Ink

The Rumblejetts

Summertime Apples

SpinJett Records

If pompadours, jet-black Mercuries and big-box Gretsch guitars get you going, then Kansas City rockabilly veterans The Rumblejetts’ third record, Summertime Apples, is definitely for you.

With 14 songs clocking in around 40 minutes, the ’Jetts keep the pedal to the metal, so to speak, throughout the record, which is a pretty great example of what straight-ahead rockabilly should be — fun. 

None of these songs are likely to change your life, but if they don’t at the very least bring a smirk to your face and put a tap in your toes, you may want to check your pulse. The Rumblejetts keep things fairly traditional — don’t expect the kind of psychobilly of early Reverend Horton Heat or The Cramps. Summertime Apples has more to do with Scotty Moore and Carl Perkins than Lux Interior.

The Rumblejetts are consistent throughout the album — the production is first-rate and the musicianship is top-notch. There are few missteps to be found. The low twang of what sounds like a six-string bass/baritone guitar on “Blue Broadway” is deep and kind of hollow, exactly as it should be, but something about it clashes with the rest of the mix. It’s a shame, as it’s one of the most badass guitar sounds from the original rockabilly era.

“Roulette Wheel” is the only song that sounds less than fully realized. It’s not a bad song, but the performance seems like the band kind of phoned it in. It’s decent, but compared with the other tracks, sounds lackluster and uninspired.

Fortunately, those are the only tracks with issues on Summertime Apples. There are plenty of high marks — “Knock Down, Drag Out,” “Mary Go-Round,” “Take That Kitty Kat” and “Liquored Up” are all spirited takes on a classic genre that manage to pretty much nail what rockabilly is all about without modernizing things too much. 

The Rumblejetts also avoid sounding slavishly period-correct. Walking that fine line between retro mimicry and altering a time-honored formula too much is something the band does commendably well. After 11 years playing this music, The Rumblejetts have it down pat. 

Summertime Apples is an undeniably enjoyable listen, the kind of record that makes the listener want to get out and see the band live. While rockabilly is nothing new and hasn’t been in quite some time, The Rumblejetts do it proud. 

— j howell { special to ink }

Find it

Get Summertime Apples by contacting the band through its MySpace page, myspace.com/rumblejetts, or at Chop Tops in Westport and Merriam. Look for it soon at Best Buy and through sites such as CDBaby.com and Amazon.com. 

Catch The Rumblejetts at 9 p.m. March 5 at the Trouser Mouse, 625 N.W. Mock Ave. in Blue Springs.