Record
Collector Magazine (U.K.), January
2001
A great sounding
collection of 13 songs, mostly originals,
all instrumentals, hailing from
Massachusetts. Reminiscent of Britain's
own Magnum 500 (famed for the Guinness
ad), they come on like a Surf/Hot
Rod hybrid of Link Wray and Dick
Dale and sound similar to the music
that comes out of Britain's premier
valve studio, Toe Rag.
The songs explore an interesting
variety of styles, even stretching
to a souped-up version of "Kumbaya"
which sites perfectly next to Lee
Hazelwood's "The Hearse" and self-penned
ditties like "Flamethrower", "Section
12", and "Double A Fueller" If all
this sounds appealing, track it
down!! - Boz Boorer
Hot Rod
Magazine, February 2000
There's a scene
from some Hal Hartley movie in which
a mechanic, all alone in his shop
out in the middle of nowhere, launches
into a virtuoso electric guitar
performance. Something about the
sight gives off a surreal vibe,
and I couldn't shake the image while
listening to this album. The CD
booklet and back cover bare decked
out with homey, family-album-oriented
photos of what appear to be Preston
Wayne's garage and apartment (complete
with a cat, which seems to be the
only thing he owns that isn't flamed.
Wayne, however, is a former member
of East Coast punk pioneers DMZ,
and Themes From Wayne Manor
serves up wild Dick Dale-ish hot
rod/surf rock instrumentals. Though
it's mostly originals, there are
three covers thrown in, and quirky
ones, at that: "Kumbaya" (you'll
never look at campfire sing-alongs
the same way again) and two by Lee
Hazelwood (the country/pop oddball
most famous for "These Boots Are
Made For Walkin'".) Wayne and his
band blaze through thirteen tracks
of dazzling fretwork in less than
half an hour, total - they're rocket-fast
and a lot of fun.
-Steve Kedrowski
Phil Dirt
- Reverb
Central
THE PRESTON WAYNE FOUR Themes
From Wayne Manor ****
There's no mistaking Preston
Wayne's roots in Boston legends
DMZ and the Odds.
This disc is one hot monster. There's
surf underpinnings and garage overtones,
with feedback and exquisite power.
|
Picks: |
El
Aguila, Double A Fueler, Section
12, Dialed In, Summer Nationals,
Kumbaya, Mile 77, The Hearse, Theme
From Wayne Manor, Flamethrower,
Malone's Mustang, O.U.I. |
|
EL
AGUILA****
I can't say I know of a more ultra
compressed fuzz guitar surf rendition
of Lee Hazelwood's classic
surf anthem. To called this aggressive
is an understatement. The energy
is high and the sonic attack is
intense, like a garage version of
the Smithereens surf instros.
Very nifty. |
|
Fuzz
Surf Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta
Have It Factor:
Miserable Without It |
|
DOUBLE A FUELER***
A pummelicious assault on the tranquility
of your livingroom. No compromise
rockin' instrumental gear mashing,
with fiery double picked no nonsense
guitar and a driven rhythm section.
|
|
Fuzz
Surf Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta
Have It Factor:
Great To Have |
|
SECTION
12****
Wham! Power is the key here. Excellent
double picking and compressed guitar
distortion. "Section 12"
is an ultra heavy garage instro
with quite a stirring melody line
and a bunch of fine feedback. Fiery!
|
|
Fuzz Surf Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta Have It Factor:
Miserable Without It |
|
DIALED
IN****
Cowpoke raunch and roll, with fine
guitar work and a mess of cactus
fun. The rhythm is a cross between
"Mystery Train" and Bo
Diddley. Richly textured and
assaultive. |
|
Fuzz Surf Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta Have It Factor:
Miserable Without It |
|
SUMMER
NATIONALS****
Dragsters at 40 paces face off with
feedback and melodic power. "Summer
Nationals" shimmers in a strange
sorta way, like an epic tale of
hi octane and surf. Excellent! |
|
Hot Rod Fuzz Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta Have It Factor:
Miserable Without It |
|
KUMBAYA****
Really! If it never occurred to
you to beat "Kumbaya" to
death with crunch and feedback,
then it's high time. This is way
too fun! |
|
Fuzz Surf Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta Have It Factor:
Miserable Without It |
|
MILE
77***
Road worthy instrumental excursional
power... raw energy, feedback, and
a haunting riff. Thrashing double
picking. |
|
Hot Rod
Fuzz Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta
Have It Factor:
Great To Have |
|
THE HEARSE****
This is one powerful thrashing of
Lee Hazelwood's surf monster.
The intensity of the guitar work,
and especially the whammied feedback,
is priceless. "The Hearse"
takes on a whole new feel under
the axe-master. |
|
Fuzz Surf Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta Have It Factor:
Miserable Without It |
|
THEME FROM WAYNE
MANOR****
Wow, a smooth number with a pretty
melody, driven with edge and finesse.
The intense whammy in the second
verse is really a nice touch. Deluxe!
The speedy break seems a bit outta
place, but I still like this a lot.
|
|
Fuzz Surf Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta Have It Factor:
Miserable Without It |
|
FLAMETHROWER***
Visions of mechanical bulls and
ten gallon hats... this is full
of trouble at the O.K. coral. |
|
Fuzz Surf Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta Have It Factor:
Great To Have |
|
MALONE'S MUSTANG***
An excellent riff and pounding drums,
with volume throbbing at the end
of the lines. "Malone's Mustang"
screams like smoking tires on a
hot afternoon. A very strong hot
rod tune. |
|
Hot Rod Fuzz Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta Have It Factor:
Great To Have |
|
HARDTOP***
Jammin' intense car worship goes
down here every Sunday... Extremely
cool feedback, but otherwise mostly
a jam I think. |
|
Hot Rod Fuzz Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta Have It Factor:
Great To Have |
|
O.U.I.****
Throbbing Davie Allanisms
and speed jockey pacing. This simple
piece shouts for relief. It's definitely
a high powered mean machine. |
|
Fuzz Surf Instrumental |
|
Performance:
Notable |
Production:
Average Stereo |
Gotta Have It Factor:
Miserable Without It |