The Nashville music scene doesn't really conjure up images of surf guitar and Mexican wrestling costumes, but Los Straitjackets' music is hardly about adherence to the predictable. The group first began to experience cult success upon the release of its 1995 debut, The Utterly Fantastic and Totally Unbelievable Sound of Los Straitjackets, and from there continued to mix up its formula while becoming a staple at rock clubs across the country.
Los Straitjackets' new Rock en Espanol, Vol. 1 marks a radical departure from the tight instrumental rock of its predecessors: On it, the band enlisted three vocalists to help perform classic rock 'n' roll songs in Spanish. As with most of Los Straitjackets' output, novelty is a key ingredient, but it's elevated by the band's good-natured sincerity and skill.
Copyright 2007 XPN
