Sir Finks
(Get Hip)
This 22-track retrospective makes a solid case for Texas surf-rock underdogs the Sir Finks as detail-driven masters of the classic instrumental sound. In fact, it only takes one track, "The Ugly Surfer," with its swinging surf beat and its clean guitar lines bathed in reverb, most notes played on muted strings with just the right amount of whammy bar. And they've not only mastered the sounds of the era, they've mastered the melody writing as well, often topping it off with a tip of the hat to old Spaghetti Western soundtracks.
They take an unexpected detour 16 tracks in with a heavy, fuzz-guitar-fueled instrumental version of the Yardbirds' hit, "Heart Full of Soul," but that's great, too, bringing the fuzz like a Mudhoney single. And the fuzz is just as thick when the Finks go wild on a revved-up, organ-driven reinvention of Booker T. and the MG's' "Can't Be Still" that truly can't be still then turn around and swagger through Lee Hazelwood's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," letting the whammy bar handle the attitude.
Standout Tracks: "The Ugly Surfer," "Can't Be Still" A. WATT
