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Title: A Man Under The Influence


Read this review and discuss it at CultureDose.com!

Title: A Man Under The Influence
By: Escovedo, Alejandro
Released by: Bloodshot Records
Released on: April 24, 2001
Rating (out of 10): 10
Date: 06/27/2001

Alejandro Escovedo Reaches His Full Potential

The path from punk to country is often shorter than one might think. Members of Wilco, Whiskeytown, and other country bands got their start in punk groups. Perhaps no country artist has more punk rock credibility than Alejandro Escovedo; in the 1970s, Escovedo’s band, The Nuns, opened for the final Sex Pistols gig. If you trace that arc the nearly twenty-five years to the present you get a superb songwriter who has gone through nearly constant evolution and has emerged as one of the best talents of his generation. No Depression magazine named him the artist of the decade for the nineties.
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You never know what you are going to get at an Alejandro Escovedo live show. He might pull out all the stops and rock hard. He might bring his orchestra and give you a chilling symphonic experience. Most likely it will be some combination of the two, a combination he provides on his most recent disc, A Man Under The Influence.

It is often said that one is judged by the company one keeps. If this is so, then Escovedo rates highly, surrounding himself with some of the best musicians in the business on his new album. Country music (and all the sub-genres of that genre) is, almost by definition, an incestuous mix. Guest appearances galore seem to be the rule, and that's the case here. Chris Stamey of the Db’s produces the album and plays various instruments. Mitch Easter appears on several tracks, and Ryan Adams of Whiskeytown lends vocal support on a couple of songs. Eric Heywood of Son Volt plays on just about every track, and members of Superchunk, Squirrel Nut Zippers, and The Backsliders pop in for the fun.

With all these guest stars, it would be easy for Escovedo to get lost in the mix. It doesn’t happen though; he’s front and center to create an album of such depth that it is my early contender for album of the year.

Two things stand out as I listen to this album. One is Alejandro’s voice, rich and resonant, with a bit of a hard edge. All it takes is one listen, and you’ll forever be able to place his voice. The other is the cello playing of Brian Standefer. The addition of strings to the recording gives it a much deeper feel; it makes Escovedo’s voice seem even richer, and I get chills every time I listen to it.

This feeling is best expressed on “As I Fall.” The cello weaves in and out of Escovedo’s vocal delivery, and the track proceeds at a languid pace. The cello and Escovedo’s guitar push the tune along at the end of every verse.

A Man Under The Influence is not only an early contender for my Album of the Year consideration, it also has my favorite song of the year so far as well. “Velvet Guitar" rocks more than most of the tracks on the album, with a swirl of five electric guitars (Escovedo, Eric Heywood, Joe Eddy Hines, Mitch Easter, and Chris Stamey). Escovedo’s voice is on top of it all, singing about his guitar:
My hands are turning numb
But still I gotta strum
My velvet guitar
And I don’t care how long
Might write a sad one
But who’s gonna sing them this time
“Castanets” is another rocking track, one that I heard almost a year ago on the excellent Oxford American magazine’s annual Southern Music Sampler. The song grooves along, and one gets the impression that Escovedo isn’t even really trying; he can just throw gems like this out in his sleep.

As enjoyable as the rocking numbers are, the total strength of the album is in the cohesiveness of the slower numbers. They tend to be more a storytelling avenue than the rockers, and they show off Escovedo’s talents—not just as a songwriter, but as a lyricist as well. Songs like “Follow You Down” and “Wedding Day” are stunning in every way.

It’s a pity, but not a surprise, that Escovedo isn’t better known. With A Man Under The Influence he has unleashed a masterpiece. Let’s hope it doesn’t fall on deaf ears.


© Copyright CultureDose.com 06/27/2001

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 • Look for A Man Under The Influence on eBay!
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 • Look for Bloodshot Records on eBay!

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 • Buy this from Amazon for $14.49 (CD)
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