The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

L.A. Ritmo Magazine

L.A. Ritmo Magazine

Sept. 20, 2000

A release from the group Pollo Del Mar is anticipated with anxious excitement. They are one of the premier third wave groups of surf and have made an indeli-ble mark upon the genre in the short time that they have been together. Their first album, “The Ocean is Not For Cowards” was an impressive debut. This second release has more consistent driving energy than the first CD.

Vintage Guitar

John Heidt

If you're excessively monlingual, you might not know that Pollo Del Mar translates to "chicken of the sea." I like it just for that. But I like it for other reasons, too.

JUXTAPOZ

As soon as the twangy guitar strains kick in on it's first track, "Annabelle Lee," The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea transports you to a white-sand beach where tropical drinks are unlimited and hula girls undulate around you continuoulsy. We have San Francisco's own Pollo Del Mar, a long time leader in its instrumental genre, to thank for that. Rippin' guitarists Jono Jones and Ferenc Dobronyi, bassist Jefferson Turner and drummer Chris Thomas have been making waves in the Bay Area since1993.

Pipeline Magazine

Dave Burke

Another edition of Pipeline, another great band. What can I tell ya? A San Franciscan four-piece operating mainly in the surfzone, who display a deft control and poise right from the opening "Annabelle Lee" and continue with enough touches of imagination and flair to prove that, even now, creative musicians can still bring fresh life to the three guitars and drums format.

The Continental - issue #8

Sean Berry
****1/2

On this, their second full length CD, you get great tunes that fall somewhere between surf, lounge and spaghetti western. Their sound is smooth, yet highly innovative - filled with wonderful melodies that are pretty at times, powerful at others. They spent a long time putting this together and it shows, the production and musicianship here are outstanding. It's all capped off with a laid back, slowed down version of "Apache" (here titled "Apache '99") which is probably my favorite version of the tune ever. It's all wrapped up in a Shag designed package.

Tiki News

Otto Von Stroheim

The Pollos are leaning toward picking up where The Mermen left off. And why not now that The Mermen have tossed surf music to the wind and apparently are pusuing a more avante garde bend? Pollo sounds as solid as ever with a variety of styles including Herb alpert's "South of the Border" (with Horns!), Dead Kennedy's "Moon Over Marin", a killer "Litle Drummer Boy", and a slow as lavaflow version of "Apache" called "Apache '99". cool tiki art by Shag rounds out this must have neo-surf CD.

Garage and Beat

P. Edwin Lechter

New Gandy Dancer

Davy Peckett

Very strong opener in Annabelle Lee from one of NGS's favourite bands and follows up their well intentioned Ocean Is Not For Cowards. All super surf dripping originalswith the exception of South of the Border, Apache and the Dead Kennedys' Moon Over Marin. Quite an aggressive sound in parts, rather than their gentler side, apart from a surprizingly gentle Apache. Gutsy guitars alonside surf/exotica and as always, Pollo Del Mar are worth listening to. Good live too as NGD's live report later in this issue. Pollo Del Mar shine again.

Instrumental Rock and Roll Reviews

Kirk Schon

Pollo Del Mar - The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

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