Author’s note: This column is a riff on our Underappreciated Albums series, which my friend and colleague Steve “Vodkapundit” Green launched and graciously allowed me to contribute to. Today I’m going to point you to an album that’s not only underappreciated but also barely saw the light of day to begin with.
When you think of the Athens, Ga., music scene, two bands loom large. R.E.M. began its career with gloriously Southern Gothic tunes before transforming into alternative rock royalty. The B-52s parlayed their quirky party music into mainstream success.
The Athens scene is even bigger than just two bands. Just watch the seminal documentary “Athens, GA: Inside/Out,” and you’ll see. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, bands like Magnapop, the Jody Grind, and Pylon loomed large throughout the South. A singer-songwriter movement in the late ‘90s birthed the careers of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, who formed the country band Sugarland. Rising country star Megan Moroney has Athens roots after cutting her teeth at the University of Georgia.
There’s one band out of the Athens music scene that even had a brief moment in the national spotlight but doesn’t get a mention these days. And that’s a shame because this band’s 15 minutes of fame are worth revisiting. Allow me to introduce you to The Surf.
The Surf is nothing like the college rock that was bubbling up and breaking through in Athens in 1984. Instead, this five-member band owed more to the synth-drenched pop-rock of Atlanta band The Producers. With undeniable hooks and repetitive choruses that stick in your head, The Surf’s lone EP, “Out of Step,” is a forgotten ‘80s gem.
The first two tracks are my favorites, and I even have them on my regular weekly playlist. “This Time” should have you jumping up and reaching for your skinny tie so you can dance along. It includes the clever line, “Am I the one or just one of the chosen few?”
“Here We Go Again” slows things down a bit, but it’s not a ballad. It’s a midtempo rocker about a relationship that’s running around in circles.
“Dance of the ‘80s” follows, and it’s pretty much what the title suggests. Get on up and dance!
It's also one of the songs the band performed in its two-week stint on “Star Search.”
Related: Underappreciated Albums: 'Things Break'
“Please Surrender” kicks off with a Producers-style synth line, but the guitars become more prominent. It’s a pleading love song that would’ve been at home on pop radio in ’84.
“Stealaway the Night” takes the trope of running away with the woman you love and gives it the band’s spin.
“I Don’t Lie” sticks out like a sore thumb on the EP. It’s not a bad song, but it has a certain swagger that the other songs don’t have. It’s reminiscent of The Romantics with its California edge.
It’s not an artistic masterpiece, but “Out of Step” is irresistible ‘80s pop-rock that’s worth a listen, especially since you can download it for free (click “hear” at this link). I don’t remember The Surf from back in the day, but I stumbled on their music when they announced a reunion show last year that they unfortunately had to cancel for health reasons.
While looking up the video clips for this column, I discovered some other songs the band recorded as well as some live videos and covers on the band’s YouTube page that I’m looking forward to checking out. There’s also a nice documentary:
Check out The Surf. I hope you’ll enjoy discovering a lost ‘80s party band like I did.
