The Amazing California Health And Happiness Road Show

Mermen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 26, 2009)
• Original Release Date: June 20, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mesa
• ASIN: B00004TM2G
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,147 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #6 in Music > Rock > Rock Guitarists > Surf Guitar
  • #38 in Music > Rock > Oldies & Retro > Surf Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's been decades since Jimi Hendrix advised the world that they'd "never hear surf music again." But the Mermen (who take their name from a Hendrix song) not only prove the venerable guitar god wrong, but make a compelling musical argument here that if Hendrix were alive today he might well be sitting in with them on these moody, musically expansive tracks. Just as Jimi was reinventing himself at the time of his death, the Mermen tweak surf-instrumental clichés beyond recognition--that is, when they're not trashing them altogether. Guitarist Jim Thomas's influences range from (of course) Hendrix to Dick Dale, Django Reinhardt, Ravi Shankar, Neil Young, Clarence White, and his own hometown heroes, the Dead Kennedys. Listen closely and you'll hear them all (and more) in a progressive collection that offers a surprise at nearly every turn, whether it's the soaring steel guitar flourishes of "Unto the Resplendent," the sitar colorings of "White Trash Raga," or the spacey Floyd-isms of the 13-minute-plus noise-symphony, "Burn." Like his heroes, Thomas never lets flash block the path of illumination, delivering his rich palette of tones and influences with an ocean-bred sense of grace and destiny. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Electrik Kalifornia Folk Muzak, June 20, 2000

By 

Mac Roberts - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Amazing California Health And Happiness Road Show (Audio CD)

An intoxicating mix of swirling, multi-layered guitars, rolling, jagged rhythms and "ocean-inspired" songwriting, The Mermen meld influences as diverse as Sonic Youth, Pink Floyd and John Coltrane into an album that is cinematic in its grandeur, and at it's strongest, an utter work of beauty.

More than just a collection of songs, The Amazing California Health and Happiness Road Show unfolds like a dream, conjuring musically the infinite images one could envision from its lofty title. "Unto The Resplendent" swells and breaks like the mighty Pacific viewed in slow motion, while "Merry Go Round" takes the listener to the southeastern California desert, burning hazy and endless in the blistering sun. On "Walking The Peach" and "Burn," Jim Thomas, a modern day guitar-god, reinvents history by channeling Hendrix and having him sit in on the Endless Summer sessions. His masterful guitar and songwriting abilities find the perfect union on the stark and beautiful "To Be Naked & French Is Always Hard," transforming surf music into something that might be described as California electric folk, quintessentially Californian and wholly inspired by the indigenous coastal experience.

While surf might be the muse, The Amazing California Health & Happiness Road Show, is so much more. For the highway, for the bedroom, for a toke, this record is sure put you in the right head.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Large Sound for a small world, June 30, 2000

By 

C. C. Hill (Hayward, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Amazing California Health And Happiness Road Show (Audio CD)

The day that Jim Thomas and cohorts the MERMEN released the incredible album "Food for Other Fish" that combined the best elements of instrumental surf, the sonic assault of punk and the depth of Stravinsky back in 1993 surf music as a genre was forever changed for the better. The Mermen releases that followed this groundbreaking cd occasionally rose to but never were able to capture the power and beauty of Food for other Fish. WIth the long awaited release of The Amazing California Health and ... The MERMEN have again raised the bar. From the opening riffs of "Unto the Resplendent" thru the almost pop snarl of "Sponge Cookie" Jim Thomas's masterly guitar work and songcomposing prowess will hold you the listener mesermised. Sonically the Mermen's sound has never been this accessible or diverse.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Amazing California Heatlh And Happiness Road Show, August 4, 2000

By 

Heather S "heathers" (El Dorado Hills, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Amazing California Health And Happiness Road Show (Audio CD)

I've been following this band since their days playing all the small clubs in San Francisco. I worked for BAM Magazine and became acquainted with Jim Thomas, their guitar player. I too play guitar (29 years), and I can tell you that Jim Thomas is the real deal. Their music on "Health and Happiness" is melodic, hallucinatory and extremely captivating. Jim has a gift of being able to compose fluid melodic songs that manage to surprise, relax and invigorate the listener. His use of varied styles and techniques supplies the band with a much "bigger" sound than you would expect out of a trio. Jim's playing is so original, most musicians or bands could never "cover it." It's simply not possible... I know, I tried.

Buy this CD today, before they run out of them.