Search - Various Artists :: Beyond the Beach

A Contemporary, Nitro-Methane Powered Compilation

Mike Sambuco | North Pole, Alaska | 11/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After the past couple years of listening to several classic surf compilations, The Ventures, Dick Dale, The Challengers, The Astronauts and Laika & the Cosmonauts, I found this contemporary compilation a real breath of fresh air! It has a good variety of styles and sounds, ranging a from the classic Ventures type sound to psycho-billy, and garage punk a la Ramones. I don't normally like punk and other bizzare stuff due to the unwanted side-effects, (headaches and/or gagging due to repulsive lyrics, headbanging, etc.) but somehow this album captures the positive essences and it works. I appreciated each piece. There wasn't a track on it that I didn't like. Some of it was unexpected and surprizing, but there's power, lots of energy, and excitement. I thought it all worked pretty well together. It's turned me on to a bunch of bands that I now want to explore further, for it now seems I've led an isolated surf life so far....and now I can never go back. This is definitely not bedtime lullaby music. If Quentin Tarantino was to use this music for the basis of a future "Pulp Fiction" sequel, we'd all in for one bizzare, wild ride. May need to be institutionalized in an instru-mental ward.....
All kidding aside, I'd say this is a must-have for anyone that enjoys surf music, as long as your not an elitest, surf-purist, protector-of-surf snob type. If so, steer clear of this one. However, you may not like the future.....I think it sounds like this!"

A very very good collection

Francisco Vega | Mexico city | 07/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The very best surf music, of this times. The sound is incredible, it is a Hi-Fi CD. So if you like The Aqua Velvets, The Mermen, surf, garage, and lounge music, you'll love this one."