Songs of Summer, Songs of Surf

February 6, 2009 9:12 PM

Surf rock (another music recommendation thread for me)

I've heard a little bit of surf rock lately. The original surf rock from 60s doesn't really cut it for me, but I like the later, heavier covers - particularly, Dick Dale's 80s-era cover of "Pipeline" and the Pixies' cover of "Cecilia Ann." Can anyone recommend instrumentals like those two?

posted by LSK to media & arts (33 comments total)

How about Laika and the Cosmonauts? It's a little Brian Wilson, it's a little Add N to X, but, yeah, it's surf music alright.
posted by adipocere at 9:38 PM on February 6

Not an instrumental but "Long Time Coming" by the Zutons has that kind of updated surf sound. It's on: Who Killed The Zutons.
posted by fshgrl at 9:40 PM on February 6

The Mermen are rooted in Dick Dale's reverb-drenched style, but they do so much more. If you have any interest in heavy, psychedelic, instrumental surf rock, definitely check 'em out.
posted by amb at 10:10 PM on February 6 [2 favorites has favorites]

Fu Manchu is on the heavy side and is surf / stoner rockish
posted by GleepGlop at 10:20 PM on February 6

Despite the fact that I know both the songs you name, I don't fully have a grasp on the sound you want, which, of course, tells me I shouldn't comment here.. But. Estrus records was the premier label (IMO) for surf and garage in the 1990s. There were definitely instrumentals, but I don't have a specific recommendation (which, once again, tells me I shouldn't comment here). Man...Or Astroman? was my personal favorite, though.
posted by Mael Oui at 10:23 PM on February 6 [1 favorite has favorites]

Junior Brown - Surf Medley

About as epic a surf song as you'll ever hear.
posted by clearly at 10:25 PM on February 6

Seconding both Man... Or Astro-man? and the Mermen, for completely different reasons: the former will often just come at you fast and hard, while the latter will take you all kinds of crazy places. Not quite as heavy, but still something you'll probably like, is Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet.
posted by jjg at 10:33 PM on February 6

Not instrumental, but:

Tullycraft!!!!!!!!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:34 PM on February 6

There was a great compilation album out a few years ago called Shadows Are Go! or something like that, which featured The Shadows, an early '60's British instrumental group who were known, among other things, as Cliff Richard's instrumental backing band. They featured the transcendent Hank Marvin on lead, and the recording was absolutely stunning. I imagine it can still be found on CD, or available as an MP3 download.
posted by motown missile at 11:11 PM on February 6

Not very instrumental, but what about The Aquabats? They're really new ska, but give this a listen and see what you think.
posted by Grrlscout at 11:19 PM on February 6

Check out the "Chairman of the Board" comp.
posted by chillmost at 3:43 AM on February 7

SPF-4 A local, but they have played with Dick Dale.
posted by Gungho at 4:19 AM on February 7

Check out Gary hoey, he did the soundtrack to endless summer 2, and he has some great stuff on his website. He has great covers and his own original stuff, enjoy!
posted by Upon Further Review at 4:42 AM on February 7

Skatenigs.
posted by nitsuj at 4:51 AM on February 7

The Sadies do a bunch of surf instrumentals - you might like Tales of the Ratfink.
posted by scruss at 5:00 AM on February 7

Los Straitjackets out of Nashville. So freaking good.
posted by kimdog at 7:20 AM on February 7

Some of the Ziggens intrumentals might be up your alley. Try "Surfin' Buena Park."
posted by schyler523 at 8:37 AM on February 7

This is the Pirates of Llha covering the Ziggens "Going Richter," also quite good.
posted by schyler523 at 9:12 AM on February 7

Seconding Ziggens and Man... or Astroman?, especially their Estrus stuff.
posted by squorch at 9:15 AM on February 7

Their style varies a lot so you'd have to try a couple different songs (much of it is pretty goofy), but the Red Elvises are one of the best surf rock-inspired bands around.
posted by Dr.Enormous at 9:51 AM on February 7

Anything by The Coffin Daggers
posted by leading question at 10:35 AM on February 7

Slacktone. Slacktone. Slacktone.

The Penetrators So full of promise, they stopped after the tragic death of their lead. Great retro sound.

Bambi Molesters (Croatia) "Sonic Bullets" CD
Daikaiju "Daikaiju" CD
Surf Coasters (Japan) "Fly Up!" best-of CD
Duo Tones acoustic CD

San Francisco greats:
Mermen "Live at the Haunted House" if its back in print
Pollo Del Mar "Live in Japan Town" CD

Big 2nds:
Laika & Cosmonauts, "Laikasexmachine" live CD
Red Elvises (my favorite: "Six String Samurai" soundtrack)

Did I mention Slacktone? Holy shit.
posted by buzzv at 1:14 PM on February 7

If you're looking for particular songs like Pipeline, arguably these might work, some old, some newer. The top of the list are covered all over the place.

Penetration
Bombora
The Wedge
Miserlou
Surf Rider
Mr. Moto
Latin'ia
Another Time, Another Place
Checkpoint Echo
A Flash of Green
Splashing With the Mermaid
posted by buzzv at 1:53 PM on February 7

Honk
posted by DolorousEdd at 2:03 PM on February 7

Second Los Straitjackets!
posted by Rash at 4:23 PM on February 7

Ooo! In I came with great hopes; seemed like the OP was reading my mind…

Maybe he was, but so far all the links I've hit (about 60%) sound more like reverent, squeeky-clean rehashes of old-school surf, nowhere near as raw as this version of Dick Dale/Pipeline, or this Allison.

I've had better luck with a Mermen station at Pandora. Where's the GRIT, guys? Surely some surf punk's got a fuzz-box…?
posted by dpcoffin at 4:55 PM on February 7

@dpcoffin That would be the The Fuzztones with a Blues themes cover. They used this song to open their show. More garage than surf, but I never tried to miss their shows. Sweat! Beer! Broads! Rock'n'Roll!
But more to the surf point: nobody beats The Treble Spankers, surf gods from Holland. Surf the rest of the youtube, but listen to this version of Malaguena on Lowlands and you'll kill yourself for not having been able to see them live. (I have on many many concerts, buts let's not get into my nick...) Only pussies need a fuzzbox to show true grit.
posted by ouke at 6:02 PM on February 7

FWIW, from that Pandora station, so far I've thumbs-up'ed Tone, The Blue Hawaiians, The Six Parts Seven, Stevie-Ray's Pipeline (w/o DD) and a few already mentioned here (hat's off!): Man... Or Astro-man?, DaiKaiJu.
posted by dpcoffin at 6:18 PM on February 7

...and now I'm making a new station, perhaps a bit off the theme: The Mono-Men! (apparently of Estrus fame…)
posted by dpcoffin at 6:25 PM on February 7

Oh, one last thing… Dirty On Purpose
posted by dpcoffin at 6:56 PM on February 7

N'thing the Mermen. Check out A Glorious Lethal Euphoria, particularily Blue Xoam and Pulpin' Line.
posted by Chrischris at 6:58 PM on February 7

Make that Dirty On Purpose, the instrumentals.
posted by dpcoffin at 12:01 PM on February 8

Any early Man... or Astro-man? -- the later stuff gets away from the B-movie space surf rock.
posted by jca at 12:47 PM on February 9