Album Review: The Surfrajettes - Easy as Pie

The Surfrajettes

Easy As Pie

***and1/2 out of *****

The sophomore release from the Toronto, Ontario based surf rocking quartet The Surfrajettes is more of the same retro goodness they delivered on their debut, Roller Fink. Easy as Pie keeps the bands sound and style rolling as they mix originals with covers and deliver the goods over twelve songs. 

The band, Nicole Damoff / Guitar, Shermy Freeman / Guitar, Sarah Butler / Bass, Annie Lillis / Drums, go back to the heyday of The Ventures and Dick Dale to bring that surf rock sound to the surface. They aren't breaking new ground here, just delivering solid instrumentals and covering a few known (and not so well known) artists. 

The title track kicks off the record and sets the tone for what is to follow, really good upbeat surf rock. The echoes and shimmering sounds, the banging drums, it all adds up to a winner. The spaghetti western theme comes to the forefront in Ennio Morricone fashion with "Toasted Western" while "Chiffon Daydream" shifts gears and let's everyone slow dance to the dreamy ballad. 

The group uncovers a few gems from other artists, such as "Hot Doggin'" from The Astronauts, "Instant Coffee" from The Jokers while The Surfrajettes also pay tribute to fellow Toronto artists The Sadies with a spread out version of "Clam Chowder". The band close the album with the easy strolling cover of Nancy Sinatra's "Sugar Town" but their most surprising and best cover comes in the form of "Spice Up Your Life" as the band puts their grooving surf twist on the Spice Girls.    

While the covers are fun, the originals are even better. Both "Double Reverb" and "Word Salad" use galloping drums and bass to set the foundation before the dueling guitarists pick away with precision. "Lickety Split" may just be the best of the bunch as the group add a light Latin vibe/groove to the surf rock, twisting up the sound just enough to make things interesting. 

Easy as Pie is another solid slice of surf rock goodness from the best named band in the business, The Surfrajettes. 

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