With a group moniker like The Rabinnical School Dropouts, one might have an inkling that this ain’t your father’s Klezmer band. These SoCal whiz-kids put a wildly irreverent prog-/avant-rock twist on that ancient-to-the-future music known as Klezmer [Euro-Hebraic melodies + jazz/improvisation], which fell out of fashion in the assimilate-or-die 1950s and, like Western Swing, was the object of a "revival" in the 70s, which continues today with bands The Klezmatics, Andy Statman, Hasidic New Wave, etc. The RSD are firmly grounded in the Klezmo-basics, but they toss liberal amounts of inspiration/fallout from Frank Zappa (especially his Uncle Meat and Grand Wazoo periods), Col. Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit, Carla Bley and the great, underrated Brit prog-rock band Gryphon. Just when you get the urge to jump up and dance the hora, these guys shift gears on you (wild horn solos, drastic time signature changes, etc.) and everyone ends up partying on Pluto with El Sun Ra. My only complaint is The RSD sometimes (like the late Mr. Zappa) come off a little smug and calculatedly zany, a little "gee, ain’t we dazzling and eclectic." Don’t get me wrong, this disc is VERY good: it’s challenging yet immediate, lively fun, but next time, guys, relax just a little bit.