The Thousands

Surf City aren’t what you’d call a ‘surf’ band in the true sense of the word. Even among the current slew of surf/beach-inspired acts such as Wavves, Best Coast, Surfer Blood and The Sea World Pots and Pans Band, the Auckland four piece play with a style that has them swimming outside the flags.

While their 2007 EP had a stripped-back, lo-fi surf-rock sound – the eleven songs on Kudos pick the guitars up with echo and reverb, even a touch of drone. The result is a stunning and powerful debut rock album from a band that has a knack for writing the kind of fuzzed out but sweet pop pioneered by fellow Kiwis The Clean and The Bats in the early 1980s.

Some detractors will no doubt lump songs such as ‘Yakuza Park’ in with Animal Collective / Wolf Parade knock-offs. Whatever. These are the same people who are jealous that, unlike Surf City, their shitty band didn’t get to support Interpol, Dinosaur Jr and MGMT.

The droney fuzz of ‘Crazy Rulers of the World’ flat out rocks, and driving or walking to the 7-11 listening to ‘Cia’ will make you feel like you are doing it in Venice Beach – or at least on K Road.