Pollo Del Mar: The Golden State ...CD review by Justin Hayes

Pollo Del Mar: The Golden State

cd notes surf rock music reviews by Justin Hayes

...by Justin Hayes

     I never was a surfer dude in spite of a deep desire to be one. I don't even own a surfboard. My wife would think it took up too much space in the garage and that I would fall off and get eaten by a shark were I to bring one home. Besides, I drive a behemoth SUV, live in a behemoth house, watch a behemoth wide screen digital TV and I can't live without Starbucks serving me up a behemoth cup of yuppie go-juice each and every day. Uh-huh, all the things that make us worship at the altar of the Almighty Dollar instead of living our dreams. So, what should a self-respecting wanna-be King of Surf do? Decide that when faced with this particular dry reality, a wet fantasy might serve just as well. Enter Pollo Del Mar: The Golden State. I popped the disc into my CD player. It was destiny...*

     7 Sisters, 7 Seas - Mystical music from the Twilight Zone. 7 Sisters, 7 Seas is coiling smoothly from six (yes! six!) speakers, wrapping me in a wave of beauty. These guys are good! I've decided to replay this one several times before moving to the next track. I do. It's worth it. I think I'm in touch with Rod Serling.

     A Flash of Green - Pollo Del Mar is coming through for me! A Flash of Green begins with understated elegance and builds to a powerful climax. Driven by its heavy surf beat, I feel like I can roar. By now it's clear why Pollo is one of the best bands around today.

     Red Asphalt - I play Red Asphalt five times just to hear that fantastic opening sequence. It sounds disturbing, but great. I have to know what it's about so I pop the insert out of the jewel box to read. Ick. Seems Red Asphalt is based on a "gory driver's education movie" shown to high school kids. Well, I'll give the guys credit for making me look. Great music and, like any sane immortal, I'm going to drive at a more reasonable speed from now on.

     Dripping Springs, TX - Pollo Del Mar's western influenced song keeps me busy trying to figure out how they got so good. I close my eyes and see Clint Eastwood silhouetted on a ridge. Pollo plays exquisitely and I press further into my seat to enjoy the call of the west. Sergio Leone beckons and the band opens fire with a Fistful of Music ... errr ... ummm ... Dripping Springs, TX.

     Bottom Feeder Boogie - I bump and grind my way through Bottom Feeder Boogie. What the hell, it's hard to stand still with this tune tugging at your groin. It's a horny song. Where's my wife?

     Mare Amniotica - Liquid, totally liquid ... and positively beautiful. I know, I know. Songs are not supposed to be physical entities. Well, I beg to differ. Mare Amniotica has a tangible, almost touchable, feel that makes it liquid. This song is liquid. This song is liquid. This song is liquid.

     Hall of the Mountain King - Edvard Grieg! Four years in college and that's about all I remember, but I do remember that this is one of Grieg's greatest hits and that he was a Norwegian. I grab my phone to dial up Duke so I can gloat over such an incredible memory when I suddenly remember that Duke doesn't do phones. Chances of reaching him are none and noner. That's okay, I'm listening to the best rendition of Hall of the Mountain King I've ever heard and Duke isn't, so that's good enough to make me smile. He might be a big guy, but I have sounds! And six, count them! six!, speakers.

     Magyara - Gypsy style music at its best. Pollo adds just the right amount of wanderlust to make me want to go out and buys some crystal balls. My wife thinks that's a great idea.

     UBIK - Fun, if you're hyped on lightning ... and UBIK delivers a big jolt of the hot bolt. Great drumming. Great music. Great everything.

     As Above, So Below - This is reminding me of many days on the beach, the dreams of my teen years, the choices I've made, the highways I've traveled and the roads I've neglected to take. Pollo Del Mar has written a song that is good for introspection, beatific in its ability to bring both a smile and a tear. My mind drifts back to the sun drenched waves, Duke's music always cutting through the nights, girls in bikinis that would now be considered modest but which were so very daring in those days. A fire on the beach and stars in the sky greeting our surf-weary bodies. We did, indeed, feel immortal.

     Charlie Don’t Surf - And neither does Justin. Surfy, lively and very sixties. This is a cool surf tune ... even if Justin and Charlie Don’t Surf.

     QuickTime MPEG: UBIK Live - An excellent bonus to a great instrumental CD, Pollo Del Mar performs UBIK. The band is on my screen, a girl dancing, colors flashing, music playing and I'm psychedelicized.

*...I got to spend a day being immortal, a King of Surf, at least in my mind. Pollo Del Mar's The Golden State made it happen for me. Now that's the mark of an incredible band!

Pollo Del Mar: The Golden State
http://www.pollodelmar.com
2004@pollodelmar.com

Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Gary Mankin
Guitar and Baritone Guitar: Ferenc Dobronyi
Bass, Fretless and 5-String: Jefferson Turner
Electric and Acoustic Guitar: Jono Jones
Drums and Percussion: Jeremiah Rexford