Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Los Straitjackets - Encyclopedia Of Sound Volume II
 | While not intended as a commercial release, this CD is stuffed with great stuff. Illusive, but very cool! |
Picks: Pile Driver, Boa Constrictor, I Want Cake, Lookey Here, Just A Little Trip, Juke Joint Compound, Funky Twine, Blues Face, Susie X, Hindenburg, Gallstones, Apple Orchard, Hey Joey, Hooligan, Sloppy Joe, Honolulu Vice, Out Of The Shadows, Creepy Part 1, Creepy Part 2, Tennessee Cannonball, Off Broadway, Brazil Nuts, Miller Park, Color My Hair, At The Seashore, Drum Solo #1, Drum Solo #2
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
dark twango in a fairly non-melodic track with very cool double picking and stinging whammy. "Pile Driver" is a very infectious track with danger and a flippant edge. Roots and surf meet head on.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Boa Constrictor" reminds me of some of Link Wray's stuff, but it has a less crude and angular sound, and the drums are tribal cool! Decidedly riff rock, though it's more engaging than that usually implies.
Surf (Instrumental)
A Bo Diddley beat with bongos and big guitar twang. The muted guitar rhythm is very cool, and the lead lines remind me of "Who Do You Love" the way Quicksilver Messenger Service did it on Happy Trails, but a whole lot edgier! Primal and engaging.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Lookey Here" is a bluesy riff rocker somewhat in the mode of "Twine Time," but with great drums!
Surf (Instrumental)
Undulating cool with a dry wit. great drums, gutty guitar, and a very nice bass line. "Just A Little Trip" is a simple track that's much more fun than minimalist instros often are.
Surf (Instrumental)
The bluesy riffin' in "Juke Joint Compound" is very infectious. Great edge, and a ton of emotional connection. Really cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
Hinting of Major Lance with Memphis soul, "Funky Twine" is a catchy little number with great drums and rich tone. The smooth bass work really cements this together.
Surf (Instrumental)
Heavy slow Bo Diddley influence a la "I'm A Man." Extremely brief at twenty six seconds.
Surf (Instrumental)
You might guess that "Susie X" was inspired by "Susie Q," and you'd be right. That hook, some shimmering tremolo, and lurid primal rock emotion. Greasy with edge!
Surf (Instrumental)
Not at all lumbering like you might expect from the title, until you realize that perhaps the root cause is Led Zeppelin. Think 1969 with dryer, more basic rock'n'roll production. Imagine if Jimmy Page could play glissandos!
Surf (Instrumental)
Primitive rock'n'roll with a touch of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" raw edges, but with a much smaller combo sound. Pretty darn cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
Long echoed notes, cardboard drum sound, spooky ambiance, and slide. Pink Floyd drive along the coast in search of space finding only sunset and palms. The drums' sonic values remind me a lot of the drums in Hawkwind's "PXR5," though the song is certainly nothing like that masterpiece.
Surf (Instrumental)
Kick drum rumble, bass groove, spunky guitar jammin', and drive. I love the drums here!
Surf (Instrumental)
With the drums and big guitar chords spinning off "We Will Rock You," it's hard to imagine wrestling masks, but then again, it is Los Straitjackets! A cool idea.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Sloppy Joe" is a very nifty tune, part swamp, part combo grind, and all cool. It has a southern rock drawl, and a dry humor grin. Great drums!
Surf (Instrumental)
Liberally borrowing influence from "Hawaii Five-0," this is a track with an excellent muted rhythm guitar, and very cool bass. great drums too!
Surf (Instrumental)
Slithering from the shadows on undulating runway drums, "Out Of The Shadows" is part detective and part swivel hips. Grand tone and really groovy drums made whole by perfect bass.
Surf (Instrumental)
Muted and lightly revered guitar lays a Henry Mancini-ish backdrop for a shimmering melody line. "Creepy Part 1" is just wonderful!
Surf (Instrumental)
The same melody as "Creepy Part 1" but with edge and twang. Grumbly and slightly dark.
Country (Instrumental)
Country pickin' and twangin' charm. This groover takes me back to watching Hee-Haw on the black and white. Back porch fun!
Surf (Instrumental)
Borrowing slightly from "On Broadway," this is a soulful number with charm and warmth, and when it liberates parts of "Apache," well, it's just boss!
Surf (Instrumental)
With a bit of Sergio Mendez influence, "Brazil Nuts" features the right rhythm and beat, especially the percussion. This is lovely and engaging.
Surf (Instrumental)
Haunting tremolo and sparkling pop-psych leanings merge for a late sixties am radio ride. it's amazing how cool songs written like this can be in the right arrangement.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Color My Hair" is a slow and silky piece with liquid tremolo and a romantic melody. It's a very pretty song!
Surf (Instrumental)
The drums really set this apart, but are by no means the best part. The guitar licks simply sparkle with circular essence before issuing island chords. The bass is subtle, but utterly essential in the composition. Superb!
Surf (Instrumental)
As you might anticipate, "Drum Solo #1" is a drum workout. No lack of talent here!
Surf (Instrumental)
There are parts of this drum solo that remind me of Cozy Cole. Very well thought out!