Dave Myers

For most people a Dick Dale best-of will suffice as a representative slab of this kind of music, but if you're enchanted by Dick Dale-style instrumental surf and want some more records in the same style, this should certainly be on your list. Although Myers did R&B-surf blends well, of more interest are the more exotic items, like the minor key "King's Surf," "Aquavelva" (motored by a walking bass and spooked-out, icy reverb lead), and "Moment of Truth," which recalls and stands up to Dick Dale with its staccato lead guitar and snaky Middle Eastern horn solo. In fact, there's pretty good Dale-style guitar throughout, although without as much of the fury or wattage. Del-Fi's Moment of Truth: Best of Dave Myers & Surftones is a preferable alternative to this album, as it's a retitled reissue of this 1963 Hangin' Twenty LP, with a couple Myers & the Surftones tracks from the 1963 compilation album KFWB's Battle of the Surfing Bands! added as bonus cuts. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide