Uncaging Alejandro’s Animal
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Whether you pigeonhole singer-songwriter-guitarist Alejandro Escovedo as alt-country or Americana or just call him a pop musician, his career has been the proverbial long, strange trip - and, ultimately, a good one. I mean, the guy was close to death from Hepatitis-C in 2003. Thanks to modern medicine and the financial support of his friends and fans, he recovered - and has since released his eighth and ninth solo albums, including this year's eclectic, electric Real Animal. His remarkable odyssey continues.
Truth be told, he's been all over the map, artistically and geographically. He's part of the musical Escovedo family, which emigrated from Mexico to Texas, then moved, in part, to the San Francisco Bay Area, where Alejandro first made some noise. And what a noise. Considering his pedigree, he was a most unlikely member of the seminal S.F. punk band The Nuns with its late-'70s new-wave revision of the Velvet Underground's dark, drugged-up '60s art-rock. But he fit right in. Then, in a surprise to the hardcore crowd, he shook off the urban grit of the Nuns and went cow-punk as a member of Rank & File, a rootsy, country-rockin' band formed by Chip & Tony Kinman who were also favorites on the S.F. punk scene with their short-lived trio The Dils. Having relocated to Austin, Texas in the '80s, Alejandro continued in an alt-country vein as a member of the True Believers; then, he embarked on an acclaimed solo career.
So it shouldn't be strange to have him produce something as protean, enveloping and laudable as Real Animal - a reflective, somewhat autobiographical album that acknowledges all of his previous incarnations, while tossing in a few more flavors. And he's working with someone who might be the ideal producer for such a project: Tony Visconti, whose standout work with David Bowie, T.Rex and, recently, Morrissey, promised a certain sheen and clarity. Furthermore, Alejandro co-wrote all of the songs on Real Animal with his pal, the immensely talented San Francisco-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Chuck Prophet (whose most recent release Soap & Water is a keeper, too).
The musicians that gathered for the sessions are right in the pocket. They include David Pulkingham on guitar, Josh Gravelin on bass, Hector Munoz on drums, Susan Voelz on violin), Brian Standefer on cello, and Prophet on guitar.
With some songs tough and propulsive, others introspective, and quite a few sweetened by string arrangements, Real Animal never stays in one spot for too long. But it spends a surprising amount of time reflecting on past relationships and artistic affiliations - all the way back to the punk era. In fact, there's no mistaking the content of "Nuns Song," a stinging prowl through Alejandro's time with the Nuns ("We don't want your approval/It's 1978/We know we're not in tune/We know we'll never be great"); and "Chip n' Tony," a Blitzkrieg-bopping, tremolo-infused tune dedicated to his mates in Rank & File.
Not that Alejandro has dispensed with his roots-rock ways. "Always a Friend" opens the set in rousing, super-catchy, riff-heavy, up-tempo fashion while he works his plaintive country & western twang on the vocals. And "Slow Down," which ends the album with classic soul-ballad passion, would be just right for a late-night slow dance in a border cantina.
But, in between, you get material such as "Chelsea Hotel '78," a dark memoir of the twilight life at one of Manhattan's most notorious landmarks - with a bit of that new-wave/punk vibe; and "Sensitive Boys" - a cabaret ballad about a Warholian New York City club kid, performed in the '70s glam-rock mode of Ian Hunter & Mott the Hoople or Lou Reed, post-Velvets.
Visconti's input is in full effect on "Golden Bear," referencing Alejandro's medical woes with its invocation of creatures in the blood, and blatantly echoing the melody and arrangement of Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes"; and "Hollywood Hills," with an acoustic-guitar-and-string-section arrangement that could be straight off of Bowie's Hunky Dory album.
There's a Chicago-R&B-by-way-of-the-British-Invasion vibe to "People (We're Only Gonna Live So Long)," and a Rolling Stone-y punch to "Smoke." And speaking of smoking, that's what "Real as an Animal" does - it's the most blistering rocker of the bunch.
How fitting that "Slow Down" is the last of the album's 13 tracks, considering Alejandro's current perspective. To quote some of the song's lyrics: "Slow down/Slow down/It's movin' much too fast/Can't live in this moment/When I'm tangled in the past." And "The past is gone, but it still lives inside of me." If he's on the level with that last line, he sure let a lot of it out on Real Animal.
You can hear the studio version of "Always a Friend," via the stream at the top of the post. And, as a complimentary treat, here's a video of Alejandro singing the song with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at a recent concert in Houston.
Comments (20)
Well done Mike, well done :-)
Such a grand record
Thanks, Blair. And yessir, it's a heck of an album!
Nice review, Mike, I will have to pick this up. Have only heard "Always a Friend" (it gets airplay here), but heard him live on the radio yesterday tearing it up and was impressed.
d-chris: When you have the Satisfied-Knife Seal of Approval, you're assured of quality!
Satisfid-Knife!! Love it...copywrite that won't ya?
Done! Now, all we need is a design for the seal...
Wouldn't a Satisfied Knife be a bloody dagger?
Great review Mike. It would've been nice to hear a different song off the album than the same one live though. Just sayin'. I haven't heard much of Escovedo's solo stuff but from your descriptions it sounds like an interesting album.
August: I guess I was going for a compare-and-contrast thing, since the live performance has a different vibe. I would have been comfortable streaming "Chelsea Hotel ’78" or "Real as an Animal." Alas...
You just sent me to Google - he's Pete and Coke Escovedo's brother? Gee, why wouldn't that have been obvious? Nifty cut. Wanting more....
I was turned on to this guy by fellow mogger Iren. Loved everything I have heard from him so far, and great review as always
ivylander: Don't forget Sheila E, who's also in the family. And the rest of the album demands to be heard, too. Hope you get a chance to check it out.
Rawkkiddoh: Appreciated! And happy to be of service.
Great post! I'm already a big Alejandro fan. Loved the video with Bruce!
Madeline: Kewl! The clip is right up there with the one that features Springsteen and band doing "Keep the Car Running" with Win and Regine of Arcade Fire. A must-see.
Another Alejandro fan over here. Amazing the difference Tony Visconti makes -- such shine and sparkle! I will be after this album for sure.
On archive.org there's a double CD worth of material from Alejandro's live encores. He always does covers and with his blessing, a rabid fan has put them up for free download. Among the expected stuff like Stooges and Velvets (great 'Pale Blue Eyes') are wonderful takes on Hank williams, Ian Hunter and solo Mick Jagger. Alejandro knows a good tune when he hears it.
Jonh: Thanks for the heads-up on archive.org - roadmap to the stars! Al's affection for Ian Hunter is intriguing, but makes sense.
Visconti is from that real shine and sparkle school of production, and less is more - allowing everything to really breath - something that you would expect from someone who really understands arranging.
Mike - thanks again (as always) for bringing something new to my attention!
They love and play the heck out of Alejandro on my favorite community radio here, so I'm pretty familiar. And they've been giving good mention of this album. Glad to read your great review, and a little history on him.
vannatta: Tony V. is always reliable. And I'm more than glad to get the word out on A.E.
Sunny: Sounds like a worthy outlet. I'd stay tuned. Alejandro's got quite a past. Then again, who doesn't around here?
Well Mike, this is the first time (hopefully not the last) that I have purchased an album based purely on a Mogger's review. The package arrived in the post this morning and I'm gonna eagerly listen on my 40 minute drive in to work. Thanks for a great review, and hopefully I'll get as much joy from the album as you.
The track you uploaded is great so the signs are good. I'll let you know in 3-4 days.
Ben
Ben: That's quite a responsibility to put on me and my little review. Hope you enjoy the album!