Bad Copy

Surf Rock and Punk are a match made in heaven. Or a match made in a swirling, endless void of non-meaning that just so happens to be pleasurable to listen to because of the way our brains/ears evolved. Whichever tickles your metaphysical fancy. Either way, the newest album by Hayley and the Crushers, entitled Vintage Millenial, is a high energy powerhouse with the perfect blend of Punk and Surf.

The songs are so catchy; they stayed in my heads for hours after I first listened to them. They’ll still pop up randomly when I’m at work. The drums play loose surf beats with those characteristic double snare hits, but at driving tempos. The guitar is used almost entirely as a rhythm instrument, but the less flashy approach lets the vocals construct hooks and layer on the harmonies. The bass works hard on these tracks, and has a ton of creative fills.

This album has major throwback vibes. It’s like someone traveled back in time to the 1960s and buried a Ramones album at the beach, then traveled back to the present to discover that Johnny Ramone has been made supreme dictator of the world. Wait–no. Different metaphor. Or is it simile?

It’s like you’re an unsuspecting Beach Boy fan, and you just want to go to your favorite soda fountain and listen to wholesome songs about being true to your school.You figure if they can do it so can you, so you decide to start a band. Then the people under the pier introduce you to getting high. Then you realize Be True To Your School kind of sucks. Finally you decide to crank your amp and play songs as fast as you can for you to still be able to legally call it Surf Rock.

This album is well worth your attention. I recommend listening to it while dancing naked on a beach at 2 A.M. or while pouring sand on your lawn and waiting for global warming to bring the tides to you.