth, though. They play like they’re from another world.

On People Of Earth, We Are The Neptunes, there is some of the best double-picking (I was probably referring to glissando at the time) and twang that I have heard from the third wave of surf groups. The boys commit a fine mixture of traditional, third-wave, and rock to CD. Infectious, rocking, and energetic surf-instro tunes come crashing upon your eardrums, each track brimming with a unique energy and originality. Beware of the wake that follows. It’s all done with style. Every song has its own originality (cover or original).

 

Music like surf can sound the same. Groups must be creative and possess the know-how to utilize their diverse talents to the fullest potential, ultimately creating something original and fresh. There is no redundancy in any of the material presented on this album. The Neptunes succeed in keeping it interesting.

 

I noticed on track nine, "Gemini," that there is a very familiar drum-beat and guitar break. Does "Wipe Out" ring a bell? That material still holds up after all these years. The Neptunes use it very cleverly, and it sounds terrific. I don’t know if it was intentional or if it just ended up sounding that way, but it works pretty nicely. This is a strong CD from start to finish.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

December 29, 1999

Tracks:

01. Hannah

02. Cement Shoes

03. Wildcat

04. Beguiled

05. Spaghetti Luau

06. Iron Lung

07. Talking to Trees

08. Supercell

09. Gemini

10. Dance of the Moorish Idol

11. On to lo

12. In From the cold

13. My Dark Dream

14. Razilla

15. The Outsider

16. I Walk Alone