Search - Satan's Pilgrims :: Around the World With

Surf Music's Modern Archtypes

Spiritof67 | New York | 10/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Satan's Pilgrims are an example of what can happen when you really do get what you pay for. We've all heard of "modern surf" groups who couldn't play their way through "Walk, Don't Run" without the help of Nokie Edwards' ghost, or others who "derive" their sound from surf music but you couldn't tell.

Satan's Pilgrims were different - they really played the music. When you listen to their take on "Wave" and the solos, it almost illustrates a history of surf guitar in one song. "Cazuela" is one of the most atmospheric instrumentals ever, right up there with "Sleepwalk" and "Apache". "Fountain" is another feel-like-you're-there tune with some great theme changes. But for the real feel of surf and steel, "Downshiftin'" is the place.

All in all a classic surf album from any era. Not a duff cut on the CD...and prime Stratocaster music for the ages."

Great surf instrumentals

Spiritof67 | 03/08/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Pilgrims' take on the Godfather theme was a revelation. Upon hearing it the first time I received the following pair of related epiphanies: (1) that any piece of mediterranean mandolin music could be done surf-style, to great effect; and (2) that the reason this is true is that Dick Dale's approach to playing guitar (largely definitive of a certain school of surf rock) is really that of a mandolin player who just happens to have picked up a Stratocaster. In any event, the Pilgrims are a first rate surf instrumental band. And their version of the Godfather theme alone is worth the price of this album."