Saw him live tonight with just violinist Susan Voelz. I liked the stripped down dramatics (making his melding of Cale and Springsteen and early 70s Brit-rock and Texas songwriters work better) plus his stories about childhood years in San Antonio, teen years surfing in California, and later hanging with NY Dolls members and Sid n Nancy at the Chelsea Hotel. Alejandro & Susan opened for Shelby Lynne (who was accompanied by just acoustic guitarist and lap steel player Ben Peeler). Alejandro did a bunch of songs from Real Animal ("Chelsea Hotel 78," "Sister Lost Soul," Swallows of San Juan," all which he cowrote with Chuck Prophet, and a bunch he cowrote with Chuck Prophet for his 2012 effort Big Station---"Sally was a Cop," "Bottom of the World," and "Can't Make Me Run". An old fave of mine "More Miles than Money" sounded great as did a couple more whose titles I am forgetting.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 03:53 (ten years ago) link
I like him better with just the violin, or as I once saw him---with violin and cello, than with a full rock band.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 13:55 (ten years ago) link
I wish Susan Voelz would make a new solo album, the two she put out are hidden gems.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 20:53 (ten years ago) link
Didn't know about those, will look for 'em.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 20:58 (ten years ago) link
I like Al in pretty much all his formulations: band, solo, with strings, band with strings, etc. Not huge on the last couple albums compared to the first three, but now that he's hooked up with the Springsteen camp I hope he's finally getting paid.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 22:16 (ten years ago) link
Yeah, his first 3 solo albums are killer, especially the 2cd versions with some amazing live tracks.
I'm also quite fond of the True Believers and Buick MacKane albums.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 23:37 (ten years ago) link
I even like the Rank + File! He's been around.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 25 September 2013 23:42 (ten years ago) link
I saw him play with Los Lobos over the summer. Really cool.
― ball games w/ james (calibrate), Thursday, 26 September 2013 01:36 (ten years ago) link
but now that he's hooked up with the Springsteen camp I hope he's finally getting paid.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, September 25, 2013 10
Not sure he is getting paid any more than he was 5 years ago, but I'd like to be proven wrong on this
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 26 September 2013 16:47 (ten years ago) link
Eh, he's on a bigger label with power management. My guess is he is better off.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 26 September 2013 17:09 (ten years ago) link
I wanted to like this guy, but I bought that Ryko GH back in the day, & the Buick MacKane album (my alt.country youth, it was just a passing phase, one of my bad days)...didn't think there were good tunes there. I liked the kinda solo-y "More Miles Than Money", but even that song is pretty monochromatic, like his voice doesn't do much leaping, just stays in one place. think I'd like him as an Emmylou Harris, probably does good harmony.
― Euler, Thursday, 26 September 2013 18:59 (ten years ago) link
Guy's got the best wardrobe in town.
― LinkedIn Beef (Eazy), Thursday, 26 September 2013 19:06 (ten years ago) link
I like this Mick Jagger cover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVZjtQF7OIg
He used to tell a funny story about that one, about how a guy in the band kept trying to convince him that Mick Jagger had made a good solo record, and he would not have it, though he eventually came around to this one.
Newcomers and neophytes, I recommend "A Man Under the Influence" to get him at his best, or maybe "Thirteen Years" to get him at his deepest.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 26 September 2013 19:09 (ten years ago) link
Amazing Mick Jagger cover.
― ball games w/ james (calibrate), Thursday, 26 September 2013 22:29 (ten years ago) link
Interesting interview about the issues he was dealing with and how he is now doing better with a new album coming soon
http://www.dallasobserver.com/music/austin-legend-alejandro-escovedo-finds-new-home-in-dallas-after-near-death-experience-8798255
The year behind him includes being completely cured after a 20-year battle with deadly hepatitis C; leaving Austin, his home of 35 years that claims him as its native son; and the couple surviving a hurricane on their honeymoon. Both of them were later diagnosed with with post-traumatic stress disorder. Escovedo also had to come to terms with blackouts and bizarre behavior as well as a canceled tour that threatened to put the brakes on his career.
...Escovedo’s band on the album includes guitarist Kurt Bloch of the Fastbacks, drummer John Moen of the Decemberists and vocalists Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney and Kelly Hogan of Neko Case’s band, as well as an appearance by Los Lobos saxophonist Steve Berlin.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 October 2016 19:40 (seven years ago) link
And co-written/produced with Peter Buck, right?
I find it strange that such an esteemed, storied songwriter has been teaming up wth ringers, however much I like Buck and Chuck Prophet. I'd love to know why he needs their help, though perhaps that article answers the question.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 13 October 2016 20:57 (seven years ago) link
article says in part:
After a few false starts and near misses, Burn Something Beautiful was recorded in Portland in April 2016.
“We rehearsed for maybe two or three days and went in and made the record,” Escovedo said. “And truly [it was] one of my favorite recording experiences I’ve ever had. And I think Scott and Pete did a job that took me to a place that was outside of my comfort zone, and yet was very much in the field that I love so much.”
In addition to the inspired songwriting partnership with McCaughey and Buck, collaborating with so many artists was a real turn-on for Escovedo and a signature of the best days of his career.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 October 2016 14:35 (seven years ago) link
Yeah, I still don't quite get it. Escovedo's first several albums are brilliant, and beautifully written. When he came back from his illness and started writing with Chuck Prophet, the results were Ok but generic enough that I'm not sure why he needed the assist, especially from such a prominent singer/songwriter in his own right. Whatever works, I guess.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 14 October 2016 14:44 (seven years ago) link
Actually, I should give the last couple another listen. At the time I was not a fan of "Real Animal."
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 14 October 2016 14:47 (seven years ago) link
I agree with you. But I chalk it up more to him just getting older. That creative songwriting spark musicians have when they are young, for whatever reason, is less powerful when they get older (for most musicians). Combine that with his health woes, the more recent PTSD, etc., and I understand why he is working with others on songwriting.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 October 2016 15:13 (seven years ago) link
Haven't paid attention to him in years, had consigned him to the Talented Journeyman category I'm afraid. But just had an algorithm recommend a tune called "Anchor" that I kind of dug.
― Digable Planet Waves (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 14 October 2016 16:44 (seven years ago) link
Really like the new one. Buck as producer keeps things really raw, which is cool, and enhances the echoes of Stones, Stooges, Dolls, Lou Reed, etc.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 29 November 2016 23:33 (seven years ago) link
I haven't listened to "With These Hands" in ages, such a cracking album. He takes his roots rock approach and adds strings and other sounds to push the genre in interesting ways.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 14 September 2021 14:25 (two years ago) link
I should listen to that one again
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 15 September 2021 04:01 (two years ago) link
«Five Hearts Breaking» is all I need tonight
― Mule, Wednesday, 12 July 2023 21:58 (eight months ago) link