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jimmyandthesharks
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
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jimmyandthesharks
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
 Posted - 12/06/2010 : 09:02:52 AM
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Here's a review of the CD from Phil Dirt at Reverb Central:
Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Deadlies - The Deadlies Do Christmas
All righty now! These songs, done by bazillions, take on a fresh sound via real rock and roll sound and grit. Even the pretty songs have loudness and edge. It may not be traditional surf, but it's completely cool. Very honest and fun.
Picks: Sleigh Ride, What Child Is This, Joy To The World, Feliz Navidad, Silver Bells, Deck the Halls, Silent Night - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, We Four Kings, Auld Lang Syne
Track by Track Review
Sleigh Ride
Rock (Instrumental)
The Deadlies play "Sleigh Ride" as if they were a more drum-centric version of Los Straitjackets, but with a more Ventures-like tone. A couple of gritty glissandos give this a surfable edge. There's nothing easy does it under the tree about this rendering.
What Child Is This
Rock (Instrumental)
Without the lyrics, "What Child Is This" is "Greensleeves." This is a gritty, deliberate performance that's surprisingly endearing. It has a loud sound without too much aggression.
Joy To The World
Rock (Instrumental)
Excellent drums and a real-band sound drive "Joy To The World" right over the top. The simplicity and honesty of the sound is very refreshing. Gritty and cool.
Jingle Bells
Rock (Instrumental)
"Jingle Bells" is modestly arranged with simple rock attitude. Its crisp sound and genuine feel are very nice.
Feliz Navidad
Rock (Instrumental)
A bit of "Feliz Navidad" brings on a basic rock arrangement that's right out of your garage... no, not next to the Honda, nor crude, but pure honest sound and direct playing, It may not rock your world exactly, but it sure is good to hear someone play this well and still use a real rock sound.
Silver Bells
Rock (Instrumental)
Easy moving, beautiful in an electric sort of way, "Silver Bells" is rather refreshingly arranged. The bass is so smooth!
The Christmas Song
Rock (Instrumental)
With a kind of jazzy arrangement, the guitar plays "The Christmas Song" solo with stereo reverb for spread.
Deck the Halls
Rock (Instrumental)
Muted chop chords, big drums, and thundering bass pummel the underside of "Deck the Halls" while the guitar plays really clean lines. This is a very original arrangement. Big grins from me!
Silent Night - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Rock (Instrumental)
"Silent Night" rings from the guitar above dramatic cymbals for a very fine sound. It yields to a much bolder "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" with very cool drums. Christmas with grit.
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Rock (Instrumental)
"Jolly Old St. Nicholas" is more surfy than most here, with lovely notes and easy drums and bass. It's a slow piece with a bit of jazz-country twang. Very nice.
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Rock (Instrumental)
Muted chop chords and surf drums are pumped by pulsing bass lines. The rock guitar tone is genuine, bringing a fresh face in a simple and very effective arrangement. Quite cool.
White Christmas
Rock (Instrumental)
Long flowing chords in stereo reverb ambiance carry this gentle version of "White Christmas" off in solo form. Tastefully done.
We Four Kings
Surf (Instrumental)
The Blue Hawaiians' arrangement is the basis for this. Though derived from it, its tone is gritty and more rock, making it sound fresh and cool.
Auld Lang Syne
Rock (Instrumental)
Christmas ends with New Years... "Auld Lang Syne" is a power pop romp with big grins. I like this arrangement a lot. Grit, power, distortion, and soaring notes.
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kimo |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2010 : 09:37:26 AM
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Totally bitchin, James.
I just ordered two copies, one for me and one for a gift.
Regardless of what Hendrix said, surf music still rules! |
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jimmyandthesharks
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2010 : 10:42:30 AM
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| Love you Mark! |
kimo |
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JeffC
Lokahi
USA
189 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2010 : 07:40:57 AM
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I love this sound, James. Been looking for something to spice up my tired holiday music library.
Mahalo nui from an old St. Helena slacker |
Jeff
Making Trout Country safe for Slack Key! |
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jimmyandthesharks
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2010 : 4:32:03 PM
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Thanks Jeff! (neighbor)
I really appreciate it!
James |
kimo |
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Bau
Lokahi
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2010 : 01:59:20 AM
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| I realy like that clip of 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen', way cool! :) |
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jimmyandthesharks
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2010 : 3:57:12 PM
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.... and Now Reviewed in Vintage Guitar:
The Deadlies : A Very Deadly Christmas (Self Distributed)
A host of instrumental surf bands have taken a stab at Christmas fare, but this California-based trio turns in one of the best since 1965's popular Ventures' Christmas Album. Where the former turned favorites like "Sleigh Ride" and "Jingle Bell Rock" into "Walk Don't Run" and "Memphis," respectively, lead guitarist James Patrick Regan and his cohorts rock out just as much while remaining faithful to the carols (although who can blame them for weaving "LaBamba" into "Feliz Navidad"?). - DF |
kimo |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2010 : 09:42:59 AM
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And boy, did I wear out that Ventures LP. Wonder where the heck it is now??
Got my CDs in yesterday's mail. It's going on the box later today when we trim the tree. Gotta do these things properly, ya know.
"Box"--that's old hipster talk for a record player... and yes, a CD is a record, dammit. As in "a recording."
Dad-blamed kids and their stoopid digital-robot-music messing with the English language.  |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2010 : 08:14:16 AM
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Wow, we get crabby in our old age. Or did you not get your caffeine level properly adjusted today?
Unko Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2010 : 08:16:21 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark
And boy, did I wear out that Ventures LP. Wonder where the heck it is now??
It actually came out on CD a few years back, so replacement is possible (I bit). |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2010 : 11:19:02 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark
And boy, did I wear out that Ventures LP. Wonder where the heck it is now??
Got my CDs in yesterday's mail. It's going on the box later today when we trim the tree. Gotta do these things properly, ya know.
"Box"--that's old hipster talk for a record player... and yes, a CD is a record, dammit. As in "a recording."
Dad-blamed kids and their stoopid digital-robot-music messing with the English language.
And don't forget that in old blues and jazz parlance a "box" is a musical instrument, particularly a guitar. Term derives from the Yoruba/Congo religion (Voudon, Voodoo, Santeria, etc in the New World). The trickster god (fo'get da name right now) is the dude dressed in red you meet at the crossroads. Morphed into the devil in the US, but not pure evil, just a trickster like Coyote & Br'er Rabbit. |
keaka |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2010 : 10:07:31 AM
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OK, here is an unsolicited review of the Deadlies Christmas record:
About 30 seconds into the first song, Annie said, "I wish you'd bought more than two copies... I can think of a whole bunch of people I want to give this to."
While listening to Feliz Navidad that we both turned to the speakers and just started laughing. Not the kind of laugh where you diss something... it was an honest outburst of pure delight. Annie remarked how cool it was that they kept it up for the whole CD.
Or, like the DJs use to say: "All killer, no filler."
James & the boys did it-- they created a classic Christmas album. It is every bit as good as that Ventures one. And that is saying a lot.
Pick up the Deadlie's CD and listen for the cool references to Dick Dale, and the Ventures, and the Champs, and Ritchie Valenz and the Pyramids... plus quite a few I am sure I missed. The ballads, some played on solo guitar, have a great feel, terrific harmonies... and tone to die for.
And ya know what? We are going to buy a bunch more CDs and pass them around this Christmas... This is one of those records that you really want to turn your friends on to.
Four out of four stars. Seriously, it is that good.
If you don't buy a copy, you are most certainly a hoedad flatlander who wears black socks with Bermuda shorts.
Or a tourist.
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Edited by - Mark on 12/13/2010 1:36:26 PM |
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jimmyandthesharks
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2010 : 2:22:40 PM
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Thank you Mark,
You are way too kind!
We wish all of you slackers a Merry Christmas!
Love, james - the Deadlies |
kimo |
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JeffC
Lokahi
USA
189 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2010 : 07:28:58 AM
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Alright, I should be working, but I can't help myself. My Deadlies CDs arrived yesterday and I have the following questions for you Taropatchers:
Is it not (for better and worse) the Holidays out there?
Are any of you lovers of music?
Do any of you like to have fun?
If any of these is true, then you deserve to treat yourselves to this Christmas album. Here's another unsolicited review.
This is not just another We've-got-a-Christmas-album-too Christmas album. Yes we all know these tunes by heart and as much as I truly love many of the the classic holiday repertoire, I have a hard time not making fun of some of them. Given the surf-rock sensibility of the Deadlies I would not have been surprised if there were some fun-poking on this album. But there isn't. One gets the feeling that James and the boys really love these tunes. They are treated with respect and even, occasionally, reverence. There is no kitsch or cynicism. These tunes are played, not tongue-in-cheek, but straight up. And they are rocked (the drummer sounds like he's channeling Keith Moon), but not bombastic. In the Deadlies' hands some tired old holiday tunes (classics that they are) are turned into joyous, rocking anthems.
I, personally, need more joyousness in my holidays.
My only regret is that I only ordered two discs, which is not enough for my growing list of people who deserve this music. I'll be rectifying that today.
Mahalo Deadlies. Happy Holidays Taropatchers |
Jeff
Making Trout Country safe for Slack Key! |
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jimmyandthesharks
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2010 : 7:45:13 PM
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Thank you as well JeffC (and thanks for keeping trout country safe!) and Hey Everyone,
We'll be performing at Forbidden Island Tiki Bar in Alameda, CA, On Thursday, December 23rd for the annual "Deadlies Christmas Special!"
Hope you can make it if your in the area.
Love, James
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kimo |
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My Surf Band has a Christmas Album
