Surfer Blood, "Astro Coast" 03/16/2010
By Brendan Harte Gilsenan
✭✭✭ ½
For a bunch of guys who have no experience surfing, Surfer Blood sure seem to be influenced by the sport a fair amount. The West Palm Beach crew not only derives its name from the pastime, but also seldom sings of it, all the while using a touch of that surf rock-type music the Pixies were able to implement without actually becoming a surf rock band.
Throughout Astro Coast, Surfer Blood strings together a collage of simple, catchy riffs to form complete songs. This debut has often been likened to Weezer’s The Blue Album, but the similarities have been prematurely made. The simple, straightforward pop hooks are reminiscent of the early 90’s geek-rock album, but the overall aesthetics give Surfer Blood a new face.
The band has turned the reverb up to 11, and produced one of the best, if not only, albums created in a dorm room. Their ability to create a catchy, stuck-in-your-head riff is matched by the overall guitar work on the album. The instruments collectively create a wall of sound that periodically subsides to allow the main riff to once again shine through.
The album opens with one of its strongest numbers. “Floating Vibes” offers strong chords overlaid with a pleasant guitar lick. Front man John Paul Pitts’ vocals swoon over the verses, and are accompanied by peppy handclaps midway through.
Lead single, “Swim (To Reach The End)”, is an angst-ridden anthem filled with monster riffs, syncopation, and funky rhythms. Surfer Blood uses the reverb heaviest on this track, causing Pitts’ lyrics to become almost undistinguishable at times. However, the powerful vocal delivery and memorable melodies make this an acceptable artistic choice and result in a fantastic inclusion on the album.
On the second half of the album, the songs begin to blend into each other, and slightly lose their individuality. This isn’t helped by the fact that two consecutive tracks are called “Fast Jabroni” and “Slow Jabroni”. The second of which exceeds six minutes, only to be followed by yet another six-plus minute track. Although these songs are still quality music, they fail to hold the same memorability as earlier tracks, or the album’s closer, “Catholic Pagans”.
“Pagans” takes the title as having the best chorus of the bunch. The lyrics seem to constantly come from left field (Please don’t padlock your parents bomb shelter or fill her up with dust and ash and Barack Hussein Obama would have a field day if he knew at all), but the tune is an undoubtedly catchy three-minute indie pop rock piece.
Closing out on a high note, Surfer Blood leaves its listeners fully satisfied with having spent the last forty minutes with Astro Coast. These youngsters still have room to grow, but they have created themselves an excellent debut album that will soon become an indie classic.
1. Floating Vibes
2. Swim (To Reach The End)
3. Take It Easy
4. Harmonix
5. Neighbour Riffs
6. Twin Peaks
7. Fast Jabroni
8. Slow Jabroni
9. Anchorage
10. Catholic Pagans
✭✭✭ ½
For a bunch of guys who have no experience surfing, Surfer Blood sure seem to be influenced by the sport a fair amount. The West Palm Beach crew not only derives its name from the pastime, but also seldom sings of it, all the while using a touch of that surf rock-type music the Pixies were able to implement without actually becoming a surf rock band.
Throughout Astro Coast, Surfer Blood strings together a collage of simple, catchy riffs to form complete songs. This debut has often been likened to Weezer’s The Blue Album, but the similarities have been prematurely made. The simple, straightforward pop hooks are reminiscent of the early 90’s geek-rock album, but the overall aesthetics give Surfer Blood a new face.
The band has turned the reverb up to 11, and produced one of the best, if not only, albums created in a dorm room. Their ability to create a catchy, stuck-in-your-head riff is matched by the overall guitar work on the album. The instruments collectively create a wall of sound that periodically subsides to allow the main riff to once again shine through.
The album opens with one of its strongest numbers. “Floating Vibes” offers strong chords overlaid with a pleasant guitar lick. Front man John Paul Pitts’ vocals swoon over the verses, and are accompanied by peppy handclaps midway through.
Lead single, “Swim (To Reach The End)”, is an angst-ridden anthem filled with monster riffs, syncopation, and funky rhythms. Surfer Blood uses the reverb heaviest on this track, causing Pitts’ lyrics to become almost undistinguishable at times. However, the powerful vocal delivery and memorable melodies make this an acceptable artistic choice and result in a fantastic inclusion on the album.
On the second half of the album, the songs begin to blend into each other, and slightly lose their individuality. This isn’t helped by the fact that two consecutive tracks are called “Fast Jabroni” and “Slow Jabroni”. The second of which exceeds six minutes, only to be followed by yet another six-plus minute track. Although these songs are still quality music, they fail to hold the same memorability as earlier tracks, or the album’s closer, “Catholic Pagans”.
“Pagans” takes the title as having the best chorus of the bunch. The lyrics seem to constantly come from left field (Please don’t padlock your parents bomb shelter or fill her up with dust and ash and Barack Hussein Obama would have a field day if he knew at all), but the tune is an undoubtedly catchy three-minute indie pop rock piece.
Closing out on a high note, Surfer Blood leaves its listeners fully satisfied with having spent the last forty minutes with Astro Coast. These youngsters still have room to grow, but they have created themselves an excellent debut album that will soon become an indie classic.
1. Floating Vibes
2. Swim (To Reach The End)
3. Take It Easy
4. Harmonix
5. Neighbour Riffs
6. Twin Peaks
7. Fast Jabroni
8. Slow Jabroni
9. Anchorage
10. Catholic Pagans
