Los Straitjackets Sing Along With The Los Straitjackets CD Review

Let’s flashback and talk about a cool Rockabilly/Surf CD that I picked up several years ago because it featured Reverend Horton Heat and Raul Malo (The Mavericks) on two tracks. The name of the band is Los Straitjackets and the disc is entitled, “Sing Along With The Los Straitjackets”. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up the CD, but I knew it had to be Rockabilly or Psychobilly due to the Reverend Horton Heat being on it. The cover also had the band in Luchador Wrestling Masks, so I knew it would be one of the best things I’d ever heard, or it would be a dumpster fire. Thankfully, it was the aforementioned.

A little history on the Los Straitjackets, they’re largely an instrumental Surf Rock band who hail from Nashvegas Tennessee! To date the band has released 23 albums – both live and studio. The album we’re talking about today is the only one to feature vocals and they’re all guests. Typically, I’m not a fan of instrumental music, no matter what it is unless I’m in a live setting – it’s hard to keep my attention if I can’t see it visually. Live, I’m all about it and will travel for it if the band is happening.

Let’s get back to “Sing Along with Los Straitjackets”. As mentioned earlier, this album has vocals, but each track features a different vocalist which I find neat. I haven’t been able to find much info on the reason’s why these vocalists were chosen, but who cares when it’s this good. Another nifty thing about this release is that it’s a cover album, but it’s not your average cover album – a lot of these tracks are deep cuts or either most are so old that you must dig around to find some info about each song. The opening track is “Black Is Black”, it’s a track that was originally recorded in ’66 by the Spanish band Los Bravos. I’m not going to lie, I’d never heard the track before, but the version heard here features Raul Malo, the vocalist of the Country/Alt. band, The Mavericks. I’m a SUCKER for anything Mavericks related. I really fell in love with them in the 90’s – their choices in how they approached music were magnificent to me and Malo’s voice is fucking incredible, no matter what he’s singing. “Black is Black” sets the tone for this album, it comes on strong and moody leading with a great bass riff and Malo brings the house down with his silky-smooth voice and the music overall is addictive and damned fun, it features a great melody line that’s a full-on eargasm. The next track to get my blood pumping is “Down the Line”, originally a Roy Orbison track and we all know that the bulk of Orbison’s music could lend itself to being seen as a bit soft. Not here, with the addition of the Reverend Horton Heat, this song gets a fuzzed-out facelift, and the Rev whips the lyrics off his tongue as if he’s preaching the Gospel of a Sex Slave. It comes off sleazy and hot. It’s a nice change – this is one of those songs I grew up playing in the bars with my folks, so I’m good with this down and dirty approach! I would’ve loved for them to do the old Orbison track, “Mean Woman Blues” too, that would’ve been badass! Dave Alvin of the Blasters also makes an appearance on the old track that was made famous by the Rivieras, “California Sun”. While I appreciate and like the track musically, the vocals leave a little to be desired. Don’t get me wrong Dave’s voice is good, but his brother, Phil is a much better singer. I’d much rather have heard Phil on vocals and Dave playing guitar. Dave’s voice comes across like a generic Country singer from the late 80’s/early 90’s. Don’t misunderstand me though, this is still the best version of “California Sun” out there aside from the Ramones version.

Getting to my favorite song on the album, “I’ll Go Down Swingin’”. This track was a treat and a real surprise to me, I’d never heard it before, and I didn’t recognize the vocalist’s name - Exene Cervenka. As soon as she started singing, I stopped what I was doing and tried to figure out how I knew her, I couldn’t figure it out, so I had to hit google up. Turns out she’s the co-vocalist of the legendary Punk band, X. I should’ve known that I’ve had several of their CDS through the years. Her appearance here really makes me question if she did her career a disservice by staying in X when she clearly can BLOW! I mean her vocals and the approach here is mind-numbing. This track is straightforward Honky Tonk with a burnin’ tempo, it comes across like a Punk track, it hits fast and it’s over before you know it. I never can listen to it just once; it’s at least 3-4 time listen. Now here’s the funny part about the track, it’s a Porter Wagoner cover that’s damned near a Waltz - very slow. I’m not going to bullshit you; Wagoner’s version is pretty damned good too. I’m a SOLID GOLD COUNTRY JUNKIE! Give me some steel guitar, some Honk and those old wild ass suits and the sound of a Telecaster and I’m fucking there! The last track that really turns me on is “The End of The World”. It’s a brilliant cover of the old Skeeter Davis tune. I was raised on this 45, my mom was quite the fan of this song, it’s a nice tune too. Another thing that I’ve always enjoyed about it is I can envision it being used in a Horror Movie, hell, maybe it has – I’ve watched a ton of that shit. It’s probably during a full-on Zombie attack in some random B-movie that I watched years ago. HA! The version heard here features vocalist, Leigh Nash. I had no clue who she was, so I definitely had to look her up, turns out she’s the lead vocalist of the late 90’s band, Sixpence None The Richer. Better known for their hit – “Kiss Me”. Not necessarily my flavor, but the song wasn’t bad, and my girl was a fan, so I’ve heard her voice a great deal over the last 30 or so years. Her performance here is very tasteful, she gives it everything she has and doesn’t disappoint in the least. Musically, this is the best recording I’ve ever heard of the song, the original version can’t compare, and Nash’s vocals are gorgeous!
 
In closing, there are several other tracks to be gobbled up on this album and there are some talented vocalists – Big Sandy, Mark Lindsay and Allison Moorer to be exact. Not to take away from The Los Straitjackets, but if they were to pick any one of the vocalists on this album and record an album every year, I’d do a standing a pre-order and I’d never miss a release. I swear if you take 30 minutes out of your day and pull this one up, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a time capsule of some terrific covers, the hits are great, but the deep cuts are where it’s at. No matter what, this is absolutely the best you’ll ever hear these songs. If you find this CD out and about, don’t pass it up, this is an essential piece of Rockabilly magic that you need in your collection, you don’t need Bop Pills, just this CD and space to dance!

~Black Angel