CD REVIEWS
By Michael Swanger scenescribe@mchsi.com
Surf Zombies
“Something Weird”
Independent release
True, they might live thousands of miles from an ocean, so you might ask yourself what a group of rockers from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, knows about surf music. But after listening to the 21 instrumental tracks on their independent debut album, “Something Weird,” the short answer is “more than you might think.” From the fast charging beat of the album’s opening number “TracEl Funebre (The Hearse),” to the spacious, spaghetti western sounding “Dead Man’s Alley,” to the highly danceable and ’60s melodic swan song, “The Zombie Stomp,” this eastern Iowa quartet captures the tone and spirit of a variety of surf styles (mixed with some punk) like they were born hangin’ 10. The interplay between guitarists Brook Hoover and Kyle Oyloe, along with bassist Joel McDowell and a variety of drummers on the record, is impressive, especially on fuzzed out rockers like “Electric Skull” and “Rockabilly Boogie Man.” CV
The Manics
“The Manics”
Independent release
Try as young bands do to serve the music when recording an album, they sometimes fall short of their goal thanks in part to intended or unintended consequences. The Manics, a quartet of seniors at Hoover High School in Des Moines, however, are the exception to the rule. Formed in 2008 when singer-songwriter Jason Reichenbacher (guitar, vocals) joined forces with Reckless Generation members Tanner Buckley (guitars, vocals), Drew Davis (bass) and Parker Wolfe (drums), this group of pop-punk rockers does a good job of letting the music and lyrics breathe on their debut, six-song, catchy album without sounding forced or inexperienced. Standout tracks include the harmonic rock number “Sane,” the danceable “Fiasco” and the reggae-tinged “The Perfect Fix.”
(The Manics perform an all-ages CD release show at The House of Bricks on Friday, Nov. 27 at 5 p.m. High While Driving, Keno and Come Unity opens. Admission is $10 and includes a copy of the band’s new CD.) CV
