Like the Welsh outfit McLusky, British rockers
Beachbuggy draw directly from the zany, golden punk of the early Pixies.
But while McLusky works more with their forebears' inclination towards
revved-up psycho-sexual venom, Beachbuggy goes the tweaked, punk, surf
rock direction.
Infamous for just pulling up in a trailer and
playing impromptu shows on the street, Beachbuggy started in the late
90s, initially as a bunch of friends just goofing around and writing
music together. Because two of them wanted to play drums, the band
actually has two drummers -- Danny Sicks and A.D. -- who play exactly
the same beats! In 1998, the group released their home-recorded debut,
Unsafe…At Any Speed! on Sympathy For the Record Industry. With Al B.
Kirkey on bass, the band certainly had their rhythm section in full,
lo-fi bombast, leaving Jack Straker to lead with punchy guitar riffs and
Black Francis-esque vocals.
After being virtually ignored by the British press,
the members of Beachbuggy pooled their money, flew to Chicago and paid
for the recording of their sophomore release with Steve Albini. Sport
Fury, recorded in only six days, was put out by Poptones after the label
saw the group's crazy live show.
Killer-B, again recorded with Albini in Chicago,
with the two drummers sitting side by side, followed in April of 2003.
As Beachbuggy's crowning achievement, the album takes their loose and
wild surf punk and distills it into a catchy, hooky collection.
Tracklist
1. Radio Ad
2. Kill Straker
3. Heavy Hitter
4. General Electric Pilot
5. San Francisco
6. Hey! Jack
7. Firebird Special
8. Aluminum
9. Four Four O
10. Quarter Mile Machine
11. The Driver