When grunge eventually died its exploited and over-marketed related death, a wayward lot of flanneled waifs began searching for something new, something hip, and somewhere to get drunk. Many of them found solace in the revival of something old: a cocktail lounge music scene. When this parodic craze became too popular -- fodder for Newsweek and a marketing niche for Pottery Barn -- many of the shark-skinned suited and cocktail dress dressed folk started to imitate something older: swing dance culture. Last of the International Playboys, with their jazzy Cuban charangas, Vegas cheese, accordion old-world ska, and secret agent-influenced sound, categorically belong somewhere among these fashionable and tongue-in-cheek explorations for identity. One song has overtones of reggae and is laced with ska, though its lyrics are in German. Replete with a gentle accordion solo in a minor mode, this song, like the others, is played with an impressive professionalism. Unfortunately, the overall production of the CD suffers from the vocals being put way too out in front of the mix. A strong contribution to the loungey-cocktail, cigar-smoking, rum-boozing music scene, Last of the International Playboys's debut CD will most likely make you want to crack a smile, don your Guyaberra shirt, and head for some rum. ~ John Vallier, All Music Guide
