VARIOUS ARTISTS
Swingin' Creepers - A Tribute
To The Ventures (MuSick)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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MuSick's third various artist release is a monster, baby. For those of you who haven't been following the situation, MuSick released Instrumental Fire a few years ago, and the Shadows Tribute, An Evening In Nivram, early last year, and both are already considered classics. How do you follow a one-two punch like that? With a big left hook. Swinging Creepers - A Tribute To The Ventures lands right on the button with a gathering of some of the most important musicians of garage and surf paying a long standing debt to the band that intrigued and inspired so many of them.

The album opens with the band that may be the best of the best, The Space Cossacks, and their rendition of Journey To The Stars, fueled by the powerfully melodic solos of guitarist Ivan Pongracic. Eddie Angel (of Los Straitjackets fame) joins The Omega Men for a stingin' version of Stop Action (Susan Mackey's keyboard swirl is the secret star of this track), John Blair of Jon & The Nightriders ("Diamond Head") shows why he's one of the most respected guitarists in surf, Helsinki undergrounders The Hypnomen give "Go-Go Slow" a wonderfully nasty snarl, biker-flick legend Davie Allan sprays his infamous textured distortion all over "Lullaby Of The Leaves," and newcomers The Mystery Action (who are The Boss Martians when they play surf) giving Allen a run for his money with the equally fuzzed "Bird Rockers." There are 23 performances here, and not a clunker in the bunch.

Swingin' Creepers has done the impossible. It's slipped into the MuSick discography alongside two classics without seeming pale by comparison. Now that the label has paid tribute to The Ventures and The Shadows, what might be next? Whatever it is, I'm not betting against it being another first class job. They seem to have this thing figured out.

© 1999 - DJ Johnson