Album: Swami John Reis,the Blind Shake - Modern Surf Classics

Score: 9 out of 10
Guitarmeister John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt and Drive Like Jehu) reinvents himself with an amazing set of surf-rockers. Ably assisted by Minnesota band, the Blind Shake, these tunes are superbly crafted all-instrumental rock & roll. The trick with surf music is to avoid cliches while still referencing styles of the past, and this is exactly the case here. Some great titles too, like “Zulu As Kono,” “Poseidon’s Tears” and “Sets of Fire” almost veers into Sonic Youth territory. If the Pixies’ version of “Cecilia Ann” was the acorn, then this release is the oak! – David Arnson