Los Straitjackets

In the tradition of the Detroit Cobras and the Dirtbombs, who have both recently done full albums of cover songs, Los Straitjackets have released Sing Along With Los Straitjackets. It's a collection of choice rockabilly and nifty AM radio hits played by the U.S.A.'s masked luchadors of surf. It's the first time Los Straitjackets have used vocals in their music and it's a long overdue change that makes this the best record these guys have ever cranked out. They enlisted some pretty high-powered vocal talent for this project, including Rev. Horton Heat, Exene Cervenka, El Vez, Nick Lowe, and California rockabilly/country swing dude Big Sandy. Highlights include "A Huevo," featuring the Trashmen (adding their authentic crazy vocal goobly goop noises for good measure) and ex-Blaster Dave Alvin rocking out the perennial fave "California Sun." Without a doubt the capper here has to be an unnaturally good version of "Black Is Black," featuring the Mavericks' Raul Malo, which kicks off this solid record with class.