G.I. Ay, Ay! Blues

El Vez:
G.I. Ay, Ay! Blues

[Big Pop]
Rating: 6.7
El Vez is a consumate showman, a tortilla in King's clothing. He delivers the goods as best as he can on G.I. Ay, Ay! Blues, but this is shit you really have to see live. After a few listens, the joke grows tired, but while it's still fresh, it's not so bad. You get history lessons soaked in Elvis swaggerings on such cuts as "The Arm of Obregon" and "Viva La Raza," and the rocking remake of Bachman Turner Overdrive's "Taking Care of Business," -- a tribute to illegal immigrants who work shit jobs for shit pay -- is a huge improvement on the original. But why a cover of Bowie's "Rock and Roll Suicide?"

If you find this one in the cutout bin, it might be worth a purchase. Also, I must admit that the intro to "Misery Train" had me on my ass.

- Jason Josephes, December 31, 1999