One can almost hear the cervezas being opened and skin sliding out of cotton garments as this double-disc set gets rolling. A time capsule for the Baja Bash music festival in Salsipuedes, Mexico taken from a couple of years back, it successfully conjures the feeling of days spent in the sunshine dancing one's ass off. Grove kick off the first disc with a slinky shuffle that gives way to an almost klezmer-like spin on "Ballerina Dance." Jonas drops a bit of giant-size piano pop which is followed by a few decent if a tad forgettable numbers. The feet start to kick up some beach sand again with Fish & The Seaweeds pair of dirty jean, finger-in-the-air rockers. Folks who imbibe Tea Leaf Green are advised to grab some of this kelp pronto. The first half closes with The Travel Agents who bring to mind Creedence Clearwater Revival's tuneful anger on "Smile & Grin" and then jam it out Doors style on "In Her Garden à Salisipuedes Shuffle." The entire second disc is given over to the Ominous Seapods final concert to date. Truth be told, I never gave the time of day to the Seapods and this set tells me that was foolish. Solid songwriting, impressive chops and a controlled abandon that makes for a really good listen. It all makes you wish you'd been there burning a layer off your skin and getting eight kinds of loose. And the way it all hangs together so well gives one a very positive feeling about future Baja Bashes to come.
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