Aquamen Do The Alkeehol! (And Other Hits) CD

Although a surf band, it seems odd that this San Francisco sextet named themselves the Aquamen when even a cursory glance at their song titles suggests that, like W.C. Fields, they never touch the stuff. Rather like Man or Astroman?'s retro-futuristic schtick, these "legendary masters of surf intoxica" produce instrumental surf (theremin and odd sound effects are mixed in with the organ and heavily-reverbed guitars), with all of the songs named after different types of liquors and mixed drinks and liner notes about the joys of intoxication. It's like if Foster Brooks and Otis the Drunk joined the Surfaris. Actually, unlike on their earlier two albums (plus assorted singles and EPs), the Aquamen do branch out slightly from their dipsomaniacal monomania on 1999's Do the Alkeehol! (And Other Hits). Songs this time include the Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass-styled "Beans 'N Rice" (because what goes better with booze than burritos?), "Panty Raid" (because nothing says liquored-up fun like sexual harassment), and "Cuz Yo a Woman" (because apparently they're too drunk to either enunciate or use halfway decent grammar). But, as with any surf combo, the real question concerning the Aquamen is if they deliver the goods musically, and, much more than many similar surf revival bands, they do. Neither slavishly dedicated to the archetypes of the style -- a couple of tracks even dare to include vocals, even if they're harshly processed and near-inaudible on the title track -- nor insisting that everything they do be appreciated through triple layers of self-protective irony, the quintet simply play the type of music they enjoy with style and verve. It won't change the mind of a non-surf fan, but the good, dirty, drunken fun of Do the Alkeehol! (And Other Hits) will warm the heart of any surf revival enthusiast or former early-'60s frat boy. They also get extra points for the closing surf rendition of Nino Rota's theme from The Godfather. ~ Stewart Mason

all of the songs on this debut album from San Francisco-based surf band are named after alcoholic drinks; their energetic instrumentals reflect the antics of their onstage antics, which includes fire breathing

Includes bonus tracks from the EP SHIMMY, SHAKE & STIR!

Includes liner notes by El Capitan.

The Aquamen: First Mate Srini (vocals, bass); El Capitan Mike (guitar, organ, Theremin); Ensign Nat (guitar, Theremin); First Engineer Turtle (guitar); Cabin Boy Vic (organ, drums); Lookout Steve (organ, percussion).

Recording information: 1998-1999.