One of our favorite groups since they started singing together in 1989, Bay Area Contemporary all-male quartet the Edlos' website lists 4 different live shows they offer, the Variety Show, Country Western Show, Holiday Show, and, recently added, the groovy 60s Show. Born of this show, "Retropella" is a roots thing for these very funny, talented guys, and the liner notes fold out to a poster of the boys in their 60s garb, from school mugshots to freak-flag-flying hippie band shots. 12 songs (with one bonus song about peace at the end), most of them hippie anthems: "Tequila," "Wimoweh," the Young Rascals' "A Beautiful Mornin'," Simon & Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair/Canticle," the Righteous Bros' "Soul and Inspiration," "Unchained Melody," the Beatles' "Something" and "Come Together," Jethro Tull's sleazy "Aqualung," Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit," Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man," and an amazing "guitar" solo on Led Zep's "Stairway to Heaven." There's marvelous faux instrumentation and faked psychedelic "wah-wah" effects and inventive vocal percussion throughout. This is one of the most ambitious CDs we've heard this year; the guys pull it off bigtime, and have big fun doing it‹the live show has to be a hit! Recommended.

Listen to Wimoweh in RealAudio.