If surf music's all-time heavyweight champions the Trashmen can hail from Minneapolis (where the lake swell wouldn't wipe out a canary), why shouldn't a landlocked cowabunga powerhouse emerge from Boulder, Colorado? That would be the Astronauts, whose lead guitarist, Rich Fifield (with the aid of legendary L.A. producer David Hassinger) wrung from his axe the wettest reverb known to humanity. Workmanlike vocals are split between Fifield and bassist Stormy Patterson, but stellar versions of "Misirlou" and "Pipeline" on Surfin' that are what set the group apart from the pack. The second record included on this CD, A-OK, attempts a little genre splicing, surfing up versions of Trini Lopez's hit "If I Had a Hammer" and Buddy Holly's "It's So Easy." Surprisingly, the concept holds water. --Jud Cost

28 original RCA rarities from 1962-1965 with 12 page booklet. There's just no reasonable explanation why one of the greatest surf bands ever came from, of all places, the relatively sea-less state of Colorado - but that's a fact. Extraordinarily popular in their home state, the Astronauts were not only a terrific surf band (their big hit Baja, included here, is one of the finest guitar instrumentals of all time) but a pioneer bar band as well. RCA must have thought well of them - they released no fewer than seven albums by these semi-geeky looking guys, all on the strength of one single that go no higher than #94 on the national pop charts. This CD gathers up a number of unreleased sides and rare singles-only recordings for a complete picture of an unusual, hard-rockin' band. It includes their first single for Palladium (Come Along Baby b/w Tryin' To Get To You) and many local hits that failed to make any of the RCA albums: Hot Doggin', Surf Party, Ride The Wild Surf, Go Fight For Her, Swim Little Mermaid, The La La Song and Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day.

All Is Violent, All Is Bright (2011 Remastered Edition) by God Is An Astronaut

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