Surf House

The four-disc set Surf-Age Nuggets: Trash & Twang Instrumentals 1959-1966 plays like the flip side to Rhino's classic surf music box set Cowabunga!, and for good reason: that set's co-producer, James Austin, helmed this project, and his passion and encyclopedic knowledge of surf music from its greats to its most obscure acts is a big part of what makes this collection such a thrill. Where Cowabunga! concentrated on surf's stars, Surf-Age Nuggets digs deep; for every song by Dick Dale, there are many more by lesser-known but just as devoted acts such as the Ramrods, the Telstars, the Mosriters, and the Elite U.F.O. (!).

The Isotopes’ released their sixth studio album, The Isotopes Play Surf Music, in 2017. Their most focused album to-date brings the band back to doing what they’ve done best since forming in 2001, playing instrumental surf music in its many forms. They’re the Isotopes, Rochester’s premier instrumental rock band featuring gyrating go-go dancers, hilarious announcements, stage effects, nerd glasses and panty-dampening rock choreography. From traditional surf music first made famous by the likes of the Ventures and Dick Dale, to heavier rock riffs taken straight from the playbook of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, there isn’t a dry seat in the house as the Isotopes journey through an array of genres.

Having previously only heard their hit single "Cinnamon Cinder" and it's instro B-side "Bandito," I had little to base an understanding of the band on, and even less to justify their reported extreme popularity as house band at Bob Eubanks' "Cinnamon Cinder" club. After listening to this whole CD, it becomes clear that they were one fun band, unpretentious, and utterly silly. They embraced the pure fun or rock 'n' roll without any pretext of art - just good fun. From this new view, I can easily see how they were the party band of choice on weekend nights at the CC. This is the sort of band that creates a perfect backdrop for your party, not the sort of band you'd sit listening to, mesmerized by the artistry. Too too fun. Oh, yeah, besides the handful of totally fun pop vocals, there are a bunch of really cool instros as well.

The Ventures - Live Box, Vol. 1 (1992) {4CD Set, Liberty ‎Japan TOCP-7125~28 rec 1965-1968}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks) -> 1.59 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 565 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 81 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1965-68, 1992 Liberty ‎/ Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCP-7125~28
Rock / Pop / Rock & Roll / Surf Rock

Box set containing 4 jewel case CDs (TOCP-7125, TOCP-7126, TOCP-7127, TOCP-7128) and two booklets. The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band, formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington, by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. The band, a quartet for most of its existence, helped to popularize the electric guitar in the United States and across the world during the 1960s. While their popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group remains especially revered in Japan, where they tour regularly to this day. The classic lineup of the band consisted of Wilson (rhythm guitar), Bogle (initially lead guitar, switched to bass), Nokie Edwards (initially bass, switched to lead guitar), and Mel Taylor (drums).