Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Los Straitjackets - A Marshmallow World / Sleigh Ride / Outta Gear
 | Well well! Nashville's grand inquisitors of the surf scene have issued a promo-only Christmas CD single. This is so cool. There are few bands that can play so marvelously with such grace and humor. |
Picks: A Marshmallow World, Sleigh Ride, Outta Gear
Track by Track Review
Christmas Surf (Instrumental)
This venerable Christmas song gets the masked treatment, starting with the kernel of the Ventures idea, and morphing into the crunch and punch of Los Straitjackets. A pretty straight ahead arrangement and a less than their usual inspired performance on this track. I expected more puff in the marshmallow.
Christmas Surf (Instrumental)
Now this is more like it! A great rendition of the Ventures arrangement. The performance is top-drawer Los Straitjackets, fiery and humorous. The lead guitar tones are great, with vibrato oscillating in your ears. I love this track. These guys are soooo good! Very cool indeed.
Surf (Instrumental)
The chickens are swaying to this rooster-on-the-walk monster, infectious and tongue in cheek delightful.