Donkeys, The / Ride The Black Wave
Album: Ride The Black Wave   Collection:General
Artist:Donkeys, The   Added:Jul 2014
Label:Vanguard Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2014-07-18 Pull Date: 2014-09-19
Week Ending: Sep 21 Sep 14 Sep 7 Aug 31 Aug 24 Aug 17 Aug 10 Aug 3
Airplays: 1 1 1 2 5 1 2 3

Recent Airplay
1. Mar 19, 2021: KZSU Time Traveler
Sunny Daze
4. May 19, 2017: KZSU Time Traveler
Sunny Daze
2. Oct 18, 2019: KZSU Time Traveler
Sunny Daze
5. Sep 02, 2016: Time Traveler
Sunny Daze
3. Aug 17, 2018: KZSU Time Traveler
Sunny Daze
6. Jul 29, 2016: Time Traveler
Sunny Daze

Album Review
Francis D
Reviewed 2014-07-17
“Ride the Black Wave” The Donkeys
Hazy, laid-back, California indie rock that ranges from warm, jangly goodness to psychedelic-rock with a Doors edge. This is the fourth album from the four-man band from San Diego. The Donkeys started with an alt-country flavor but have evolved significantly from their debut a decade ago. While jangle-rock fans will find much to like here, the tunes are not as packaged and polished as bands such as Real Estate, which should make the album more appealing to fans of harder rock. Five of the songs in the set are 2:04 or less, and two of them are instrumentals.
— Francis

Recommended: 1, 7, 11, 5, 10. No FCCs detected.

1. (6:33) Sunny Daze – Leisurely fade-in to a strummy and jangly tune, with a chill California vibe. Sustained Mellotron chords with bell-like keyboards. Airy vocals. Clashy guitar solos in lead breaks. Segues to Track 2. ****
2. (2:04) The Manx – Instrumental. Slow, surfy and slinky 1960s sound. Jangly guitar and organ with tribal tom-toms. A few la-la-la vocals. Segues to Track 3.
3. (2:37) Nothing – Swaying island rock. Swerving vocals over a wailing guitar, handclaps and a skittering rhythm.
4. (1:54) I Heart Alabama – Singer is counted in twice — first is a false start. Short, sweet and jangly ode that borrows a bit from the Lynyrd Skynyrd tune.
5. (4:20) Scissor Me Cigs – Glistening guitar with tumbling drums and wistful vocals. ***
6. (1:42) Imperial Beach — Brief, sitar-rock instrumental.
7. (3:20) Ride the Black Wave – More of a classic psych-rock song. I hear a lot of the early Doors in the edgy guitar accents, together with bells and flute. Clashy, noisy ending. ****
8. (1:38) Brown Eyed Lady – Hawaiian flavor, with ukulele, player piano and inebriated-sounding vocals.
9. (1:43) Blues in the Afternoon – Very short, light and breezy song with rich harmonies, glistening guitars and Moody Blues-style synth environment. Just a touch of pedal steel.
10. (4:18) Bahamas – Hawaiian guitar with Beach Boys vocals for first 45 seconds. Then, transitions to delicate piano and adds heartfelt lead vocals. Transforms into a 60s vibe toward the end, with a swinging feeling dressed up by slide guitar. ***
11. (3:28) Shines — An updated Eagles vibe for the finisher. Smooth and easy, mid-tempo folk-rock. Guitar, piano and great rhythm. Catchy melody. ***

Track Listing
1. Sunny Daze   6. Imperial Beach
2. The Manx   7. Ride The Black Wave
3. Nothing   8. Brown Eyed Lady
4. I Heart Alabama   9. Blues In The Afternoon
5. Scissor Me Cigs   10. Bahamas
  11. Shines