I can still remember my buddy Aaron and I singing Beach Boys songs for our peers during recess in the 4th grade; imagining we were at the beach, with the blue, blue surf shimmering on the horizon, and the little surfer girls wanting to hang out with us. The problem was, we were in chilly, landlocked Montana, and our California dreams were just that - dreams (especially the part about the girls). Well, this record is born out of the desire to glorify God, the Creator of the famed beaches in the Golden State. All but four songs are written by non other than producer Terry Scott Taylor. He even sings two songs: one written for Kerry Livgren ("Into the Deep"), and a Daniel Amos song called "Pay for Surf." The gritty ska of the Insyderz simply rocks on "A Good Sailor Knows," and the vocals that Brother's Keeper (performed with Phil Keaggy) achieve on "California Blue" are amazingly clean and strong. Plumb's performance of "Surfer Girl Replies" is a mellow, yet rhythmic statement, showcasing Tiffany Arbuckle's nimble voice, and the trademark guitar work of Mike Roe (who is also the Lost Dog handling vocals on "The Net.") It's also cool to hear artists like Rebecca St. James here, obviously a context in which you've never experienced her... yet, only the surfy guitar distinguishes this ("Gold Coast") from her usual fare. And Skillet's "Last Day of Summer" starts off sounding a bit like Veer Chasm, with the low half-spoken voice opening the verse. One of the impressive things about this is that, unlike most compilations, this isn't just a collection of appropriate songs the artists already had lying around. Each track was recorded specifically for this record (except for the Supertones' instrumental "Caught Inside"). Taylor says it best in the liner notes: "There's a little of the modern here, and a great deal of the retro, with a few surprises thrown in as well."
Other coverage for this album
Puddlegum 1998Reviewed by Quin KermottBefore now, I've never realized how different a group can sound and still sound exactly the same. That probably didn't make any sense, so let me explain. Terry Scott Taylor managed to get some of the best Christian rock groups together for a project where they slipped completely out of their niche in the modern rock world, and played surfer music. At first listen, you're kinda skeptical because…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Tony LaFianzaSurfonic Water Revival ("surf music for the redeemed masses") is the brain child of Terry Scott Taylor, one of the greatest song writers ever. With a nod to Brian Wilson, Jan and Dean, the Ventures, Beach Boys, Dick Dale and many others, Terry has directed a musical trip, featuring some of Christian music's finest talent--making waves unlike any other to come from the Christian music community.…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by James StewartTo be honest, I was somewhat dubious about this project when I heard about it. Christians have often been accused of catching musical waves when they are already well-developed (often just before they crash into the shore) and that could easily have been the case here. The fact that Terry Taylor, one of Christian music's more respected innovators, was involved intrigued me, however, so I decided…
