Ok Computer - MOJO Compilation

Fun comp of new wave/synth/electronic pop for Mojo Magazine. A few well worn hits and lots of variety make for a decent sample of the scene.

1.The Human League / Circus of Death
2.Gary Numan/Tubeway Army / Down in the Park
3.The Knife / Silent Shout
4.Fujiya & Miyagi / Ankle Injuries
5.Matthew Dear / Fleece On Brain
6.John Foxx / Burning Car
7.Arthur Russell / Place I Know/Kid Like You
8.Xela / Afraid of Monsters
9.Tangerine Dream / Rubycon (Part One)
10.Clouddead / Dead Dogs Two (Boards of Canada Remix)
11.Severed Heads / Dead Eyes Opened
12.Farley Jackmaster Funk / The Acid Life
13.The Peppers / Pepper Box
14.The Gentle Rain / Plastic Man
15.The Sounds of Tomorrow / Space Child

removed by request

6 String Johnny - Surf 'N' Turf

An all instrumental guitar driven main course of steamin' surf rock served on a bed of spaghetti western twang smothered in a spicy hot sauce blend of ska,country, 60's brit rock,latin and other melodic ethnic surf inspired delights.

NEW GANDY DANCER-

THE MAGAZINE FOR ROCK INSTUMENTAL MUSIC [ISSUE 54]

From Guelph in Ontario comes this exciting talent on his first CD. John is a guitar player and a guitar teacher and this is a series of his invigorating interpretations of surf music. There’s bits of everything absorbed like The Ventures, Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, classical and even flamenco, but the beauty is of the original music [most of it is] and the fresh, clear, active toe tapping sounds plus the fast, tricky and clever licks that just hypnotise. The supporting musicians are great too.

Trailblazer is a stoccato surfer and Surfer Across the Mersey has a Paul Johnson feel to it. Surfer Shuffle is a fast quirky rock guitar feature with lots of good things happening and for us the neatest track is the cool Spy Guy- tuneful, honest and immediately in your face with its strong melody. Shoreline Serenade is a meaningful tight Duane Eddy sound and Mike Beddoes of Vancouver’s Falcons will savour the rocking and rollicking of Sierra Sunset. Ethno Surfario 2001 is a wonderfully concocted medley of none originals for once in Hava Nagila, 2001,Greensleeves,, Rap City and Volga Boatman and it is a real album high spot.

Marvellous CD. Get the pen out and write for it - it is an indispensable Christmas present to treat yourself with. **** [Davey]

1 Intro 1965 2 Trailblazer 3 El Toro 4 Hey Eddie! 5 Club Med[itation] 6 Surfer Shuffle 7 Spy Guy 8 Ska Beach 9 Shoreline Serenade 10 Open Up [St. Peter] 11 Surfer Cross the Mersey 12 Sierra Sunset 13 Chuckwagon 14 Coyote Trail 15 Ethno Surfario 2001

6string

johnnygit

Department of Crooks - Plan 9 From Outer Space

Department of Crooks – Plan 9 From Outer Space

Marc Moreland founded this trio whose sound could be equated to a soundtrack inspired by an Ed Wood production of a science-fiction induced spaghetti-western set deep in the seedy heart of Las Vegas.

With a name like Department of Crooks, you might expect "Plan 9" to be another gangsta rap tirade about crack ho's and the like, but then you'd be wrong. DOC -- with its twangy Western guitar sound, pop hooks, and occasional strange sound effects -- plays very accessible, mostly mid-tempo tunes designed to pour out of a Mustang convertible while trolling down the interstate to Barstow. With regular airplay several of these tunes could be hits, especially among pop aficianados. So, if you're moshed out and your ears are glazing over after listening to another anonymous techno-industrial-jungle-acid-garage-trance-house mix, you can do a lot worse than these rather law-abiding and tuneful Crooks.

Accessible, mid-tempo pop with twangy guitars. Well done. -- Phil Dirt
1) Seven Weeks -- Straight-ahead pop reminiscent of the '70s British New Wave sound with an added surf guitar riff. It's well constructed and ready for radio airplay.***
2) Whatcha Wanna Do Now? -- A repetitive bass line and interesting instrumental drop-ins surround a low-key, spoken vocal. It's got a good groove that carries you along, but at 5:48 it's a bit long and could have used more breaks/bridges/choruses.****
3) Plan 9 From Las Vegas -- A medium tempo instrumental with a twangy Western guitar, a honky-tonk piano, banjo, and a variety of musical and spacey sound effects. It sounds like the soundtrack for a film of the same name that would play over the opening credits.***
4) X-Ray Vision -- Another retro-pop tune out of the Brit New Wave mold.***
5) Walking with Darla -- A moody, evocative instrumental that features nicely close-miked acoustic steel string guitars, a simple piano figure and a scratchy low-fi Country-Western recording of "Tennesee Waltz." This is one of the more original tunes on the disc.****
6) Oh-Oui-Anne -- Back to the simple Brit-pop sound, this time a ballad. It's got a nice, gentle, loping feel.***
7) One Night in June -- A mid-tempo rocker, again in the Brit-pop style. The twist on this tune is that at about 3:30 it ends and the closing chord's vibratory harmonics are looped and processed for the next minute before fading out.***
8) Falling On Down -- A more straight-ahead tune with a rocking chorus. It ends/transitions to the next tune with an excerpt from a horror film.***
9) Beggar Blue Sky -- The distorted lead guitars add an edge to this tune. It builds nicely at the end, turning into one of the hardest rocking tunes on the album.***
10) Whiskey & Cadillacs -- The pace slows again for this ballad that features a march-like drum pattern and bagpipe-sounding synth. The backing vocals add interest to the anthemic melody.***
11) Aunt Sadie's House -- A slow, acapela fade-in leads to an oompah tuba-like rhythm. The words, which sound like "nyah, nyah, nyah," add to the silliness of this throwaway.**12) New York City -- The twangy Western guitar sound returns to support a reverbed vocal (reminiscent of Johnny Cash) about how New York is not all it's cracked up to be. The chorus carries you along.***

1. Seven Weeks 2. Whatcha Wanna Do Now? 3. Plan 9 from Las Vegas
4. X-Ray Vision 5. Walking With Darla 6. Oh-Oui-Anne 7. One Night in June
8. Falling on Down 9. Beggar Blue Sky 10. Whiskey & Cadillacs
11. Aunt Sandie's House 12. New York City

dept.

plan9er

The Sex Mob - Does Bond

Sex Mob – Does James Bond

Trumpeter Steven Bernstein is not your typical jazz cat. First off, he plays a slide trumpet. Secondly, it's not often you find a downtown musician interested in playing music that is both accessible and humorous. Thus, it's no surprise that his band the Sex Mob (with special guest John Medeski on organ) does select renditions of songs from five James Bond flicks. Bernstein captures the original sophisticated feel of the music, mostly composed by John Barry. Tunes like "Battle at Piz Gloria" are subdued and dreamy, while the carnival-like "007" is more upbeat, sounding like it was played by a bunch of drunken spy-sailors on furlough. Something that will make you scratch your head, tap your foot, and giggle, Sex Mob Does Bond captures everything that is fun and quirky about this band, and makes a great tribute album in the process. Mission accomplished. --Tad Hendrickson

If you are a Bond fan this is for you. Many different variations on this make it a gem - even with no guitars. Although, it sometimes goes a little experimental which some people find to be a bit annoying. But those tracks that stick out are GREAT, but prepared for some acid jazz and experimental jazz thrown in the mix. Good for parties.

1. Dr. Yes 2. Teasing The Korean 3. This Never Happened To The Other Feller
4. 007 5. Battle At Piz Gloria 6. You Only Live Twice 7. Bond With Bongos
8. Oddjob's Pressing Engagement 9. Bond Back In Action Again
10. Over And Out 11. Dawn Raid On Fort Knox 12. Nobody Does It Better
13. Dr. Yes (Reprise)

sexx

mobb

Ben Roger's Instrumental Asylum - Reberb Rehab

This time we are going to the land down under for some SERIOUS surf and twangs. This Australian power trio presents 17 tracks of surf/spy/guitar noir. "A guitar player whose genre bending technique, taste and eclecticism place him among the world’s great guitarists." (Billy Pinnell, JB Mag Nov 2007)

Ben Rogers was listening, learning and stealing everything he could from Django Reinhardt, Hank B. Marvin, Duane Eddy, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, JJ Cale, and Peter Green. Having now left the primordial ooze, he's ready to unleash his fearful blend of surf/gypsy/tarantino rock solid pulp guitar truth and fiction to the masses. Ben Rogers' Instrumental Asylum is a trio made up of electric guitar, bass and drums and features reverb-drenched guitar music that echoes some of the best work of The Shadows, Ventures and Surfaris, but with an extreme left turn towards the surreal. All done up with an Aussie accent. OUTSTANDING throughout. Highly recommended.

1 Mr P.C. 2 Wet Suit Dream 3 Torquay 4 Prickly Pear 5 Strawberry Fields Forever
6 Seasons of Change 7 Bondi Stomp 8 Paisley Dayze 9 All the Things You Are
10 Goodbye Bluehaze 11 Elegy for Pluto 12 Ballad of Private Mitchell
13 She's Not There 14 55 Customline 15 Ginchy 16 First Light at the Aussietron
17 Conversations With a Frog

revvy

lunatics

Martin Cilia - Revenge of The Surf Guitar

OK, this is officially it...the disc you can't stop your foot from tapping. Get out your air guitar and prepare to be surf rocked. Man, this cd just rocks. There's not one dud tune on the whole cd. All rockers, except Mermaid Beach. And it's cool too! All songs have a driving guitar sound played on an authentic '63 Fender guitar & Fender amp. Now how much more surf do you need than that? Really authentic sounds -- and it works. As a guitarist for the Atlantics, Martin knows surf music and now he's done it "his" way. Authentic and rockin'. Buy it now. Cool digi packaging too that looks like an old vinyl album cover.

· 1963 · Surf’s Up · Reverb Beach · Under the Hood · Return of the Surf Guitar
· Surfabilly · Freakout · Point Danger · The Worm · Black Jaguar
· Flight of the Surf Guitar · Queen Kahuna · Cronulla Point · Surfride · Riff A Go Go · Mermaid Beach

myman

Guitar Masters Vol.1

The first volume of BHP's Guitar Masters compilation is a fun comp that goes zany throughout tons of musical genres. Among the 18 cuts are fun cover versions of such widely divergent tracks as the traditional American folk ballad "Shenandoah," ( Who knew it could rock and not be weepy), Edgar Winter’s "Frankenstein," and Stevie Wonder’s hit, "I Wish." Some excellent originals that incorporate smooth jazz ("Stay with Me"), an acoustic ballad ("What Can I Say"), and a bombastic rocker ("Space Talk"). A combo of instrumentals and vocals - B fingers is a standout.

1. B Fingers - John Paul Jones 2. 54-46 Was My Number - Toots & The Maytals
3. I Wish - Randy Coven 4. Unleash the Beast - Billy Sheehan
5. Hair - Stanley Clarke 6. Minute Mouse - Randy Coven 7. Skippy - Allan Holdsworth
8. Rumba - Marcus Nand 9. Shenandoah - Will Ray 10. Picture Of a Purple Sky - Violet Samudra 11. Frankenstein - Doug Stapp 12. The Nag - John Scofield
13. Jack Hammer - Brian Tarquin 14. What Can I Say - Carl Tosten
15. Space Talk - James Ryan 16. Stay With Me - Martin Winch17. Kruununvuori - Jason Carter 18. Zero Gravity - Doug Doppler

mas1

mas2

mas3

Guitars That Rule The World

Richie Samoboa, Dickey Betts, Zach Wylde, Richie Kotzen, Nuno Bettencourt, and others! Yes, you have to have grown up in the late 80's to know these people, but this is a really fun bunch of songs. Who knew how well these guys can actually play!

The theme is to let a bunch of well known guitar heroes compose songs and perform them outside of the normal music confines of their normal band. The creativity here is fantastic and the types of "guitar music" is greatly varied giving it a constant interest (vs. say hearing all of a Satriani CD, which is great music, but can sound the same).
This perfect to mix in a playlist. They are all cool songs and can be used to spice up some of your usuall music themes.

1.Black Magic - Reb Beach 2. Mr. Sambo - Richie Sambora
3. Leviathan - Yngwie Malmsteen 4. I Understand Completely - Paul Gilbert
5. Walk On Walden - Elliot Easton 6. Farm Fiddlin' - Zakk Wylde
7. Bumble Bee (Crash Landing) - Nuno Bettencourt 8. Fielt Of SOul - Alex Skolnick
9. Chype Fluxx - Richie Kotzen 10. Blues For Stevie - Albert Collins
11. Wille And Poor Bob - Dickey Betts & Warren Hayes
12. Why Do I Feel LIke I'm Bleeding? - Reeves Gabrels
13. Surfer Junkie Dude - Earl Slick

gitz1

gotz2

Hawaii Mud Bombers - Mondo Primo

A cross between the Ramones and The Beach Boys, the Hawaii Mud Bombers are a Swedish band that play fun, energetic, surfy rock and roll. Half instrumental, half garagey vocal. They have performed all over Sweden for years, while building a sizable fanbase in other territories, like Japan (where they have toured!). Mondo Primo is their FIRST U.S. release. "Johanna Beach" was voted 5th best song of the year on Little Steven's Underground Garage. Absolutepowerpop.blogspot.com calls it "a darn near perfect power pop tune.

Don’t let that fool you. "Mondo Primo is simply a great pop record, unafraid to be overtly commercial, but achieved with a real passion for catchy melodies, a very impressive album." --sohostrut.co.uk

1. The Act 2. Johanna Beach 3. Wolf n' the Lamb 4. Mondo Primo 5. Torpedo
6. Mr. Menage a Trois 7. Natsu No Hi 8. Suzuki Samurai 9. Birds and Bees10. Intermission 11. MTV 12. When I Sway 13. Hit The Beach

bombsaway

The Tarantulas - Monster Wave 100 Ft. High

Phil Dirt: This debut effort is very cool. Randy J - guitar, Ken Baugh (Ten Penny Heroes), and Chris Valentino - drums have come together with excellent chemistry and original sounds. Their primary basis is spaghetti western, but there's a lot of surf influence here as well. Solid throughout.

"Barney Rumble" ***
This is a tasty crunchy surf progressional track, with fine whammy and solid reverb. Vibrato lead work and low-E rumble, with glissandos and a Fall at the beach feel. Nice track. Western Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Bullrushes" ***
"Surf Beat " sorta crunch, mid tempo double picked moody leads, and vibrato chords swimming beneath. Chunky and satisfying. Western Surf Instrumental Stereo

"'78 Honda" ***
Chorded car song ethics, relentless drive, and very little melody. By the time they get past the long intro, they break into a tasty riff. It works well, like an early Surf Report tune. Western Surf Instrumental Stere

"Lonerider" ****

Excellent Spanish spaghetti western chords, shiny vibrato lead work, cowboy beat... a fine track indeed. It's infectious and rhythmic, shimmering and playful. Dig it! Western Surf Instrumental Stereo

Black Diamond" ****

Rhythmic and enticing, "Black Diamond" shimmers with vibrato and dribbling double picking. Gentle and rainy day pretty, but with flair and energy. Excellent track. Western Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Mojave Surfrider" ****
Desert surf punkabilly reverb smooth... those adjectives may sound like juxtaposed incongruities, but the describe the elements that are morphed and blended to create this song. While not very melodic, it is very engaging and charming, with power and crunch without relying on volume and speed.
Western Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Sun Valley Serenade" ****
An exercise in precise picking and intricate western imagery, with the kind of suave riffs that only bands from the Southwest seem to develop. Very enjoyable, and quite picturesque in the break. Western Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Dual Flying Kings" ****
Ultra twang, shimmering tone, a post Duane Eddy feel, and a sub Insect Surfer structure. Western surf with a sense of charm and style. Western Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Amazon-Legged Woman" ***
Real twang meets surf playfulness, while the chops display a sense of engrossed pluckery. The melody structure is not surf, but the warm tone sure is. Quite nice.
Western Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Ride To Tucumcari" ***
This reminds me somewhat of Death Valley, with that kind of charm and vibrato spaghetti cactus coolness as viewed from a Pullman. Western Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Tucumcari" ****
Great slow damped reverbed chords, dramatic smooth flow, shimmering vibrato, artful guitar lines, and a relaxed open air feel. Very nice track. Western Surf Instrumental Stereo


"A Fistful Of Dollars (Overture)" ****

Enio Morricone's spaghetti western theme, played out with all the pasta sauce available. Eerie and deluxe, this is simply endearing and smooth. Even the faster parts drip suave and rhythmic engagement. Excellent.

spiderwave