The Avengers VI may seem like another one of those rock & roll discoveries of the 1960s, endlessly fascinating to the mavens of surf music but easily overlooked by most listeners, but the answer is no… These guys were not only good, they were superb, and all the more remarkable for a band whose median age was around 16!

This legendary surf album has originally recorded in 1966 and is one of the finest instrumental albums ever recorded. The original vinyl is a collectible and is worth a couple of hundred dollars but the real value is the music. The album consists of cover and original songs with great organ/piano riffs and surf guitars. If you’re a surf music buff then this album is for you!

Avengers VI - Real Cool Hits

Above the Bones is Mishka’s third release. Mishka is a Rastafarian born in Bermuda, and infuses plenty of his religion into the music. Even if you’re not Rasta and are just looking for good music, it’s hard not to enjoy this album. The music itself is a blend of Reggae, Rock, Roots, Blues and other styles.

They compare Mishka’s music to Jack Johnson, and on a some tracks that can be true. Still, Mishka’s Rasta roots and personal style set him apart from JJ. Mishka definitely has a relaxing style that is a great stress reliever. It helps to block out everything around you and dream about hanging out at the beach.

This is a laid-back musically diverse release that will appeal to those who need to kick back, think of the beach and relax. The sounds that are collected on this record are perfect for the summer and make it easy to relax. This is definitely worth exploring for those who like Reggae music.

Official website // MySpace // Above the Bones at Amazon // on Ebay.

Fronted by Australian pro-surfer, musician, artist and film-maker Ozzie Wright a.k.a. “Fang Fite Ozzie Wrong, The Wizard of Death”, the Goons of Doom are a group of friends that formed their band in 2003 while playing the “part” of a band the indie cult surf movie classic Doped Youth. Within five days of buying instruments and practicing the band was taking from the screen to the street playing their first party.

The new album from the Goons Of Doom, The Story Of Dead Barbie And Ghost, was recorded in just 4 days and it features a generous 16 tracks each as varied as their band members, with songs ranging from hard thrashing blood soaked anthems to lonely mellow beatnik poems to uplifting neon folk to totally homoerotic horror pop.

These guys seem to be having quite a bit of fun with their songs, Titles sucha as “Bikey Zombie”, ”VD”, “It Stinks” and “The Ass Kisses the face” will tell you what kind of tunes you’re gonna get. That’s right, motorcycles, zombies, cannibalism and killing Hello Kitty. This is the essence of the Goons; it’s OK to be dark and a bit twisted, provided you’re having fun with it. If you like bad horror flicks and good punk rock with no pretension, check out The Story Of Dead Barbie and Ghost.

Official website // MySpace // Goons of Doom at Amazon // on Ebay.

JJ & The Shifters are originally from Cleveland. They banded together with a common love of Instrumental Surf Music.

After perfecting their own songs by playing in front of live audiences at several mythical places they recorded a CD. Waves on a Lake are just ankle slop and nothing to Hang Ten on. Rather than being landlocked in drysville they caught wave of inspiration. They laid plans to go where success was just waitin’ to happen.

Soon they piled guitars and amp’s into Solie’s woody and Nurdie’s van and hit the road. They set out to the West Coast where the heart and soul of surf beat strong. Can you say stoked up.

Eventually, after being held down by a number of gnarly wipeouts, they found the impact zone on the beaches of the surf capitol of the world. Broke and in need of a shower they made the scene.

It’s never easy to keep a band together, but to the credit of all the guys, they did it. In the process the Shifters created some of the most famous and recognizable surf music in the world. In the next photo: Dick Dale and Jeff ‘JJ’ Janning:

JJ and the Surf Shifters
Jeff Janning music on amazon.com

The other day I was waiting around in a doctor’s office for a check up after being exposed to several people who’d had strep throat. I figured that rather than waiting, I should simply head on up to the doc’s office and make sure I’m not gonna come down with strep as well. While I was in the waiting room, I flipped through a recent GQ magazine, and who should I see gracing one of the pages but Dick Dale himself!

Many people in this generation were exposed to Dick Dale’s music through the movie Pulp Fiction, and this helped bring surf rock of yesteryear back into the social consciousness. I simply thought now would be a great time to pay homage to the “King of Surf Guitar.”

The story of Dick Dale (aka Richard Anthony Monsour) is one of legend. He was an amateur surfer from California who wanted to recreate what he heard in his head while surfing. For those who’ve been fortunate enough to explore his catalog at length, this contribution helped change the face of music over the course of a generation.

Photo: Bigger Picture Images

Dale’s extensive use of reverb helped characterize the particularly wet sound of his guitar work and his playing style is quite unique as well. Because he was a left-handed player he was forced to play a right-handed guitar; however, he didn’t restring the guitar like other left-handed legends. He simply reaches over the fret board when he needs to hit a particular chord.

Some people call Dick Dale the “father of heavy metal” because of his use of high wattage amplification, heavy gauge strings, and his uncanny ability to set small amps on fire from overdriving them. Many may dispute this fact, but his early shows are most definitely the stuff of legend.

As Mr. Dale nears his seventy-second birthday, I suggest we all pay homage to this innovator whose popularity was cut short by the British Invasion in the early sixties. Pick up King of the Surf Guitar or any of his albums and give it a spin. You’ll be adrift in the sea of Dick Dale’s creativity and riding those cerebral waves in no time.

This post was contributed by Holly McCarthy, who writes on the subject of the fast paced online college. She invites your feedback at hollymccarthy12 at gmail dot com

This music is performed by the Citizens. The Surfer can be found on the Citizens’ second album, Post Cro-Magnon Drift. Keep a special look on the monkey.

Being both a surfer and a musician this album really speaks to me. The Aqua Velvets are a San Fransisco California surf music group, led by guitarist Miles Corbin, Hank Maninger (guitar), Michael Lindner (bass, accordion) and the battery power-pop band “Rubinoos” Don Spindt.

This Surf -Rock band play together since the late 80’s, and we can listen to Latin rhythms, Spanish blue, “Tango de Milo, “spaghetti westerns” Gringo “and a mixture of surf-guitar sound. Great instrumental surf music here. If you’re into surf music at all this is definitely one for your collection.

The Aqua Velvets