Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

I'm not sure how big a sports fan you are, but I wanted to pass on a new phenomenon I've noticed lately. At a couple different events, both college and pro games, I went down to the in-stadium sports bar to find the place packed. 

Not that unusual, except that the entire crowd was riveted and cheering to a different game on the big screen. Listen to what I'm saying. These people paid full price- plus surcharge- to sit in an overpriced bar, order lukecold, domestic beer in plastic bottles and watch another game on television. 

Incredible! The only thing more bewildering would be a surf movie without surf music. Ooops! In their attempt to expose the distinctions of the flick's female xtreme-surfing cast, the producers of Blue Crush chose to break with tradition (and draw in their teenage audience, natch) by incorporating a collection of modern rock tracks. So instead of Dick Dale or The Ventures wailing away, you have Lenny Kravitz's driving, vocoder-voiced "If I Could Fall In Love," NERD's hardy techno of "Rock Star," Beenie Man's rasta throwdown "Party Man," and introverted Britpop Doves' psychedelicized "Firesuite" to bob around in the background (along with other diversities like Beth Orton, a Fatboy Slim remix of Playgroup and a Damian Marley tune). Fine selections, but hey, where's the beach? This could be the next "Trainspotting" soundtrack for all of the collective atmosphere that it creates. Only Blesternation's "Cruel Summer" (a remix that incorporates Bananarama's breathy original) comes close to fashioning a balmy day at the ocean, while catching a few waves. Hard to fathom that surf culture has always married endurance with music (even more than the skate rock phenom). As such, I'd rate this disc as a "gremmie" (a '60s surf term for "beginner"), then reach for a Surfaris album for that genuine, summery feel.