LOS STRAITJACKETS
''JET SET''
AUGUST 7 2012
39:54
1. Crime Scene/2:34
2. Yeah Yeah Yeah/2:23
3. New Siberia/3:29
4. Aerostar/2:49
5. Brooklyn Slide/3:16
6. Jet Set/2:42
7. Low Tide/3:34
8. Walking Down 3rd Street/2:41
9. Bobsleddin'/2:02
10. Wrong Way Inn/2:48
11. Space Mosquito/2:14
12. Sardinian Holiday/3:14
13. Mr Pink/2:36
14. Pop Rocks & Coke/1:31
15. Für Sophia/2:01
REVIEW
by Mark Deming
Jet Set, the 14th studio album from Nashville's masked marvels of instrumental guitar rock Los Straitjackets, sounds pretty much the way you'd expect an album from this band to sound -- and that's one of the most satisfying things about it. Guitarist and co-founder Danny Amis (aka Daddy-O Grande) was forced to drop out of the band after he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, but after a grueling two years of treatment, he returns to action on Jet Set, and longtime fans will heave a sigh of relief as they spin this disc and hear that Amis and his bandmates are sounding as sharp as ever. Los Straitjackets have been mining '60s instrumental rock for inspiration since 1988, and Jet Set demonstrates they haven't hit bottom just yet. From the slam-bang intro of "Crime Scene," the exotic escapades of "New Siberia" and "Sardinian Holiday," and the soulful strut of "Brooklyn Slide" to the frantic report of "Pop Rocks & Coke," the Latin accents of "Walking Down 3rd Street," and the easygoing pop melodicism of "Aerostar," Los Straitjackets still have lots of tuneful notions after more than two decades on the stand, and they thankfully still have the chops to make them fly. The light-speed picking by Amis and Eddie Angel on "Space Mosquito" is nothing short of dazzling, drummer Jason Smay masterfully drives the tunes and punctuates the melodies at the same time, and bassist Peter Curry keeps the bottom end locked down tight. Los Straitjackets haven't reinvented themselves on Jet Set, but that's not what this album is about. Instead, this music celebrates survival, perseverance, and most importantly the sheer joy of making music, and Jet Set captures a great band having a ball in the studio. Give it a listen and you'll be having a pretty fine time yourself.
BIOGRAPHY
by Tracy Frey
Mixing the familiar sounds of Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, and the Ventures, Los Straitjackets create their own version of energetic surf guitar twang complete with Mexican wrestling masks. Los Straitjackets began in the summer of 1988. Eddie Angel (guitar), L.J. "Jimmy" Lester (drums), and Danny Amis (guitar) formed an instrumental trio called the Straitjackets, which played local Nashville shows throughout the summer. After a six-year hiatus, the Straitjackets reunited, added E. Scott Esbeck on bass, and changed their name to Los Straitjackets. In November 1994, the band signed with Upstart Records. They released their first single, "Gatecrasher" b/w "Lonely Apache," on Sympathy for the Record Industry in February 1995. In March 1995, the band's first album, The Utterly Fantastic and Totally Unbelievable Sound of los Straitjackets, was released on Upstart. That summer the band went on its first major U.S. tour. In June 1996, the band released its second album, ¡Viva!; The Velvet Touch of los Straitjackets followed in 1999 and Damas y Caballeros! surfaced two years later. The mysterious musos decided to move on to holiday music the next year, and tackled several Christmas favorites on the fun 'Tis the Season for los Straitjackets! Supersonic Guitars in 3-D arrived in 2003, followed by a collection of outtakes, live tracks, and rarities called Vivos y los Raros in 2004. Twist Part dropped in 2006, followed by the all-star Rock en Español, Vol. 1 in 2007. In 2009, Los Straitjackets returned with The Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets -- a back-to-basics album that nixed guest vocalists and horns in favor of the Straitjackets core rocking guitar sound. 2012's Jet Set, which marked the return of Amis to the band after recovering from a difficult illness, was recorded at the Pow Wow Fun Room Studios in Los Angeles, produced by Janne Haavisto, and featured guest spots from the Basic Cable Horns (best-known for their work on the Conan television show) and Finnish actress and musician Irina Bjorklund.
''JET SET''
AUGUST 7 2012
39:54
1. Crime Scene/2:34
2. Yeah Yeah Yeah/2:23
3. New Siberia/3:29
4. Aerostar/2:49
5. Brooklyn Slide/3:16
6. Jet Set/2:42
7. Low Tide/3:34
8. Walking Down 3rd Street/2:41
9. Bobsleddin'/2:02
10. Wrong Way Inn/2:48
11. Space Mosquito/2:14
12. Sardinian Holiday/3:14
13. Mr Pink/2:36
14. Pop Rocks & Coke/1:31
15. Für Sophia/2:01
REVIEW
by Mark Deming
Jet Set, the 14th studio album from Nashville's masked marvels of instrumental guitar rock Los Straitjackets, sounds pretty much the way you'd expect an album from this band to sound -- and that's one of the most satisfying things about it. Guitarist and co-founder Danny Amis (aka Daddy-O Grande) was forced to drop out of the band after he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, but after a grueling two years of treatment, he returns to action on Jet Set, and longtime fans will heave a sigh of relief as they spin this disc and hear that Amis and his bandmates are sounding as sharp as ever. Los Straitjackets have been mining '60s instrumental rock for inspiration since 1988, and Jet Set demonstrates they haven't hit bottom just yet. From the slam-bang intro of "Crime Scene," the exotic escapades of "New Siberia" and "Sardinian Holiday," and the soulful strut of "Brooklyn Slide" to the frantic report of "Pop Rocks & Coke," the Latin accents of "Walking Down 3rd Street," and the easygoing pop melodicism of "Aerostar," Los Straitjackets still have lots of tuneful notions after more than two decades on the stand, and they thankfully still have the chops to make them fly. The light-speed picking by Amis and Eddie Angel on "Space Mosquito" is nothing short of dazzling, drummer Jason Smay masterfully drives the tunes and punctuates the melodies at the same time, and bassist Peter Curry keeps the bottom end locked down tight. Los Straitjackets haven't reinvented themselves on Jet Set, but that's not what this album is about. Instead, this music celebrates survival, perseverance, and most importantly the sheer joy of making music, and Jet Set captures a great band having a ball in the studio. Give it a listen and you'll be having a pretty fine time yourself.
BIOGRAPHY
by Tracy Frey
Mixing the familiar sounds of Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, and the Ventures, Los Straitjackets create their own version of energetic surf guitar twang complete with Mexican wrestling masks. Los Straitjackets began in the summer of 1988. Eddie Angel (guitar), L.J. "Jimmy" Lester (drums), and Danny Amis (guitar) formed an instrumental trio called the Straitjackets, which played local Nashville shows throughout the summer. After a six-year hiatus, the Straitjackets reunited, added E. Scott Esbeck on bass, and changed their name to Los Straitjackets. In November 1994, the band signed with Upstart Records. They released their first single, "Gatecrasher" b/w "Lonely Apache," on Sympathy for the Record Industry in February 1995. In March 1995, the band's first album, The Utterly Fantastic and Totally Unbelievable Sound of los Straitjackets, was released on Upstart. That summer the band went on its first major U.S. tour. In June 1996, the band released its second album, ¡Viva!; The Velvet Touch of los Straitjackets followed in 1999 and Damas y Caballeros! surfaced two years later. The mysterious musos decided to move on to holiday music the next year, and tackled several Christmas favorites on the fun 'Tis the Season for los Straitjackets! Supersonic Guitars in 3-D arrived in 2003, followed by a collection of outtakes, live tracks, and rarities called Vivos y los Raros in 2004. Twist Part dropped in 2006, followed by the all-star Rock en Español, Vol. 1 in 2007. In 2009, Los Straitjackets returned with The Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets -- a back-to-basics album that nixed guest vocalists and horns in favor of the Straitjackets core rocking guitar sound. 2012's Jet Set, which marked the return of Amis to the band after recovering from a difficult illness, was recorded at the Pow Wow Fun Room Studios in Los Angeles, produced by Janne Haavisto, and featured guest spots from the Basic Cable Horns (best-known for their work on the Conan television show) and Finnish actress and musician Irina Bjorklund.
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