Search - Various Artists :: Perfect Day: 40 Years of Surfer Magazine

Good, but not great

Denny Angelle | Richmond, Texas United States | 07/02/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Apparently music that's appeared in films and documentaries about surfing, this hodgepodge is kind of weird, kind of familiar.

The usual suspects are here: Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Dick Dale and his Del-Tones, the Ventures, "Rock Lobster," the theme from "Endless Summer." It's the other stuff that actually makes or breaks this collection. "Here Comes Another One" by the Aussie Groove Terminator gives the CD a jump start, as does the inclusion of Devo's "Beautiful World," newly popularized on Target TV commercials. "Ride My See-Saw" by the Moody Blues and "Wild Mountain Honey" by Steve Miller seem far removed from the world of surfing, at least until you close your eyes and let the waves take you. Nice to hear Robin Trower's "Day of the Eagle," the 1970s definition of "heavy." And the best cut here -- the hard-to-find "Pipeline" by Dick Dale and Stevie Ray Vaughan (it was on the "Back to the Beach" soundtrack).

I guess it's good that Capitol (through its aff!iliate Right Stuff label) can put out something like this without including a tidal wave of "summer music" crap. Not exactly a wipeout, this CD almost catches the perfect wave. But you know what -- this is gonna sound better as the summer gets warmer."

Makes an Ordinary Day into a Perfect Day

pepperlint | Miami, FL United States | 12/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first tested this CD in Florida, on a gorgeous 78 degree day, in a convertible with the top down and a board sticking out of the back. The beach floated on the horizon, and salty breeze streamed through sunkissed strands of hair. This CD was an amazing complement to the ride, making the world seem as if it were at one with itself. "Well, sure," I thought, "What CD wouldn't sound good on a day like this?" So I decided to put it to a more rigorous test. Boston, 27 degress, with snow on the ground, and icicles hanging from the trees. We fired this CD up, and suddenly, there was a hint of coconut suntan oil in the air. The conclusion to be drawn from this is that hearing this music is like getting an auditory massage, in fact, a sensory delight. The trendy mag, Surfer, still manages to get back to basics with the classics that we expect to hear on an album such as this, and it throws a few curves in as well that only serve to expand the horizons of a surf rock comp."