Los Straitjackets: Somos Los Straitjackets [Album Review]

Los Straitjackets
Somos Los Straitjackets
Yep Roc Records [2025]

“Four masked veterans proving that pure instrumental fire can still surprise and thrill.”

Album Overview: Emerging in the late ’80s and early ’90s, Los Straitjackets took the classic early-rock “combo” lineup—two guitars, bass, and drums—and gave it a bold twist with their trademark lucha libre masks. Founders Danny Amis and Eddie Angel set out to revive and expand instrumental rock at a time when it was barely on the airwaves. Nearly twenty albums later, they’ve backed singers like Deke Dickerson, Big Sandy, and—most famously—Nick Lowe. Today’s lineup—Eddie Angel, Pete Curry, Chris Sprague, and Greg Townson—still tours relentlessly, keeping their twangy tradition alive after more than three decades. Somos Los Straitjackets is their fifteenth studio album and the first full set of new originals in thirteen years. Produced by Jake Guralnick, it captures the quartet’s razor-tight interplay across fifteen quick-hitting tracks—most under three minutes—while showing how decades on stage have sharpened their instincts. From reimagined pandemic-era tunes to brand-new cuts that stretch their sound beyond “surf,” this record proves the band remains inventive while staying true to the no-vocal formula that built their reputation.

Musical Style: These songs glide between reverb-soaked surf runs, Merseybeat bounce, swampy grooves, and a touch of Latin sway. The guitars trade melodies with effortless precision while the rhythm section flips from sock-hop shuffle to pounding tribal drive. Subtle flourishes—like the vibraphone accents on “Two Steps Ahead” or the dramatic sweep of “Virgon”—add color without ever crowding the mix.

Evolution of Sound: The early records leaned hard on traditional surf rock, but years of collaborations (especially with Nick Lowe) have broadened the band’s range and tightened their arrangements. Somos Los Straitjackets folds in country twang, vintage pop, funk grooves, and cinematic moods, proving how they can refresh a classic instrumental approach and still keep it unmistakably their own.

Artists with Similar Fire: If you dig the tuneful guitar work of The Ventures, the raw bite of Link Wray, or the soulful groove of Booker T. & The MG’s, you’ll turn this album up. There are even winks to The Surfaris’ playful classics—complete with maniacal laughs and shouted titles. More modern surf-revival outfits like The Mermen, Laika & The Cosmonauts, Man or Astro-Man? or any artist on the Otitis Media Records roster will also be right up your alley.

Pivotal Tracks: “Bumper Car” kicks things off with a playful rock ’n’ roll strut. “Polaris” nods to space-age staples like The Tornados’ “Telstar,” blending nostalgia and futurism. The electric “High Wire Act” surges with tension and daredevil flair, a true high point of their live-wire energy. “Cry for a Beatle,” a sly wink to The Beatles’ own “Cry for a Shadow,” has the members swapping instruments for a cheeky homage. “Genesee River Rock” channels Chuck Berry-style drive while saluting Greg Townson’s Rochester roots, and “Numbskull” pounds with heavy reverb and tribal percussion. The updated “Spinout,” boosted by Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants, Rick & Morty) on guest vocals, slyly tips its hat to Eddie Angel’s past with The Neanderthals and cranks the energy to a fever pitch. Other highlights include the cinematic “Virgon,” the sock-hop sway of “Sentimental Fool,” and the Latin-tinged “Catalina Farewell.”

Lyrical Strength: Almost entirely wordless, the album paints vivid scenes through melody and dynamics. Guitar leads and rhythmic turns tell the story—whether it’s the playful chaos of “Spinout,” the wistful mood of “Catalina Farewell,” or the dramatic tension of “Virgon.” Los Straitjackets continue to show that their instruments can speak volumes without a single lyric.

Final Groove: Somos Los Straitjackets is more than a surf record—it’s a showcase in how instrumental rock can evolve without losing its cool. By folding in funk, pop, and cinematic touches, the band keeps the genre fresh while flexing the muscle of decades-deep chemistry. It’s a blast of twangy fun with enough surprises to keep longtime fans and new listeners hooked. This is the sound of a band three decades in that just keep evolving for their next chapter.

LOS STRAITJACKETS REVIEW HISTORY
Deke Dickerson Sings The Instrumental Hits (2014)

LOS STRAITJACKETS LINKS
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