Armed with fuzz guitars
Rocking like Rivers used to
Florida SoCal
Notes: Before I say anything about Surfer Blood's excellent Weezer-esque debut record, Astro Coast, let's get up to speed and take a look at what I had to say in October when I'd only heard their "Swim" single and news of the LP just broke...
"Remember what Weezer sounded like when they were good? Kanine Records does and they’re indulging their power-pop nostalgia by releasing Surfer Blood’s semi-anticipated debut record. Titled Astro Coast, the long-player was recorded in the band’s dorm room at the University of Florida. Even more impressive, bandmates John, Tyler, Thomas, and Brian were just freshmen. Though the guys aren’t surfers or from California their pop strokes are SoCal through and through. That said, Astro Coast should shake the snow off your headphones by the time January 19th rolls around or you know, whenever it leaks just before Thanksgiving."
So there you have it, succinct, no? Now, let's get to the meat. Why is this record so great? Well, not only does it recapture some of the primitive magic of The Blue Album, but it's something not too many indie-rock releases are these days: a guitar record. True, the guitars may be washed with reverb, but there are solos to be found, melodic ones, and in the front of the mix no less! No twinkling, arpeggiating keyboards, but plenty of distortion and squall. A welcome change-up.
On Astro Coast, the aforementioned Weezer comparisons are both apt and weak. These Floridians distinctly mimic west coast vibes, Dick Dale Stratocasters and all, playfully mixing them with pop-charms, which (duh) mirror Rivers Cuomo's early labors. The lyrics, not so much. While there's a fair amount of teenage wanderlust and desperate romance, nothing is as heart-on-it's-sleeve as you might expect.
The closest the gang comes to Mr. Cuomo's jaded romantic observations are found in "Twin Peaks," with lines like "Twin Peaks and David Lynch / Met on your couch at Syracuse / Your sexual advances / Are unconvincing and untrue" or "Why Is everything a chore / I'm too young to be defeated / Let's make fun at the video store / With Blue Velvet and other titles." All sang like a Weezer track and backed by a "Sweater Song" interlude, mind you.
Thankfully, Weezer isn't the only influence to be heard. A crafty ear can make out plenty of Built to Spill, Born Ruffians, and even some Pixies, so it's not like Surfer Blood are trying to re-make one of their favourite records. AKA, there's plenty here for Weezer-haters to take home.
Let me be clear, none of this a bad thing. While you may have heard pieces of Astro Coast before, the overall delivery is refreshing and frankly welcome in an era where everyone with a laptop is aping Animal Collective. While the album is fairly one dimensional, Surfer Blood catch a break for being 18 and producing a literal freshmen LP. If anything, they show a lot of promise. Album art that would make Robert Shaw blush is just a bonus.
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Swim - Surfer Blood
Floating Vibes - Surfer Blood
Twin Peaks - Surfer Blood
2 comments:
Love this album, and the Weezer comparison is apt, but they also remind me a little of other early 90s indie rockers like Archers of Loaf. Great band.
This website is expert I appreciated it so much
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