ALIEN FASHION SHOW — Alien Fashion Show (review)

ALIEN FASHION SHOW — Alien Fashion Show album cover Album · 1998 · Jazz Related Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
siLLy puPPy
ALIEN FASHION SHOW were one of the many swing revival bands that graced the 90s. These veterans of the LA club scene consisted of Eldon Daetweiler (trumpet / vocals), his brother Jeff Daetweiler (drums), Todd Thurman (guitar), Jeff Allen (bass) and Woodchuck Saito (keyboards). They released their one and only eponymous album in 1998 on the Surfdog label after becoming a hit on the West Coast lounge lizard circuit.

The music is clearly digging into the sounds of yesteryear with the main focus on a loungy style of jazz but there is plenty of rockabilly and piano jazz as well. I personally find this whole affair to be a noble effort but frankly it pales in comparison to the much better contemporary bands going for this retro sound such as Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the masters of all things swing revival the Squirrel Nut Zippers. I find the vocals a little lackluster and devoid of the passionate delivery the well played music is demanding.

Much of the music isn't as swingin' as I would like and when it bursts open the rockabilly gates it sounds like a cover band of the Brian Setzer Orchestra with moments when it sounds like they could cross a line into Stray Cats territory. Overall not a horrible album but just not enough meat and potatoes to add enough calories for a satisfying meal. Probably my favorite two tracks are remakes. The first is “Detroit Swing City” which is a cover and play on words of KISS' famous “Detroit Rock City” and a decent cover of “Roxanne” by The Police otherwise there is a whole heap of filler and scant moments of interest.
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