Customer Reviews

El Bando En Fuego!

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lee Press-On and the Nails is a swing band that actually takes an intelligent approach to modern swing: they interpret swing as the punk music of its day (1930s), and present it that way. They play like and out of control circus train loaded with boxes of corpses. If Tim Burton ran a swing band, it would be like this!

LPN is best live (they're almost a comedy act, and Leslie looks sooooo delicious in those red dresses of hers), but make great albums too. The focus of this album is on their Latin tunes, so there is less of their characteristic hard-swing, so I like it a bit less than their last two albums. Nonetheless, it's still great. Listening to it is a party in itself.

The best tracks are the first and last: "Pico and Sepulveda" is a energetic swing-polka on the names of Los Angeles Streets. It gets the album off to a awesome start. "Mexican Radio" takes the Wall of Voodoo song (and its screamingly funny lyrics) and swings the hell out of it. I love listening to them play these two pieces live, and having them on disc is a real pleasure.

Other great works: a Latin version of the swing classic "Begin the Beguine" (recording technology turns the band into a real sixteen-piece big band on this one!). "(You've Got a Shaolin Kung-Fu Death Grip on My Soul" is the most danceable song, a sort of Stray-Cats like bit of rockabilly with hysterical lyrics. "Pink Elephants on Parade" ressurects a very un-PC Disney song. And Leslie croons sexily on "Coax Me a Little."

If you want some unique modern music, grab a copy. Also get "Playing Dirty," their live recording. (Hey, I was there!)

Watch out for Lee Press-On, he is the future leader of your planet!

This album has rarely left my CD player! I've been a fan of Lee since seeing them at the Derby, and what a release! Some great covers and wonderful original stuff! Great big band sound with a latin kick! (And I can't forget Leslie..Coax ME a little bit, please!)
You won't regret the buy!

I got "El Bando En Fuego" soon after it was released, just in time to take it along with me to a party that night. Midway through the evening, I put LPN's latest into the CD player. A few people knew and recognized the band, and were thrilled with the sound of the new CD. Many others approached me, asking, "Who is this?" All of them wanted to know where they could pick up a copy for themselves.

I have been a longtime fan of Lee Press-on and the Nails. In all honesty, I like some of their CDs better than others. "El Bando En Fuego" is easily their best work to date, and was well worth the wait for its long anticipated release. Mr. Press-on is at his most creative and entertaining yet (I'm only just now beginning to appreciate this man's genius), and Miss Leslie Presley's vocal abilities have matured from simply good to utterly enthralling.

I'm not certain that I can pick a favorite... I adore the way "Coax Me a Little Bit" mixes swing and latin rhythms, "Pink Elephants" is as fun as it is fabulous (I can't help but smile every time I hear it!), and the swingin' version of "Mexican Radio" makes me get up and dance, no matter where I am. One of the best little surprises on the CD is the special guest appearance of David Vanian (of "The Damned") in a duet with Lee for "Well Did You Evah?"

Lee Press-on will have a difficult time topping this one, but I look forward to the attempt! (perhaps he'll even put some of his marvelous harmonica playing on the next one!)

Found this band and this CD by purest chance, looking for versions of the song "Hot for Teacher", which they cover elsewhere. Listening to the samples, I had to buy it; listening to the whole CD, I had to recommend it. This band has a smart, stylish approach, spiked with a wicked sense of humor. Leslie Presley is sexy in vocals like "It Had Better Be Tonight" (Henry Mancini would salivate), and their cover of "Pink Elephants on Parade" had me rolling on the floor. Their original tracks are fine, too ... though "God's Gift" did seem a bit more like the ordinary run of swing than the rest of the tunes. Still in all, a great selection, and you can bet I will be acquiring the rest of their discography. LPN Swings!

LPN are Hot! Hot! Hot!,as they take a little trip South of the border for a Latin-inspired release. ( Hey,if Robert Mitchum can release a Calypso album... ).This CD goes back and forth from swing-era faves,("Begin The Beguine","At An Arabian House Party"),to Latin beats, ( "Brazil","Pico & Speulveda" ),to the usual madness! ("(You've Got A ) Shaolin Kung-Fu Death Grip on My Soul","Cult Of The Eye Anthem".). Leslie is in great voice with such offerings as "Bai Mir Bist Du Schon","Coax Me A Little Bit",and the rarely covered Mancini number, "It Had Better Be Tonight". Sexy & Sultry,and several other words begining with "S"! The fan favourites "God's Gift" and "Enjoy Yourself" are also included here,as well as the brilliant re-working of Wall of Voodoo's "Mexican Radio"!! "Pink Elephants on Parade" is also a really cool cover,a touch of Mystic Knights,with the LPN twist!( And is it just me,or doesn't Lee resemble a Charles Addams version of Uncle Walt? ). And,I wouldn't be a proper Damned fan,if I didn't mention the appearance of THE Dave Vanian singing a duet on "Well Did You Ever?"( by the same Cole Porter who wrote "Anything Goes"....yes,THAT Cole Porter! ),a sort of Gothic Hope & Crosby,if you like. ( And I do like! ).Every time Lee & The Nails return from the lab with a new offering,it's always a welcome surprise! So buy 'em up shriners,it's later than you think!

Let's be honest - when's the last time you were able to groove and giggle in deranged glee at the same time? Brother - that's way too long.

Jump-Goth-Swing-Industrial-Latin Impressario and Band Master Lee Press-on hauled his crew into the studio and recorded EL BANDO EN FUEGO in an epic session of mixing classic swing and latin tunes with his own slightly refracted sensibilities and created 16 tracks of marvelousness. Is that a word? It is now. Write it down.

As he warns early on "This album jumps around a lot you'll get used to it." Bonus points if you catch *that* reference, because it means you're likely to catch a lot of OTHER references in this album as well, which just adds to the overall enjoyment factor.

It's nine bucks. It'll make your soul bigger. It'll improve your day, your week, and possibly your life. It will inspire you to dress snappier. It'll make you attractive to the appropriate gender. You've spend nine bucks on worse things. See that "Buy Now" button? Click it. It wants you to click it. And when you do, you'll make the world a little brighter.

You may also find yourself using the word "SEPULVEDA" more often and what's so bad about that?

I recently discoverd this band and after I heard "God's Gift", I just had to buy the album. It did not dissapoint. This is my favorite LPN album. Other standouts include "Pico and Sepulveda", "Pink Elephants on Parade" and "It Had Better Be Tonight"

Not much is known about the great Lee Presson-
However, his music seems to seek you out like a thief in the night. He and his beautiful wife, Leslie Presley, will woo you with their witty lyrics as well as wonderfully adapted classics. Be sure to check out their other albums as well: LPN Live at the HiBall Lounge: Jump Swing from Hell, Swing is Dead, Hiball Lounge Sessions Vol. 1, and Playing Dirty: Live at the Derby- in addition to this one. Also checkout their website: www.leepresson.com. If you ever get a chance to see Lee Presson and the Nails perform, don't pass it up! The show will leave you in stitches!

This band is whole lot of fun. They are unique in all respects. The music is energetic, the lyrics interesting, the whole Lee Press on experience is quite stimulating.It is my desire to see this band perform live before I die. The other LPN CDs are great, too.

This album has rarely left my CD player! I've been a fan since seeing Lee at the Derby and this new album is wonderful! Some great covers and some wonderful new material all with a great big band sound and add in a latin kick (and you can't forget Leslie..Coax ME a little bit, please!)
You won't be disappointed.