The Halibuts, no mere Pulp Fictionites, have been operating since at least the start of the first big surf revival (circa Orange County, CA: 1981), and their long-standing mastery of the music is readily apparent throughout Life On The Bottom. Sure, the Fender twang's present and accounted for, but so's the sax (sorrowfully AWOL since Mike Love last honked over the "Surfin' USA" b-side), the keyboards (flavoring "Madcap" in particular with a sweet, subtle hint of Ventures), that all-but-lost wiff of the Hawaiian Isles (yeah, Don Ho, not to mention a couple'a Elvis movies, certainly flattened that wave for a while!), and even a refreshing splash of marachi ("Hombre De Palabra"): all vital elements of surf music's initial reign happily gathered together again on this fine disc.

So yes, if it's mere Tarantino-brand sounds you crave, you'll find it here (ie: "Suicide Bay"), but along with so very, very much more (check out the H.buts' take on Mr. Gershwin's appropriately-chosen "Summertime") that you'll probably never be able to hear surf music, Dale-style, again-- at least without feeling you barely got in up to your waist.

Halfway To Gone: High Five

Halo: Guattari [From the West Flows Grey Ash and Pestilence]

[Issue Thirty-Seven // March-April-May 2001]