Supposedly
the Tom Petty Band
playing surf music for their own pleasure,
the Blue Stingrays
keep their identities secret and have never played a show. This record, perhaps their only release (though the CD claims they put out three other, impossible-to-find records in the ?60s, which is probably as true as their claim of inventing surf music), is a pleasant, mellow stroll through Polynesia and beyond. Whoever these guys are, they can definitely play their instruments and they show off their attractive vintage guitars and amplifiers in a couple of photos on the CD. There are several great songs here including their gorgeous, surfy take on the
Goldfinger
theme. But the second side is pretty slow and the band never lives up to the
Surf-n-Burn
title, preferring atmospheric music over
Dick Dale
-style surf rock. Still, the first five or so songs on this record are heavenly. ~ Adam Bregman