Retroactive Gamma Rays

"This Oregon 3-piece combo play energetic instrumental rock n' roll that sounds not to far removed from Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet. Overall they sound very good...this is a good start for one of the few NW instro bands around these days." - Sean Berry, Continental Magazine & Double Crown Records

As I have said enough times that you would think they were paying me (they aren’t), I’ve been ordering a lot of music off of Amie Street, a digital music retailer. I’m been scouring their library, looking for some surf rock. Though it’s hard to separate the surf rock from some of the stuff that users have labeled surf rock, I found a couple of good ones.


Voodoo Court
Electric Beach. 1998.

Right from the start, Voodoo Court rocks out on this album. It’s fast, energetic surf rock without any attempt to be any kitschier than surf rock has to be. Really, this sounds like it comes right out of the sixties. The sound is very clean: not much fuzz, not much echo, and very proficient playing. Though the drummer, at times, goes off and improvises (as in “Fun Love in a Thong Bikini”), the guitars are very measured, yet complex. These are skilled musicians doing what they do best and getting the job done.

You might not notice, but Voodoo Court has subtly charged their songs with sex. The aforementioned “Fun Love in a Thong Bikini” is here, along with “Foaming at the Mouth,” “Sex Wacks,” “Fish Taco,” “Salmon Creek,” “Eat Me,” “Swallow the Clam,” and “Heavy on the Cream.” Hey, Voodoo Court…I’m on to you. I know what you’re doing there.
*WINK WINK.

Anyway, good album. Me likey.


Retroactive Gamma Rays Activate!. 2007.

The Retroactive Gamma Rays album Activate! is everything Voodoo Court’s album is not. It’s full of Kitsch, incorporating samples from various B sci-fi movies. It’s gritty, fuzzy, and most of the songs are made up of the same chords being played over and over by people who may or may not be as technically proficient as Voodoo Court. Where VC plays with precision, Retroactive Gamma Rays play with urgency.

This is not to say it’s bad. The opposite, actually. I love this album. It sounds like a bunch of guys having fun. It’s a very moody thing, and while there is a lot of artifice in the presentation, they are putting on a show. It’s a little campy, but you can tell that it is exactly what they were going for, and they do it well.

“Avast Ye!” is a great, rocking song, as are “Get Bent” and “Speakeasy.”

So, putting the two head to head, which one is better?

I guess it depends on your definition of better. Both albums are well worth the price of admission. Personally, I like Activate! more. It sounds more…dangerous. Even if it is a little contrived.

So there you go…Retroactive Gamma Rays win by decision against a very formidable opponent!

-jason
To Eleven Music Blog
www.toeleven.wordpress.com - Jason, To Eleven Music Blog

Retro Active Gamma Rays - Activate! ****

This is an interesting first release from Retroactive Gamma Rays. Some solid writing, some very garagy stuff, and some engaging tracks. Musically stronger than their playing, but that's not a bad thing in this case. Looking forward to the next round in their development.
- Phil Dirt

"You sound awesome, just amazing. Diggin' that reverb, very cool!" - Unsteady Freddie, Twang Shebang radio show

"...Some of these songs are ripe for monsterdom... An intriguing first effort. My favorites off the demo: 'Footprint', An instro on the verge of becomeing great. 'Get Off Your Backporch', Busy unusual notes circle like a yellowjacket... Very cool. 'Avast Ye!', This song could be a killer." - Phil Dirt, Reverb Central