Customer Reviews

Overboard

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This a rocking, beautifully executed refinement of the 60's surf-beat instrumental sound. Overtones of country, ska-beat, gypsy music and jazz-like chordal illumination creep in and bring welcome diversity to the classic wet, wet, wet reverbia and throbbing tremelo shimmer while never losing the heart and soul of the Surf City sound. You'd be hard-pressed to find better surf guitar playing anywhere ....execution, inspiration, sophistication and tone to the bone. The rest of the band is propulsive and tight, the sax counterpoint is "that sound" you've forgotten but recognize when you hear it and the songs have a deliciously dark undertow conjuring up crashing waves on lonely seas. The production is deep, rich and three dimensional. This album exceeds expectations and does not slavishly attempt to recreate the '60's sound but goes beyond it ...and succeeds in terms of originality and creativity ...and just plain good rocking.

Frank Blandino's band must be among the top ten of the multitude of surf-instro-exotica-lounge bands out there today. I listen to so much of this stuff lately, and OVERBOARD really stands out among the pack. You've got songs that conjure up the feel of being in (or under) the water ("Race Against Time", "Fathomized"); westerns ("Tracking Bigfoot", "El Toro") bachelor pads ("Hippo Hump") monsters on the beach ("The Haunted Shore") film noir ("Cruisin' The Zone") South American partying ("Turquoise Blue And Primer Gray"). While many "surf" bands try to find their niche, The Fathoms remind me perhaps the most of Los Straitjackets-- these guys can do it ALL!!!

I recently got my hands on their previous album, FATHOMLESS, and while I'd recommend finding a copy (not an easy thing) it really showed me how much BETTER these guys have got since then! For more Fathoms, check out ROCK DON'T RUN VOL.1 ("Cerveza On Dee Mesa" & "Rockabilly Surfer"), INSTRUMENTAL FIRE ("Blandingo"), BIKINI WORLD! ("Fathomless") and for songs not found elsewhere, AN EVENING IN NIVRAM: THE MUSIC OF THE SHADOWS ("Man Of Mystery"), THE SPACE COSSACKS / THE FATHOMS Split EP ("Comanche"), and SWINGIN' CREEPERS! A TRIBUTE TO THE VENTURES ("Walk Don't Run"). Also check out VIBRATE WITH... THE CRANK-TONES to hear these same guys doing some of the coolest rockabilly of the past few years!

These guys are extremely talented musicians who clearly "get it" when it comes to reproducing the surf sound... plenty of reverb, and no gimicks. Highly recommend this and their first album "Fathomless".

I have no clue what the "Good Music, Poor Sound" reviewer is thinking. My only guess is that this person has no understanding of surf guitar. It's *supposed* to be drenched in reverb and if you don't like the sound on this recording, you're not a real fan of surf. Frank Blandino is a master of guitar tone.

OK first off. If the prices here are reflective of products - rareness - then lets change some prices. There are 11 here that aren't selling.
These were mostly cut outs or store advances:
The Fathoms are one of the best surf bands ever whether its 1963 or 1998 or 2009. To the lame reviewer that said he hated their tone - that is surf tone. The higher treble is cause by reverb units which give surf the drippy echo-ish effect What do you want - California Guitar Trio's boring vanilla shclop or Garyy Hoeys over the top metal surf (hes still good but not traditional surf. Thats what this is traditional surf. Everyone back in the day had reverb units. I just don't think you understand surf music at all. This is awesome and the tone is fantastic. Some people. Get this disc. Sellers lower the price Sheesh. I hope it comes back in print and everyone selling it for over $15 loses out. I would never tag this with Los Straitjackets. They don't sound anything alike. Los Straitjackets are good in a different way. Totally unrelated

Overboard is a fantastic instrumental surf rock album. I can't say I know for sure, but I think The Fathoms have since called it quits, and that's a real shame coz they would be one of the top contenders in the scene. Overboard is a great ride that'll surely take you to another place if you let it. It's got a slightly laid back sound that adds bits of other genres to the mix, yet never loses it's "surf" sound. Very, very, very highly recommended if you're a surf rock fan. It really sucks that such a good album could be out of print. Lets just hope it's rereleased. If you can track it down, and you can pay for it without taking out a loan, then in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, DO IT!! DO IT!!

First I liked the music and particularly I like the use of the sax in this surf album. I don't like the sound or tone of their guitars. I have actually found this cd irritating to listen to because the tone of the instruments is irritating. If they got rid of the high treble tank sound I thing they would be great. Yes, it almost sounds like they are playing under water and that is OK for one or two numbers but not for the whole album.