Phil Dirt - Reverb Central
PO Box 7240, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-7240 USA

album coverThe Diamondheads Live at Roots Cafe 1/12/02 4 stars
Label: Diamondheads CD-R Live

This CD-R is written from an ambient recording, perhaps from a video camera judging from the hyper active AGC. Lots of fine material here. They are working on what promises to be a great CD, doe out later this year. If they tour, I'd love to get these guys into KFJC's Pit!

Picks: Diamond Head, Jack The Ripper, Love Potion No. 9, Pacifica, Monsoon, The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt, Steel Trap, Surf West, Young Man, English Channel Surfing, Cry For A Shadow, Dented Fender, Home Alone, Hammerhead, The Diamondhead Stomp, Out Of Limits, Wavos Rancheros, Man Of Mystery, Waving, Kawanga


"Diamond Head" [live] 3 stars

This is a fine and spirited performance of Danny Hamilton's classic tune. Accurate and fiery.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Jack The Ripper" [live] 3 stars

Link Wray's "Jack The Ripper" can hardly be done badly I think. Moderate pace, solid power, and that famous big guitar line.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Love Potion No. 9" [live] 3 stars

This song does convert well to the surf idiom. Lots of fire and reverb as the Diamondheads make nice with the Robins' old hit.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Pacifica" [live] 3 stars

Los Straitjackets originated it, and the Diamondheads give if a bolder more bottom heavy edge. Great tune, and a solid performance.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Monsoon" [live] 4 stars

A fine melody line poses the musical question "can you belly board the torrents of the monsoon?" The answer is yes, as long as mud is not an object. Fire and flair, and a strong melody line, coupled with an effective arrangement.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt" [live] 3 stars

The Shadows' "The Rise and Fall Of Flingel Bunt" is given the huge hall boomerang sound... oh, that's the ambient recording. Still, it's interesting how cool it is when it's so big and boomy.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Steel Trap" [live] 3 stars

A mind is like a "Steel Trap." It's a terrible thing to waste. Power and bounce, and a sense of easy does it surfing.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Surf West, Young Man" [live] 5 stars

This is such a cool tune... gotta get this in studio! Big cowboy twang and rhythm, and a rolling beat. Outstanding twang and cactus coolness. Great stuff!!!
Surf Instrumental Mono


"English Channel Surfing" [live] 4 stars

The "Walk Don't Run" drum intro leads to a refreshingly cool melody with big twang and whammy, and a warm inviting sound. With just a little more of a jangle sound to go with the title, this would shine. The whammy chords are beautiful, and the arrangement works well.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Cry For A Shadow" [live] 3 stars

The George Harrison's instro from the early days of the Beatles. Spirited, and just a bit more thumpy and reverby than Los Straitjackets.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Dented Fender" [live] 4 stars

This is a good example of enough changes I think. there's differing guitar dynamics, resulting in different tone, and changes in approach, coupled with great drums and a very interesting bass line.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Home Alone" [live] 4 stars

"Home Alone" twangs with an almost spaghetti spy feel over a grumbly underpinning. This will be fine in studio. Quite a nice melody.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Hammerhead" [live] 4 stars

"Hammerhead" features a catchy riff and rhythm, with driving drums and pure surf bass. While it's riff based, it's very pleasing and infectious. A little like a lost Pyramids tune, with guts and whammy.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"The Diamondhead Stomp" [live] 4 stars

This is an interesting composition, with great drums and good power. It has a fine melody riff and lots of edge. I can't wait for the studio version.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Out Of Limits" [live] 3 stars

The classic studio surf epic gets the works... more than trad, less than unique, though the guitar replacing the keys is rock solid.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Wavos Rancheros" [live] 4 stars

"Wavos Rancheros" is dangerously optimistic, with a wash of reverb and oceanic swell. A great melody line.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Man Of Mystery" [live] 4 stars

The Shadows's tune is well done, though it doesn't really stand out. Treated wit adequate reverb, and swimming whammy and a few glissandos, and... viola! Being less familiar to American audiences, the Diamondheads can carry it off well.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Waving" [live] 4 stars

Flowing islandic romanticism abound in this slow and pretty piece. Excellent liquid lines and polished waves of passion. Very nice tune.
Surf Instrumental Mono


"Kawanga" [live] 3 stars

This is a big guitar rendering of Los Straitjackets' "Kawanga," complete with great raging drums and a ton of chunk. Too fun, and very powerful.
Surf Instrumental Mono