The Golden State

Guitar Player Magazine

Reviewed by: 
Darrin Fox

From the proto-punk stylings of Dick Dale, to the majestic soundscapes of the Mermen, it's obvious that surf music can take on many different forms. Northern California quartet Pollo Del Mar, and its guitarists Ferenc Dobronyi and Jono Jones, contribute to the genre's oeuvre by crafting lilting, cinematic vistas, without ever losing sight of surf's classic melodic sensibilities.

Discoveries

Reviewed by: 
John Blair

A couple of the best surf instrumental releases of 2004 came late in the year, from two bands that are as different in style and sound as they are geographically: San Francisco's Pollo Del Mar and Finland's Charades.

Vintage Guitar

Reviewed by: 
John Heidt

More Pollo Del Mar serving up music that pushes the "surf" envelope while mixing in liberal doses of psychedelic noise. Ferenc Dobronyi and Jono Jones mix guitar sounds with reckless abandon. Let's just say that things never get boring. Add great liner notes and a cool video, and you've got another winner from the boys from the Bay Area.

20th Century Guitar

Reviewed by: 
Robert Silverstein

One of the hottest instrumental rock bands on the scene today, Pollo Del Mar released their 2004 album, The Golden State on MuSick and it's a good one. Sounding like Neil Young fronting The Ventures, The Golden State rocks with a vengeance and also skirts the borders of symphonic surf music.

Cozmik Debris

Reviewed by: 
DJ Johnson

Rarely has an album cover so perfectly captured the feeling of the music within. Pollo Del Mar have always been associated with the instrumental surf scene, and it's true that some of their music is exactly that, but a more accurate description of their overall sound would be to say they play "ocean music." Their sound is deep and vast, with an element of mystery compelling to anyone who has ever found themselves staring out to sea and sensing its power. Turn the volume up and the lights off and Pollo Del Mar will provide plenty of ocean to float away in.

Garage and Beat

Reviewed by: 
Edwin Lechter

September 2004

All Music Guide

Reviewed by: 
Richie Unterberger

Pollo Del Mar may offer a familiar bag of instrumental surf music tricks on The Golden State, but it's a well-executed and versatile one. Wavering bent notes, quasi-Latin minor-key melodies, a mauling of a standard ("Hall of the Mountain King"), a touch of Davie Allan menace, gentler stuff with a tone that's both searing and serene ("As Above, So Below"), basic good-time chug, even hints of reggae and polka rhythms -- all this and more are here. The guitars conjure an admirable arsenal of tones and textures, from sirens and lonely pinging riffs to earthquake-rumbling bass.

The Continental

Reviewed by: 
Sean Barry

While I have always dug traditional, early '60's style surf more than modern prog surf, the new Pollo del Mar disc may make me give some modern recordings a closer listen. This is without a doubt the best Pollo Del Mar release to date, showing off their impeccable playing, songwriting and recording skills. You can tell right off the bat that these guys have bben at it for a while - the sounds and textures these guys use are amazing.

Splendid Magazine

Reviewed by: 
Phillip Buchan

Not to be confused with the similarly titled Bush album, The Golden State is Pollo Del Mar's third studio full-length, and one of the only instrumental surf rock albums I've heard in ages (Atomic 7's latest being the only other I've noticed this year). Though their melodic spy guitar riffs will command most of your attention on first listen, it's Pollo Del Mar's fluid rhythms that really make these songs work.

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