The new Alejandro Escovedo album

In addition to Chuck's qualms, I have seen other mixed reviews also.

I do think, however, that the album is a bit overproduced. There's such a gloss on it that even the rock songs, like "Deerhead" and "Notes On Air," come off as too polite and mannered. And some of the production sounds very dated, especially the ballads, which sound (to me) like they have the same high-gloss polish as late eighties Billy Joel ballads (e.g., "These Are The Times (To Remember)," although, to be clear, Escovedo's songs are stronger than Joel's).

But it's a minor quibble, especially when the songs are so good. Overall, it's a very good album. I'm unfamiliar with Escovedo's back catalogue. Is The Boxing Mirror better or worse than his earlier work?

The new album, Real Animal, is amazing!! No thread on this? Really?

Someone semi-crapped on it over on Rolling Country, I do believe. Or maybe a different thread a couple weeks ago.

Might be an outlier, since it's been getting pretty good reviews so far.

the voice doesn't quite cut it for me, it's really that simple, when we talk of Alejandro. Overtones of the Boss and "new wave" and so forth and also John Cale, but Escovedo not as good a singer as either one. Apparently, Dave Marsh has said this is the best record of the year, and that says a lot to me right there. That this is for people who still Believe in Rock and Roll....zzz...oh, I'm awake again. Listening to Real Animal (EXCELLENT production) as a matter of fact, right now, "Outside the disco, they wouldn't let me in/Here comes Laurie, she could've been my friend," and damn, man, I know it's been tough all around. Go ahead, get in your licks before the night comes.

and here's what I said on Rolling Country, for what it's worth...

and I don't get Alejandro Escovedo, or, rather, don't get the love for the guy. new one is a good Tony Visconti production, with echoes of later Bowie throughout, but Real Animal suggests John Cale trying to turn into Bruce Springsteen--kinda like one of the scenes in the '70s remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers where the metamorphosis takes place and you're uneasy. I guess it rocks, but for me, Escovedo simply doesn't have the voice to carry it off, just sounds like another guy with a track record he might or might not think is representative, and another rock and roll "victim" or whatever. Listenable, but to me, real one-dimensional.

-- whisperineddhurt, Friday, June 27, 2008 4:07 AM (6 days ago)

And of course Dave "Best album of the year" Marsh is married to Alejandro's manager (Barbara Carr, who manages Springsteen, too, with Jon Landau).

I think the new one is a big improvement on "The Boxing Mirror," which has a couple of my favorite Escovedo songs on it but is indeed over-produced. I'm not totally sold on "Real Animal" being on par with "Influence," "Gravity," "With These Hands" or "Thirteen Years" (my favorite), but I'll give the guy the benefit of the doubt. He's been doing this for 30 years and almost died, so let him live out his rock and roll dreams. He still kills live, and if this not so subtle roll-out of Escovedo 2.0 gets a few more people to take notice, all the better.

"The Boxing Mirror" . . . has a couple of my favorite Escovedo songs on it but is indeed over-produced.

I was just coming here to post that. Dear Head On The Wall is a great chugging rock song, but the rest of it feels so overcooked that it blunts the impact of the songs themselves (which were pretty good). Also, it was ridiculously over-praised, which set it up to under-impress.

That's enough. Include me out. A veteran's pain and rock 'n' roll because you're supposed to like it.

Oh, right, Marsh is married to AE's manager. Springsteen. Yeecch.

last year Tony Visconti published his autobiography, Bowie, Bolan and the Brooklyn Boy, which is interesting...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41EXFSX95GL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

this album is straight flames-left-in-the-wake-of-the-delorean nostalgic fire and if you do not hear that you need to pray to god for real ears

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.

I like him better with just the violin, or as I once saw him---with violin and cello, than with a full rock band.

I wish Susan Voelz would make a new solo album, the two she put out are hidden gems.

Didn't know about those, will look for 'em.

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.

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.

I even like the Rank + File! He's been around.

I saw him play with Los Lobos over the summer. Really cool.

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

Eh, he's on a bigger label with power management. My guess is he is better off.

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.

Guy's got the best wardrobe in town.

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.

Amazing Mick Jagger cover.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Actually, I should give the last couple another listen. At the time I was not a fan of "Real Animal."

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.

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.

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.

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.

I should listen to that one again

«Five Hearts Breaking» is all I need tonight

I'm not usually too interested in albums of reinterpretations but I'm finding Echo Dancing pretty exciting and unpredictable. Got intrigued by the Allmusic review mentioning "Warm Leatherette," Suicide, and "long-lost new wave or synth-punk LP," all apt. Probably helped that I started with the closing version of "Wave," which I'd love in any form, esp. this one.

he's great and has made a bunch of music since but somehow i feel like his Perfectly Ideal Track is 'velvet guitar' and have therefore not paid sufficient attention since

but, i mean

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ1RazC02Eg

I used to love Al and listen to him and see him live all the time, but I admit I fell off. However, I did buy tickets to see him in a couple of months, because it's been too long and he has given me so much enjoyment. Plus, he's 73 years old and done a lot of hard-living, so ...

I haven't kept up with him and I too saw some extremely formative shows in the late 90s/early 00s

This new synth-punk record is sounding extremely great so far

lol this album is a pretty inspired novelty, though tbh for a collection of songs she mostly likes from an artist she definitely likes, I'm not sure how well my wife will tolerate it.

https://txmusic.com/how-cowpunk-hero-alejandro-escovedos-new-album-defies-expectations/?fbclid=IwAR0iFZSWfbZp1qlxAO37e3Rq0WKRzUEXHPunw4p8L2vZd2FZZFcE3KGEI88_aem_ASEMAdqzNzL6kznAZ9gMMtMhZwqSfkLE7_bwrd-r5xDCtX2Lu92nH7Odi9h0pwL6YDvYapluKRrRFpItYox06-Ad

Here's an interview with him about the new album. John Cale and Judy Nylon are mentioned as influences . Plus the Italian guy he collaborated with

Like Josh and Chris I used to keep up with Alejandro but then lost touch

He did Marc Maron's show last week, haven't heard it yet.