Customer Reviews

Savage Night

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This CD by the Blue Hawaiians, with its "Las Vegas meets West Coast Surf" wave of genre-bending music came riding in as one of the more eclectic releases of 1999. "Savage Night", inspired by Jim Thompson's dark crime novel of the same name comes on as not just your average surf music album with its endless summer of sun and surf, but rather as a walk on the dark side of temptation and sin found only after dark in a shadowy nightclub.

Old fans of the band may be disappointed by the Las Vegas attitude and the glossy production of this disk, but it is the bands fearless ability to mix their potent Mai-Tai of different musical styles without considering the consequenses that so aptly sets them apart from most of the bands working the West Coast Surf music scene today.

In somewhat of a departure from the bands previous offerings, "Sway" and "Live at the Lava Lounge", there is more emphasis on the vocals of Mark Fontana and more of a mixing of the Hawaiian steel guitar and drums found in traditional surf music with the organ, horns, piano, and sax found in jazz.

Fontana's voice, with its Jim Morrison/Roy Orbison/Chris Issac Timbre provides the CD with a sense of danger that is seductive, adventurous, and sexy. "Highlife" with its cool seductive jazz takes you into a nightclub circa the 1950s with Janiva Magness, one of the more talented vocalists on the contemporary blues scene, providing background vocals on this track. The CDs opening track starts with a hypnotic Chris Issac like vocal that sounds like it came out of a David Lynch movie, and on "Lonely Star" Fontana brings Frankie Avalon off of the beach and into the piano bar. On "Sway", and "Jockey Full of Bourbon", the band swings into a Cha-Cha rhythm and then swiches over to south of the border with the toreador inspired "Trouble Bay".

For those who seek a sense of adventure in the music they listen to this walk on the dark side of life is worth the danger.

Grab your Daiquiris and enjoy the best in Lounge-Surf-Noir. I love this band! Probably the best I've ever heard........Especially the first Song!

I thought I was purchasing a surf instrumental cd. What I got was a nice mix of retro 60's style musicianship with sharp vocals combined into a luxurious lounge music presentation, which is both earthy and evocative. Each piece is handled with the sensitive, tasteful caress of a true artist passionate about his work. The vocals are lush, embracing, memorable for their understated elegance. The slow vibrato stylings of the electric guitar, the soft saxophone, and high quality steel guitar work is blended sweetly, never overdone, with nice soloing alternating with the lead vocals. Possibly the finest cover of Shakin' All Over ever done, takes the original to a new level, a vista seldom visited. The title track, Experiment In Terror, and Hot Rods To Honolulu are sensuous instrumentals, the others are vocals with smooth instrumental backing. The relaxed pacing of all of the music is certainly suitably fitting to a group that performs in a place called The Lava Lounge. My favorite number is Sway, a timeless classic so exquisitely performed that it reverberates, hauntingly, in my memory, long after the album has been put to bed. I can only wonder why a group so deeply moving has not been promoted by the sometimes unfathomable gurus of the music industry. Take a chance on this rare breath of fresh air. Latin-based tunes performed with an almost stoic affection may stay with you, melting away the stress of an arduous day.

This CD sports a great insert...much nicer than Sway. However the performances are slightly less inspired than Sway which, in my opinion, represents the Blue Hawaiians best outing. But this CD is not too bad...only not as inspired. Still it's a must have for fans of the surf music genre.

Bought this on a whim. The sound is awesome. Aqua Velvet with vocals. There are many sounds here. A bit of Chris Issak, Calexico and The Maverick's!

If you like this sound, give the Hula Monsters a whirl.

I love how so-called "fans" of longtime underground bands love to bash their favorite group the minute they come out with a so-called "overproduced/commercial" album, or when they gain national status. C'mon, kids, LISTEN to the music. The band can't hold themselves back for a few people. Finally, after THREE albums (forgot the Christmas album, didn'tcha?), the Blue Hawaiians may be on the verge of that nationwide attention. The band has evolved beyond their trademark surf-noir sound, yet not in a way that should alienate their loyal following. The Blue Hawaiians sound has grown darker, and they have further incorporated and improved aural elements that were only hinted at on their previous albums (vocals and horns). "Flesh and Soul" has an almost rockabilly-ish country vibe, and my favorite track, "Hot Rods to Honolulu", manages to outswing Royal Crown Revue's "The Contender". And that album cover makes me wish they would make a vinyl pressing...beautiful. The hidden tracks are pretty swell, too. Buy it, turn up the volume and spend an evening with the Blue boys.

The review from the Los Angeles listener is based upon his or her prior experience with the band, not with the quality of this CD.

The Blue Hawaiians have managed to pull off the impossible with this release -- it is a fresh, familiar, dead-on twisted twist to the quickly waning swing genre. Their music is exotic, the melodies hypnotizing and the arrangements (and that voice!) are close to perfection. I enjoyed the selection of new and classic tunes, and appreciated the bravado in producing the bonus track, where the band has the nerve to "channel surf" away in the middle of the song, leaving us with wind, waves and dolphins.

I never saw the BH perform live, (although I have been familiar with the band for years) so, unlike LA, I cannot compare the CD to the live act. But I do know that, with 2/3 of the year already gone, this has become my favorite new release of 1999.

This CD was recommended by a friend, streuth, where have they been hiding, this is awesome, a cross between Calexico and Chris Isaak, very West Coast surf sound, Baha nights, great cruisin music, just love that boss Fender, going buy all their CD's now, gotta get the Xmas Cd.

I love this album. My favorite song is SWAY. But I love the other songs as well!!! I like the idea of using a trumpet which sounds so cool. Montana rules. Tom Maxwell does "it" very well. The guitars sound so clear...the whole band is just amazing!!!!

I saw the Blue Hawaiians on the 7th of December when they opened for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in Cleveland. I thought they were going to be a typical "opening" band. I was wrong. They were outstanding, and that's an understatement. I didn't think I'd like their music, but the next day I found myself buying their newest CD. Everyone in the band has such command of their instrument, they make it look easy. I'd buy this CD, as well as their others.