Product Review

How can you go wrong with Russian rockabilly surfers? The Red Elvises formed in Santa Monica, California, in 1996 when three Russians from Siberia decided to put together a surf-rock group. (And you thought Yakov Smirnoff was funny?) The tunes are good but nothing spectacular; as long as you keep in mind these are Russians, you'll at least have a smile on your face. The Brian Tyler score is interspersed (along with dialogue) throughout the disc. It's a nice blend of L.A. cool, not so much in the vein of Pulp Fiction but of Destiny Turns on the Radio (pleasant yet desperate-sounding). Standouts include the warm "Relentless Sun" and the pseudo-Russian-traditional "Sahara Burn." --Aaron Tassano