Seems to me I listen to songs that feel like surf music even though don't specifically mention surf/ocean stuff. Do others have that experience? What makes it sound surfish/oceanish?

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trouthunter8 t1_jeai56v wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:33 PM

Sure, Dick Dale has a bunch of surf rock without any words at all. The Beach Boys have a bunch of songs about cars that i'd still consider Surf Rock... surf rock is a vibe that's pretty wide...

heelspider t1_jeak4iw wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:46 PM

The Bird is the Word. It's a style of music. Your question is similar to asking how a song can be metal if it doesn't mention metals.

singlejeff t1_jeai6bp wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:34 PM

Surf to me is the rolling bass lines popularized (in my experience) by Dick Dale maybe with a hint of the acoustic harmonies of SoCal bands like the Beach Boys.

Johhnynumber5ht2a t1_jeakew2 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:48 PM

I second the base line comment.....if anyone wants a modern day surf rock example listen to Uma Thurman by Falloutboy

beep-bloop-beep t1_jeamo98 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:02 PM

that’s mostly the munsters theme song you are hearing

Johhnynumber5ht2a t1_jeartfi wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:35 PM

That too

beep-bloop-beep t1_jeb2dd0 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 6:42 PM

the munsters maybe could add a bit more spring reverb and a wood paneled station wagon, and they'd be at it

Johhnynumber5ht2a t1_jeb2x6r wrote on March 30, 2023 at 6:46 PM

Or they could grab some penny boards and skitch down to the bonfire

GregJamesDahlen OP t1_jeakxgx wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:51 PM

thoughts on why rolling bass lines and beach boys style harmonies say surf? Is it just because the early progenitors had those elements and they became linked to surf in general? or does something about those elements really make one think of the ocean?

singlejeff t1_jeas3oz wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:37 PM

For me it is pretty much as you say. Growing up in the 60-70s these sounds were linked to the west coast beach culture. If you want something that is reminiscent of the ocean some of Enya’s (or others I’m not thinking of) music has that ebb and flow feel of waves on the surf.

FandomMenace t1_jeaimdq wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:36 PM

Yes. All you really need is spring reverb. https://youtu.be/mKpsuGMeqHI

Kod_Rick t1_jeame1v wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:00 PM

This Op Ivy song sounds like surf music to me.

[deleted] t1_jee2xex wrote on March 31, 2023 at 10:36 AM

Surf, ska, reggae, rockabilly, punk what a mix.

ztmwvo t1_jeb3miv wrote on March 30, 2023 at 6:50 PM

Relatively simple electric guitar lead lines saturated in reverb

GregJamesDahlen OP t1_jeb8tm8 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 7:23 PM

any idea why reverb got associated with surf music? the ocean itself doesn't have a particularly reverby sound doesn't seem to me. or maybe waves crashing does sound reverby dk

Infinite420Question t1_jebexn0 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 8:02 PM

Ghost B.C. - Ghuleh / Zombie Queen

https://youtu.be/yRB1hTjxjMg

Zombie Queen accidentally has a surf music vibe

Zarekzz t1_jeaja6j wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:41 PM

Any tropical music is like surf music

ztmwvo t1_jeb3paf wrote on March 30, 2023 at 6:51 PM

Is reggae surf music to you?

Ad_Pov t1_jeann28 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:08 PM

I feel it was predated by the “exotica” genre and lounge music in some way. Chill instrumentals that have some pseudo interpretation of exotic caribbean and middle eastern music.

One thing that i think is interesting is that since it started as instrumental music, theres a lot of crazy examples from all over the world (vietnam, mexico, peru, middle east, etc) either as surf instrumentals or as an element of it (i.e. Cumbia Amazónica)

Notinyourbushes t1_jeal1c2 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:52 PM

Surf music isn't just about the waves, it's about the dunes and sand. Thus the arabic influence.