Review: The Paladins—Slippin' In

Roots rock with an attitude, that's what the Paladins provide. Chuggin' in a Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry mode, Dave Gonzalez points a blood shot eye at a lot of world. He lives life as a cigarette in his hilarious "Five Minute Love Affair" and mixes in a conjunto feel to "Rain Rain." His trio consists of skin, big upright and his hollow body. They make a big noise. The feel is Los Lobos and Dave Edmunds while the words are witty slices of life. He muses about being caught after a hard night of ... while tearing up his axe on "Slippin' In" while surfily churning a ditty about the dimming spark of love in "Baby Don't Move Me." He does Gram Parsons proud on his "Strong Boy" and the instrumental "Return To Polara" is pure Dick Dale. Drop a quarter in the old Seeburg and give the Paladins a whirl. It'll rock ya.—Mark Gresser