Twist Party
If it's tempting to characterize this delightfully dizzy collaboration between Nashville's masked surf-rock acolytes Los Straightjackets and hip-swiveling Brooklyn burlesque revivalists The World Famous Pontani Sisters as postmodern, perhaps one should lie down until the feeling passes. As ambitious fusion of vintage instrumental rock, video dance lessons, lucha libre couture, Chubby Checker, Merseybeat, and rhinestone-chic this CD/DVD set can't be denied--or rivaled, for that matter. With Scottish choreographer/Freddie Garrity lookalike Kaiser George handling vocal chores and occasional channeling of Fred Schneider, the Straitjackets rip through a tightly executed set of twist 'n' groove originals and covers of Fats Domino's "Domino Twist," Robert Parker's "Twistin' in Space," and Joey Dee's "Peppermint Twist." The band takes a faithful left-turn into Liverpool '63, with KG paying affectionate homage to Gerry Marsden and Wayne Fontana on "Isn't Love Grand" before serving up a couple of Halloween-ready slices of loop-rock via "All Back to Drac's" and the infectious "Mad Scientwist." The equally kitsch-cool DVD contains lovingly cheeseball videos for the latter and "Twistin' Gorilla," as well as the Pontanis teaching the steps for the "Kitty Cat" and "Daddy-O" dances. It's a party package that's as musically accomplished as it is culturally ditzy, one that may leave listeners wondering just what decade--or century--they're in.--Jerry McCulley