Go, Roly, go!
Johnny Heering | Bethel, CT United States | 08/29/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
""Bustin' Surfboards" was a forgotten surf instrumental, until it was included in Pulp Fiction. Because of that new publicity, The Tornadoes' only album was reissued on CD. The album includes a lot of great surf instrumentals, especially "Bustin' Surfboards", "The Gremmie" and "Shootin' Beavers". Unfortunately, the album also includes three mediocre vocal songs ("Summertime", "Old Shep" and "Johnny B. Goode"). These songs don't really fit in with the feel of the rest of the album. But that's what the "skip" button is for on your CD player, right?"
Very Cool, Though Not Everything Works!
K. Brown | Walnut, Ca USA | 08/07/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"When they are at the top of their game on this CD, The Tornadoes are pure 100% Surf-Guitar, nothing watered down! Starting off mellow & cool with "Busting Surfboards," then going into the exotic "Malaguena" (same melody as the Russian folk song "Dark Eyes"), and then into... "Summertime?" That, and "Old Shep" really seemed out of place on a surf CD. Both of these songs had vocals, which were not one of The Tornadoes' stronger points! Their cover of "Johnny B. Goode" wasn't terrible, but... sorry, Chuck Berry is the only one who can do that one "just right!"
The rest of the CD is very good. This is one of those bands that should have stayed away from vocals; their tunes with lyrics seem to mask their too-cool surf-sound, but their instrumental pieces are incredible!"