The world would be a far colder place at Christmas without the electric guitar and Los Straitjackets' Tis the Season for is all the proof you need. Packed with 11 guitar-driven traditional songs and two originals, this mem... more »orable disc is a must-have for anyone who loves the sound of unaffected, basic guitar rock reminiscent of the Ventures and your favorite garage rock band. Adventurous, ambitious, and totally satisfying, the band takes on "Jingle Bell Rock" (making its guitars ring like a Byrds-fest) and a host of other chestnuts from "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" to the "La Bamba"-framed workout of "Feliz Navidad." Even the band's own "Christmas in Las Vegas" has those classic jingle-jangle guitar hooks that make this record a perennial holiday hit. --Martin Keller« less
The world would be a far colder place at Christmas without the electric guitar and Los Straitjackets' Tis the Season for is all the proof you need. Packed with 11 guitar-driven traditional songs and two originals, this memorable disc is a must-have for anyone who loves the sound of unaffected, basic guitar rock reminiscent of the Ventures and your favorite garage rock band. Adventurous, ambitious, and totally satisfying, the band takes on "Jingle Bell Rock" (making its guitars ring like a Byrds-fest) and a host of other chestnuts from "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" to the "La Bamba"-framed workout of "Feliz Navidad." Even the band's own "Christmas in Las Vegas" has those classic jingle-jangle guitar hooks that make this record a perennial holiday hit. --Martin Keller
Eric Scott | Bloomington, California USA | 12/01/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Whether or not you're a fan of Los Straitjackets -- and if you aren't, get with it! -- this is a fantastic Christmas album!! The energy is relentless, the musicianship precise, and the sense of pure wild pleasure is infectious, shining through on practically every number. The band must have had a blast recording this.The CD is only about 30-odd minutes of music (my only complaint), but pop it in and see if you don't get some serious Christmas cheer in a hurry! Although every song is a gem, I do have to observe that "Here Comes Santa Claus", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and "Frosty the Snowman" (with some seriously killer guitar work!) are fantastic and unique interpretations of these classic tunes. If you want some high-octane Christmas spirit, scroll back up and buy this CD right now!!"
Yeah!
volt25 | APO, AE USA | 01/15/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The masked men can do no wrong! This cd is a blast from start to finish. Somehow, LS have the ability to play strictly instrumentals and keep it entertaining and interesting from start to finish. Put this on the stereo when everyone's tired of boys' choir christmas music and it will be a hit.My personal favs - Here Comes Santa Claus, Let it Snow, Jingle Bell Rock, and Frosty the Snowman. But there isn't a single weak track.The interesting take on the whole album is how they linked these songs to classic surf songs, with exact riffs mixed in with the Christmas melodies. Great stuff!"
LOS MERRY STRAITJACKET CHRISTMAS!
Patrick Earley | Edmond, Oklahoma USA | 11/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm not usually in the habit of picking up Chritmas music cd's. Much less reviewing them. But afterall this is Los Straitjackets, and I collect everything that have those masked men on the cover. As it turned out, this is the best and most entertaining Christmas cd that I've heard since Evan Johns and his H-Bombs "Please Mr. Santa Claus" cd that came out over 10 years ago. If you can ever find that one, get it. It's like this one, a good year around listen. A few words about the songs here. These guys do a great play on these Christmas themed songs by playing them to a surf beat. For instance: "Feliz Navidad" is played La Bamba style. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is played to the song Pipeline. "Frosty The Snowman" has a big drumbeat like Caravan with an absolutely vicious guitar solo by Eddie Angel. "Christmas In Las Vegas" is played to Elvis Presley's Devil In Disguise. "Sleigh Ride is played like the Venture's Walk Don't Run. "Christmas Weekend" has the Link Wray Ace Of Spades guitar riff. And "Little Drummer Boy" has the Dick Dale guitar style, which could fit just about any of his songs really. Anyway you get the idea. It's a surfing Christmas album with some very clever arrangements like only the Straitjackets can do it. Get it, play it, and watch the kids go crazy. You may never stop dancing around the Christmas tree. Highly recommended!"
Solid Christmas Surf!
K. Brown | Walnut, Ca USA | 12/08/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I don't know if it's my Southern California upbringing, but I find surf instrumentals to be some of the most spiritual music known to mankind. Add Christmas tunes to the mix, and you have a Holiday treat almost as sweet as Eartha Kitt singing Santa Baby!
What works about Los Straitjackets' Christmas CD is the way they play their vintage surf guitars in a way that keeps the true essence of the Christmas songs we love. They are playful and creative, but never go overboard with trying to totally overhaul the tunes.
The finest creative touch shines on track #6. The beginnings of the surf classic "Pipeline" start the song, then Los Straitjackets go full throttle into a beautiful rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," then briefly blend the instrumental portion of Del Shannon's "Runaway" midway into the tune.
Track #6 is worth the investment alone, but this entire CD is excellent modernized Holiday music. Take a chance on this one!"
Los Straitjackets for every season
lydiawac | Houston, TX United States | 01/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If I'm caught humming "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" in late August, Los Straitjackets will be to blame. This disk contains everything you'd expect from those brilliant masked men and more."