Early this morning my car was parked in North Carolina, where I drank many interesting sodas and hiked some beautiful mountains for a weekend. After a long day driving back here, I found that North Carolinans the Monterreys had made their new album available to those of us that didn't get to catch them at the Instro Summit. One of these years.

Gee Whiz! The Mighty Swells have been dripping songs onto Soundcloud and Reverbnation for years, but finally went ahead and made a long-player. They've got a well polished very trad sound where the fun finds its way through. This LP is predominantly covers, but originals like "Lone Rhino" and "Mr Infiltrator" really hold their own amidst the time-tested classics. Apparently they've got another LP of originals on the way!

Burt Rocket's Savage Iceland came out in 2009... has it really been that long!? Burt's stuff is very 60's rooted and reverb drenched. I would use the word "mysterious" in context of his previous LP, but if the track "Boss Board" is any indication, this one might be more rocket-fueled!

Puta Madre Brothers are a pretty oddball group. A three man one-man band (each member plays guitar and drums simultaneously), their sound is pretty unique. There's a semi tex-mex sound, but with an off-kilter beat, and all sorts of what-not thrown into the blender. It's not entirely instrumental, but it's instrumental enough. Here, have the description from Rookie Records' website, I like what they say more.

This is the third LP from Wisconsin's The Revomatics (second studio LP). I've only heard "Live at Lucky Joe's Tiki Room" but it was a blast the whole way through. From the previews, this seems like a slight departure: darker, more mysterious, more thunderous.  Now I've got no issue with bands trying to go straight for a sound from the early 60's and leaving it at that, but it's also cool to hear a band push themselves and work out a sound of their own.

Great lineup for a split EP, each band from a place where surf just won't quit. Los Galerna take the first half of the split at a fast pace. Their sound is pretty standout mix of distinct percussion, quick-pickin' guitar and honkin' sax. It's got great punch and really comes together! I'm a little more familiar with Mexico's The Cavernarios, and they definitely hold up their end. They start with a blistering fuzzy number, then move to a pretty one, and end with a sunny twister.

Whole thing is pay-what-you-want on bandcamp, absolutely worth a listen!

Just a few weeks ago I was listening to The (Fabulous) Wailers' "Tall Cool One" LP and thinking "Why are there not thousands of bands still making this stuff?". I just wanna stomp and twist and dance and leave my music at that!

The Satin Chaps get it! They've got some swingin' organ, honkin' brass, and percussion ready to make you move. Too bad two tracks aren't even enough to work up a sweat, but they're both right on target!

Los Plantronics are a gift from the Norse gods. Their previous record "Organic Voodoo Soup" was a knockout, but also a bit experimental. Often that means strange and moody, but I really mean it wasn't strictly surf, dipping into soul music, boogaloo etc. Check out the song "Cin-a-Delico" from that album for a surf track that tries to be a whole lot more.

The Wrecks House appears to be the brainchild of Leon Daniel, who played for the Monterreys. This is definitely a departure from that sound: much spookier, slower, and mysterious-er with a whole lot of spy sound.

Luau or Die have been a part of the Toronto surf scene for a good while now (there's videos going back to 2009 on Youtube) but for us way far away from Toronto, we can dig this EP. "Dead on the Floor Vol. 1" is comprised of four originals and a cover of "Llorando Se Fue" (I had to look up the original) with quickly picked guitar and tight playing. It's a live album, but very clean and honestly better sounding than an awful lot of surf rock studio recordings.