Thicker Than Water Surf Movie Soundtrack

[Alexandrin Chaples]

Forthe last several months, I have been lamenting the loss of the full length surf film. It was a slow, quiet death... but the instant gratification of social media has cut the legs out from under what was once the heartbeat of surf culture.

I googled where to stream Chris Malloy and Jack Johnson's co-directed, 2000-flick Thicker Than Water, and unsurprisingly, the full film is available on YouTube. I still have the DVD in the drawer of our TV cabinet at home. Pretty sure I have the soundtrack on CD somewhere too. In the early 2000's, I bought every Malloy/Johnson/Moonshine/Brushfire film and record that came out. Listen, I get that in 2020 we're far too jaded for JJ Casual, but twenty years ago this film was like lighter fluid for my developing passion for surfing.

Skip ahead to the 19:37 mark of the film. This segment is often the first one that comes up in conversation, and many of my peers know immediately which board/scene you're talking about when you say "you know, the green board from Thicker Than Water".

Upon a rewatch all these years later, the board actually seems a little clunky and has an unusual amount of nose rocker. It's a great reminder of how far things have come in surfboard design in the last twenty years that the green singlefin was so unique and memorable at the time. Nowadays, you'd see eight boards more interesting than that just walking from your car to the waves. In the late 90's and early 00's, we were at the peak of the shortboard era, anything longer was either a "fun board" for learning or a "high-performance longboard".

NEW YORK - In an age of self-aggrandizing pop stars who put their music on par with spouses, religion and the greatest works of art, Jack Johnson is refreshingly honest about where his mellow songs fit in the general scheme of things."I\'ve kind of always tried to make it secondary to life, you know? The kind of music I make I think is best at barbecues and road trips. It\'s kind of good soundtrack music," Johnson said in a phone interview, as he sat in an airport getting ready to travel to his next gig. Johnson\'s concert tour drops by Indy Monday.Johnson\'s laid-back approach to his music - and life - belie his success as a platinum-selling star. Since his debut with the album "Brushfire Fairytales" in 2001, his albums have sold a total of about 3 million copies; his latest, "In Between Dreams," is nearing platinum status."The first one was really the big surprise. I mean, the first one, we literally were expecting to sell 20,000 to 30,000 records if things went right," said Johnson of his stellar sales.But then again, although Johnson has created music since his teens, he never intended for his music to be a career - the Hawaii native had always considered his guitar-strumming odes as something to bide the time while pursuing his real love, surfing."Music, don\'t get me wrong, \'cause I love it, it\'s something I hope I always do, but surfing is something that kind of what brings my friends and I together," Johnson said.Johnson, 29, grew up adoring the sun and the waves. His father was a surfer, and Johnson spent most of his free time catching waves. He downplays descriptions of himself as a championship-caliber surfer, however, and opted to go to college over making his surfing hobby into a career.Johnson attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he studied film. Those studies would lead him to chronicle surfers in his first foray into entertainment, with the 2000 cult documentary "Thicker than Water." Another film, "The September Sessions," followed.But besides showing off his film skills, the movies also showcased his acoustic guitar-based songs. His smooth voice, which rarely strains above a steady croon, and his folksy, almost bluesy melodies, created their own following. Besides getting exposure from his films, Johnson\'s music got a boost when artists including G.Love & Special Sauce and Ben Harper took a liking to it - G.Love included Johnson on a 1999 album, and Harper would later take him out on the road."He\'s a great player. He\'s playing more direct roots music," says Dave Matthews, who has had Johnson as his opening act. "I think his music\'s great; you can relax to him."But surfing still remains his most passionate hobby of all. He tries to get out on the waves as often as possible, even on tour, sometimes bringing his surfboard on the road. And it\'s a family affair: His wife will sometimes join him in the water, and he\'s even put his year-old son on a surfboard."Even though we spend more time touring and stuff now, we try to do enough trips that are not about music. I go out on a couple of surf trips twice a year still," he said.

Strange Rumblings in Shangri La is a modern surf film that documents an unforgettable worldwide journey from the frigid shores of Iceland to the sultry coastline of Mozambique. From well-known spots in Europe to exotic islands off the coast of Brazil and into the deepest Indonesia, this is their greatest adventure yet.

Shot entirely in Kodak super 16mm and with an original soundtrack created and curated by International DJ duo The Dukes of Chutney, Strange Rumblings in Shangri La will be an audiovisual psychedelic surfing video DVD experience like nothing ever created before.

"Internationally acclaimed surf-filmmaker - Jason Baffa (single fin: yellow, one California day, one beach) documents surfer, artist and environmentalist, Chris Del Moro on a pilgrimage back to his Italian homeland on what most perceive as a 'Don Quixotian' quest but transforms into a modern discovery seeped in culture, tradition and passion. Moreover, it is what Chris finds in the beauty of Italy and the distinctly passionate connection the Italian people have with family and tradition that reveals a greater truth." - Surfer Magazin

Slow Dance surfing DVD - Surfer and Director Dane Reynolds takes a sharp look into the timeless style of Craig Anderson. A modern approach with hints to the past, Slow Dance follows Craig in and out of the water as he travels the world meeting up with heroes and friends in Australia, Chile, India, West Africa and Tahiti to name a few. Dane attempts to uncover Craig's view on style, but only vague answers emerge. However, it becomes apparent that whether Craig is riding a thruster, single fin or doing whatever style is a part of everything he does.

A surf DVD Excursion into the Absurd featuring: Dane Reynolds, John John Florence, Kolohe Andino, Yadin Nicol, Craig Anderson, Chippa Wilson, Dillon Perillo, Conner Coffin, Mitch Coleborn, Dion Agius, Evan Geiselman, Taj Burrow, Jack Freestone and Nate Tyler Filmed on location in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Europe, and the Caribbean, Dear Suburbia, is the latest release from Kai Neville and is the follow up to his previous films Modern Collective and Lost Atlas. It is a high-performance, location-based surf film set against exotic landscapes, objects and personalities juxtaposed with the traditions of suburban life. Spontaneity versus routine. The unknown versus the familiar. An interpretation of our lifestyle, culture, riding waves, traveling the world — a pirouette into the absurdity of it all. The result is a graceful, often schizophrenic glimpse at modern life with a surfboard and a passport.

This should be a pretty awesome flick. Two of the world’s best surfers who’ve traded blows for years now (both on and off the tour), giving us an in-depth look at the rivalry from their own perspectives. Plus, with those two surfing some of the most epic waves in world, I’m sure the surfing will be pretty ok too. If only Transworld could get them to trade blows in UFC bout- now that would be exciting. The movie is coming out March 2009. Quite possibly one of the biggest and most anticipated surfing videos ever!

Deluxe 8 panel surfing DVD packaging with booklet & 2 discs. This epic surfing dvd follows the lives of eight California surfers. Stars Joel Tudor, Chris Malloy, Alex Knost, Tyler Warren, Jimmy Gamboa, Joe Curren, Dane Perlee, and Tyler Hatzikian. From the filmmakers who brought you Singlefin: yellow, DRIVE and Stylemasters, comes a story about surf culture and tradition. One California Day is a visual journey through six distinct coastal regions, capturing the California surfing experience through the surfers who live it. Shot in brilliant super 16mm color film, the movie examines the variety of subtle differences that make California so unique. This is one of the best surfing videos ever made, it is a must have!

One of CHRIS GABRIEL's Surfing DVDs - Sibling surfers have long inspired the history of surfing. From the family roots of great Hawaiian legends Michael & Derek Ho, to todays prodigy hot shots like the Irons, Lopez, and Hobgood brothers. Many wonder what kindles the fire beneath each renowned duo. Is it just brotherly love... is it competitive jealousy... or is it a little of both?

One of the hottest surfing DVDs out right now! Dana Brown intro - Extensive deleted scenes/outtakes - surf DVD surf lessons with Wingnut and Maureen Drummy - Making of a surfboard with Robert and Sam August: "The Bill of Rights and Lefts... Te Final Word on Surfing Etiquette" - "Capturing the Wave" featurette - Multiple interviews and commentaries with the surfers and producers of surfing DVDs- Music video montage.

The Mystic is one of the latest surfing DVDs from Billygoat directed by Bill Ballard. 2 1/2 years in the making, Ballard scores on many occasions with perfect waves all over the globe. Braden and Kalani score perfect waves in the outskirts of Lombok, Andy and Dean blow up mental waves in France, Kelly tows into 10 foot Cloudbreak, Mark Healy and Aamion Goodwin find absolute perfection in Chile, and Hawaii has never looked better. This imagery based film is brought to life with an eclectic soundtrack from the critically acclaimed Ubiquity records label, which is included with the surf DVD. Along with the film is over 40 minutes of bonus footage that just missed making the final cut. See for yourselves, this is by far one of the most beautiful surfing DVDs from Bill Ballard EVER!

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