Los Straitjackets
'Tis The Season For Los Straitjackets
2002
Review
by Mark Deming
If you're looking for someone to help you share the joy and magic of the holiday season, who better than the world's leading masked instrumental surf band? Los Straitjackets don't offer up a whole lot of surprises on 'Tis the Season for los Straitjackets!, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing; Eddie Angel and Danny Amis serve up lots of tasty guitar work, and Pete Curry and Jimmy Lester are one solid rhythm section, just as they've always been, and on these 13 tunes (11 covers and two originals) the lucha libre-obsessed guitar wranglers show off the smarts, humor, and sterling chops that have become their trademark. The "La Bamba"-accented "Feliz Navidad," a version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" which channels the spirit of the Chantays, and the Ventures tribute of "Sleigh Ride" are highlights, and while this album will go over best with those who thrive on retro cool, this should send your next Christmas party into a state of dance fever with anyone who appreciates the era of enjoyable AM radio. How's the surf at the North Pole these days, anyway?
1 Here Comes Santa Claus
2 A Marshmallow World
3 Feliz Navidad
4 Jingle Bell Rock
5 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
7 Frosty the Snowman
8 Christmas in Las Vegas
9 Let It Snow
10 Sleigh Ride
11 Christmas Weekend
12 The Little Drummer Boy
13 The Christmas Song
6 comments:
Hi Tru:
The pressure's on. Everyone is posti8ng holiday stuff early this year. Great posts, Hoey and the Straitjacketrs add a little excitement to the old holiday fare. Spicy. Glad you are back in action, how was Europe?
GW
This is a great post Trustar, cheers & thx buddy :-)
TS:
Thanks for these. My dad has been driving me nuts with Mannheim Steamroller and Transiberian Orchestra the last few years. Time for revenge!
BTW, you said this was a one-time deal, but I was wondering, do you have any Aqua Velvets X-mas stuff?
Hope all is well. And, as Da Boss noted, we never did hear about your trip. Is it hush-hush? Didn't know you were with the Agency.
Peace,
Zilla
Thanx for the Straitjackets!
Thanks for the comments all.
zilla - sorry no Aqua Velvet Christmas tunes. Did they do some?
DaBoss & zilla - Usually folks hate the vacation slides. I'll work on a quick photo rundown of our world-wind trip. Maybe as one of the new slide-shows.
Toxxy - Your always welcome amigo.
T
TS:
According to Phil Dirt, the AVs did one very limited, privately pressed Xmas CD with only 2 songs called "A Very Velvet Christmas." I'd love to hear it, though. Santa, where are you??
Thanks for the great stuff. I need surf music more than ever during the holidays: the waves wash away the thin film of scum that crass commercialism leaves behind...
Peace,
Zilla
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