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SUSAN & THE SURFTONES
The Originals (ACME Bros)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson
Susan Yasinski's guitar skills have never been in doubt, or at least I've never been in any conversation where someone has challenged them. I think most of the guys know that the quiet, somber-faced guitarist could chop them up like berries in a blender should they face off on stage. The comment I have heard, and more than once, is "oh, yeah, Susan and the Surftones.... They're just a cover band."
Susan heard this, too, and apparently she's pissed.
All of her CDs have had a few originals sprinkled in with the classics, and in the past I've mentioned that those originals may get lost because they are so good they sound like the classics on the other tracks, making the listener think it's just one they never heard in the past. To end the confusion, Susan has released this CD of 14 original tracks culled from her previous CDs. Not a cover in the bunch. This is the real sound of Susan & The Surftones, and it's a great sound.
The earlier tracks like "Space Spider" and "Tabu" feature her three piece bands (bass, drums and guitar) and the writing was already sharp, the mystique already in the sound, but for me it all came together in the past few years with the addition of 1313 Mockingbird Lane's keyboardist, Kim 13. Something wonderfully dark happened to Susan's sound at that point and it carried over into her writing. Garage meets surf is nothing new, but there are times when the collision makes an exquisite sound and inspires the writer to create perfect showcases for it, and this is one of those times.
Susan Yasinski never leaned on cover tunes. I've interviewed her, but more importantly I've communicated with her for the past six years in e-mail and we've discussed topics like this. She has a deep respect for the players and classic tunes of the first wave of surf and early garage music, and she loves paying homage to them. As for the critics who say that's all she can do, let them hear this.
Track List:
Blue Hammer 99 * Stinger 67 * Tiki Kiki * Sunburn * Clam Digger * Spaghetti Beach * Tramp * Spanish Wave * Beat Rider * Barbados Twist * Tabu * Deep Blue Goodbye * Space Spider * The Blue Hammer
© 2001 - DJ Johnson