The Reverberators
El Burro
Review by Jakob Knudsen

El Burro, the newest release from Vancouver retro-rockers the Reverberators opens with the swirling western-psych guitar refrain of “Waltz of Sirens,” a jam which could’ve easily scored opening scene of the science fiction film Sergio Leone never directed. It’s an effective precursor for the auditory journey to come. El Burro is an eclectic mash-up of the vast array of genres that made the music of the 50’s and 60’s so memorable. Everything from the sly licks of surf (Sexray), the fuzz and stop of rockabilly (One Way Train), and even the horn sections of ska and mariachi (The left field “Ska-Zan” and “El Burro” respectively) are showcased throughout the ten tracks. While most rock n’ roll revival acts become repetitive after a few songs, the Reverberators willingness to cherry pick different musical styles, as well as the outrageous skill of the musicians, make El Burro a very engrossing listen. However, it is the songs which mesh these varied sounds that are the most memorable; the R&B-sax injected Western rave-up “Robbie Rocketpants,” and the expansive slide guitar of “Surfside,” (which brings to mind what Misirlou could’ve been if Dick Dale had dropped some potent barbiturates before writing it) are musical proof that hindsight is always 20-20. Posted: Nov 18, 2009