[.ca] El Rayo-X

"El Rayo-X" is a party record...:
"El Rayo-X" can't disappoint that many people. If you need steady music at the party for all ages - this is it! David Lindley has splendid style, a tremendous musician who can really grab you and take you for a ride. This is a rare mix of cool Reggae/Ska, Rock and everything in between... To pick out a favorite song or anything like that is futile, I'll suggest you put this record on and boogie all night.

Truly talented ensemble play a smorgasbord:
Probably the best reggae. Hey, if you really want to appreciate this splendid musician and if you're lucky, make an effort to procure a bootleg of a live show (fantastic!). His experience with other pros shines through on this CD, big time. This is can't miss fun.

Lindley rides again:
When you think about it David Lindley is a wild and crazy guy like his pal, the late You Know Who. Years after this CD was recorded, I saw him and his percussion pal Wally Ingram at a venue on the other side of town. It was something of a glorious, blunt stroke to the ears, I'm afraid. Details would be out of place, but the volume! The bells! The bells! This CD saw Lindley at the crossroads, no Devil or soul retail included. It was the first CD in the checkered and colourful career of El Rayo-X, in the sense that monicker related to both Lindley's backing group and a Mexican masked wrestler. And very full of tunes and tempos this CD is, too. I can't imagine anyone else playing slide with the sort of soul-devouring appetite that Lindley brings to it. A renowned multi-instrumentalist, Lindley also picks up the orthdox electric geetar, the Turkish Saz, banduria(?), six-string bass, fiddle and an unspecified whistle. His slide playing on "Mercury blues" produces a vibe somehere between Cheap Trick, a Keef-less Stones and George Thorogood, a vibe that is also pure Dave. Hello! I'm over here! Follow the bouncing ball that sounds like me! So enjoy! Covers of well-known and obscure originals, including one by Nawlins legend Huey "Piano" Smith. And a couple of orighinals with that distinct Dave taste. Pure murder, pure ear candy. Every home should have one. Why not five stars? I'm a hard marker and reserve the top rating for material from artists I had not heard of before. Fair? Dunno, but that's my standard and that's it.

Best Cover Band In The World!:
Earlier I wrote in a review of VERY GREASY that I thought it was my favorite El Rayo X CD.... How can a mind make such a fine distinction and choose! ALL of El Rayo X's stuff was top notch. I wouldn't want to be without any of them. This one was the first I ever got, and I've never looked back.... For recent news and recordings from the delightful Mr. Dave (including a great 1989 recording, EL RAYO X LIVE!) see davidlindley.com.

'Miami Vice' (t.v. series)-Don Johnson:
Another hot song from the television series 'Miami Vice',(1)'Mercury Blues',this song is played in an episode about a race car driver accused of murder,find out later that it was the dad of the racer who actually done the deed. In this episode,you can see the high rise building of 'Capital Records',real cool!

• She Took off My Romeos
• Bye Bye Love
• Mercury Blues
• Quarter of a Man
• Ain't No Way
• Twist and Shout
• Rayo X
• Your Old Lady
• Don't Look Back
• Petit Fleur
• Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas and the Sinus Blues
• Pay the Man