Surf rock, in Spanish

Reviewed April 2007

GGiven the rapid growth of Latin rock bands, the purpose of Los Straitjackets' latest album is a bit confusing.

Yes, the band has always worn Mexican wrestling masks while performing, but bringing in Cesar Rosas, Little Willie G. and Big Sandy to lead the band through Spanish-language versions of the Kinks, Brenton Woods and Little Richard is a definite break from the band's usual surf-rock instrumentals.

Still, nobody does the old-school guitar rave-up like the Straitjackets. Not since the Ventures were at the height of their prowess some 40 years ago has any band so celebrated the electric guitar.

And so having the band behind three top-notch singers tackling classic rock and R&B hits would sound great in any language.

Review by Jim Trageser. Jim is a writer and editor living in Escondido, Calif., and was a contributor to the "Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD" (1993) and "The Routledge Encyclopedia of the Blues" (2005).