CD Review for 06/26/08 – Alejandro Escovedo
Compact Capsules for 6/26/08
by Dan Ferguson
by Dan Ferguson
Alejandro Escovedo
Real Animal
Back Porch/Manhattan 82411
Since the 1990s, he’s delivered some of the most artful music I’ve laid ears on such that there was no pegging Alejandro Escovedo. While the proclivity to rock his ass off came in flashes, Real Animal is Escovedo in large part in his glam glory. An autobiographical affair for which the album title is a nod to hero Iggy Pop, Real Animal features songs, all co-written with comrade Chuck Prophet, drawing from various stages of Escovedo’s lengthy journey from his defining Bay Area days with punk band The Nuns (“Nun’s Song”) to his next stop with cowpunkers Rank & File (“Chip n’ Tony”) to making a go of it in N.Y.C. (“Chelsea Hotel”). Musically, we get plenty of the “glam” to go with subtle doses of the elegant country and chamber pop sounds of the aforementioned ‘90s. Produced by Tony Visconti (T. Rex, David Bowie), Escovedo seemingly has all the bases covered on Real Animal. Recommended. (Visit www.alejandroescovedo.com.)
(Dan Ferguson is a free-lance music writer and host of The Boudin Barndance, broadcast Thursday nights from 6 – 9 pm on WRIU-FM 90.3. He lives in Peace Dale and can be reached at [email protected].)