Alejandro Escovedo Cranks Out Another Great One!

The great Mexican-American roots-rocker Alejandro Escovedo is back with yet another great, hard rocking yet deeply thoughtful album, his second with veteran producer Tony Visconti. Visconti goes all the way back to David Bowie's epic The Man Who Sold the World and if you hear echoes of that album on some tracks here, like the haunting background voices on "Sally Was a Cop", the album's most powerful song, it's not a coincidence.

But more important than the deceptively stripped down production— hard rocking simplicity provided by back up band The Sensitive Boys, surrounded by Visconti's endlessly ear-catching added elements—is the ferocity with which Escovedo attacks the songs, mostly co-written with Chuck Prophet. The former Rank and File country/punk member has to be pushing or is past 60 but he looks and more importantly sounds years younger.

He enters exuberantly on the uptempo opener "Man of the World," that with its hand claps and "Oh Yeah!"s will re-kindle the weak flame smoldering in many an old rocker. Escovedo sings "I've been parted out, Tool and dyed, Duct taped together, For one last ride, Oh Yeah! Oh Yeah!."

In "Big Station" he sings yet again about charging ahead despite setbacks (that included years of living hard and eventually collapsing onstage from Hepatitis C) with lines like "If you dare to turn back now, We'll face what we get, A moment of relief, For a lifetime of regret."

"Sally Was a Cop" (but now she's a soldier) is a dark, moving song about illegal immigrants, while in "Bottom of the World" Escovedo sings about change and ruin and the view from the bottom. "Can't Make Me Run" summons up a raw, intense defiance few artists of Escovedo's age can credibly manage, but he does.

Side two continues side one's theme of defiance, acting out, living rough, hanging tough and usually paying the price. On "Headstrong Crazy Fools" he references Bob Dylan's motorcycle accident and if side one's adrenalin pumping creative inspiration gives way to some formula on side two, it really doesn't matter. The album throbs from start to finish with energy and excitement rarely heard on rock albums these days, particularly from the older guys trying to hit that high mark yet again. Escovedo manages on every song, even the few that are less than fully realized.

In addition to the bass, drums, guitar anchor, Visconti tastefully adds horns, sax, strings and a few other elements in just the right proportions. Engineered by Jim Eno, The Spoons' great behind-the-beat drummer and Visconit, the sound is hardly The Man Who Sold The World style greatness, but budgets being what they are, and technology being Pro-Tools, the best you can hope for is clarity, a modicum of transparency, stage organization and unsquashed dynamics. This very well engineered recording provides all of that.

If the credited mastering engineer Paul Blakemore actually cut the lacquers (and these days that's never certain), he really tried hard to preserve dynamics. The sides are literally cut right to the paper labels. I've never seen cuts going this far in! Anyone with a changer isn't going to hear it all, you can be sure.

Not sure where this 180g was pressed but the copy I bought was very good: quiet and physically fine.

If you're a fan, don't miss this. If you've unfamiliar, start here! Search this site for reviews of previous Escovedo releases.

Music Direct Buy It Now

COMMENTS
Fsonicsmith's picture

Great review. I am a long-time fan of Alejandro, having all of his stuff (including the great tribute album, Por Vida, which unfortunately is not available on vinyl) and having seen him live several times. At first, I did not know what to make of Big Station but with each playing I have liked it more-the way of most great albums. I appreciate your mention of Chuck Prophet-when Alejandro was recently interviewed by David Dye of NPR fame, Alejandro dropped the name "Chuck" several times and not once did Dye clarify who he was referring to. You can hear much of Chuck Prophet's influence on Big Station-those handclaps and "Oh-yeahs" you mention on "Man of the World" are classic Chuck Prophet things (Chuck Prophecies?). "Sally Was a Cop" is definitely the stand out here. For those not familiar with Alejandro, "Man Under the Influence" is the one record to get (available on great-sounding vinyl!!!). For fellow Chuck Prophet fans (one of the few songwriters I hold in higher esteem than Alejandro), his new album "Temple Beautiful" is quite solid and also available on vinyl.

Michael Fremer's picture

For such a thoughtful comment!

Kirby's picture

Just picked up a copy of this lp on your recommendation. Having never heard of Alejandro Escovedo before and after reading your glowing review, I thought I would take a shot. Boy I'm glade I did! Great music! I just ordered "Man under the Influence" as suggested by Fsonicsmith and the live album " More Mile than Money: Live 19" If these are just as good as "Big Station" he will just have earned a new fan. Thanks again for introducing me to new music, it's what will keep me coming back to your site for years to come. Kirby ( Canada)

Michael Fremer's picture

Thanks for taking that chance!

Fsonicsmith's picture

Kirby; glad to have been of some help. I do hope you love "Man Under the Influence" and if you do, be aware that "Real Animal" is also very good and also available on vinyl. Both have better than average packaging and sound quality. As I see it, Al (as his friends call him) went through two distinct styles in the last fifteen years. With "Thirteen Years" and "Gravity", his style involved heavy back-up by a full orchestra and the overall feel is mostly dark and somber. With "MUtI""and "RA", he rocked out quite a bit more, though Alejandro always mixes things up. I didn't particularly care for "Street Songs of Love", his last release before "Big Station". It is very straightforward, generally upbeat, but somehow hollow. Of course, just my opinion and nothing more.

Ountrumpas's picture

Well that was great, I think that the next album would be successful.

Sara J. Marquez
Tarlow Design

Wheeplibut's picture

Your new album is just fantastic. I really enjoyed your music, especially Always A Friend. Very well done!

Kim S. Dumas

Tarlow Design Reviews

Asse1954's picture

Alejandro Escovedo is the king in this neo Glam album. It seems he already turned the page from the bleak decade he experienced with the infamous hapatitis episode. All the songs are brilliant here. I would rate as his best ever.

Richard J. Poole

Tarlow Design

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