Alejandro Escovedo – Street Songs Of Love (Concord)
Produced by Tony Visconti and mixed by Bob Clearmountain, who between them have overseen records by Bowie, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Marc Bolan. Clearmountain also played bass on the first Dead Boys album, Young Loud and Snotty (stick that in your pipe, fact fans). So, no lack of quality behind the desk, what about on the other side of the glass? Guest vocalists include Ian Hunter and Bruce Springsteen and Chuck Prophet rocks up to co-write some songs. All in all, not too shoddy.

Of course, the irony is that Alejandro Escovedo is one of the most consistently brilliant recording artists on the planet, and has no genuine need for big-name assistance to make great music. Over a 30-year career (1980’s self-titled Nuns album was his first long player) he’s never released a bad record, and he’s not about to start now. Street Songs Of Love does everything an Escovedo album should – for a start, an abundance of great songs. Opening cut, “Anchor” gets things going at a resounding pace, “Down In The Bowery” features a powerful vocal from Hunter and “Tula” is beautifully gothic. “Faith”, a duet with Springsteen, brings proceedings to a near conclusion. It’s an effervescent garage rocker, and may well be the record’s highlight.
www.myspace.com/alejandroescovedo
Simon M.

ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO – ANCHOR
(11/10/09 Sessions On South Congress) 

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