ALBUM: Guitar Beat (1981)
MVC RATING: 3.5/$$$
This is not your grandfather’s Ventures — the Ventures being the guitar-no-vocals band that enjoyed worldwide success in the 1960s and beyond with their melodic, catchy sound and virtuoso playing.
No, this is punk guitar picking ‘neo-surf rock’ band. They are now gone but I’d say they were the only ones to occupy this genre. Some of the songs are so avant garde as to be unlistenable even if you can appreciate the talent of the musicians. With some of their other songs such as ‘Searching,’ ‘Tight Turn‘ and ‘Calhoun Surf,’ you can catch a wave of twanged-up guitar and have a good time.
The drummer stands out. They also throw in some saxophone and organ. However, and I know I’m getting old, but I’d sooner put a Ventures (or Duane Eddy) album on the turntable than this one.