Big-band sound loses some of its nutty nuance
Without a release in nine years, the Squirrel Nut Zippers needed to come back with a bang. And in the most literal sense they do, with less than two measures of a snare beat leading to horn and saxophone blares. This, and the rest of the live album, is a no-nonsense recalling of that lost big band era. But with just bits of soulfulness (“Do What”) and tango flair (“My Drag”) scattered throughout, Lost at Sea is no discerning reminder of the band itself. Most notably, it replaces a heavy dose of its Southern roots for unadulterated rowdiness, save for new song “Happens All the Time.” Though this exchange does not make the album any less enjoyable, it does little to distinguish the band from the era.