Rough Edge: Dick Dale CD Reviews

DICK DALE

"Spacial Disorientation" (Dick Dale/Music Force)

Dick Dale is the undisputed "King of the Surf Guitar" and, whether you realize it or not, you've heard his stuff. Seen the movie "Pulp Fiction?" Well, you know that guitar piece at the beginning of the film, the piece that everyone calls the "Pulp Fiction" theme? It's actually a vintage Dick Dale and the Del-Tones track called "Misrlou." Yeah, that's the guy.

But don't let the "Surf Guitar" label throw you. Bottom line is that Dale is a guitar master, period. The tracks on "Spacial Disorientation" all have the "surf guitar" sound but it isn't just the tone you listen to when you listen to Dick Dale, it's the shred-ability. The guy just wails on the guitar and anyone who likes fretwork will like this CD.

"Spacial Disorientation" features eleven Dale originals, including both an acoustic and an electric version of the internationally flavored "Haji" and a vocal and non-vocal version of "Belo Horizonte" which Dale wrote while in Brazil. There are three "cover" tunes here as well, a "south of the border" track, an acoustic version of "Yours," a song that Dale says his mother used to sing to him, the Deep Purple classic, "Smoke on the Water," Dick-Dale-ized and the Christmas classic "Silent Night" because Dale says he always wanted to do a Christmas song.

Although there ain't a bad track on the CD, the highlights here are "The Eliminator," which sounds like the theme to a spy movie or something, "Smoke on the Water" and the very bluesy (obviously) "Front Porch Blues."

Dick Dale is a guitar legend, whether it be "surf guitar" or anything else and this CD is further proof that his talent has never waned.

Performing on "Spacial Disorientation" are: Dick Dale, electric guitar, acoustic guitar; Ron Eglit - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass; Dusty Watson - drums; Bryan Brown - drums; Tiki Pasillas - Percussion; Terri Brinegar - background vocals; Erica Kane - background vocals.

For more information, check out http://www.dickdale.com.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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