Street Songs Of Love
Fantasy Records / Concord Music Group

By: Scott Butler

Alejandro Escovedo is back with his tenth solo effort to date, “Street Songs Of Love”. This is his second writing collaboration with Chuck Prophet (Green on Red) the first being 2008’s musical trip down memory lane,  “Real Animal”, which loosely outlined Escovedo’s recording career dating back to his punk beginnings with The Nuns in San Francisco through his other groundbreaking acts from the eighties like Rank and File with the Kinman brothers and True Believers with Jon Dee Graham and his brother Javier.

This collection finds Escovedo taking a step back from his usual lush orchestral creations for a more stripped down straight ahead rock and roll record, much in the same tradition of some of The Rolling Stones best work. The way that Alejandro is able to straddle so many different genres of music and mix them into his own brew of musical nirvana is what makes him the special and unique artist he is and it is what has won him one of the largest cult followings in music today.

Back for a second go around with Escovedo is legendary producer Tony Visconti whose work with seminal glam rock acts David Bowie and  T. Rex are a natural fit.

He is backed on this set by The Sensitive Boys, which is comprised of two longtime members of Alejandro’s entourage, David Pulkingham on guitar and Al’s drummer of 23 years, Hector Munoz. The new man in the mix is bassist Bobby Daniel.  Escovedo has also added a new twist, by recruiting a pair of backup singers, Karla Manzur and Nakia Reynoso for several songs. The simple addition of these voices on tracks like “Anchor” and “Silver Cloud” add an amazing new dimension not heard before in Escovedo’s music.

“Street Songs” is another slight departure with a funky propulsive bass line that moves it along.  “Down In The Bowery” is a beautiful duet with Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) about Alejandro’s teenage son Paris finding his way in a business that his father knows all too well.

“Tula”, is about and dedicated to friend and renowned writer Larry Brown from Oxford Mississippi, who passed away in 2004. Bruce Springsteen lends his shouts to the rocker “Faith”, which quite simply lays out what everyone must have, not only to survive in the music biz, but in life too.

The album closes with the tender instrumental, “Fort Worth Blue”, in memory of Escovedo’s close friend and producer of his first three solo efforts, Turner Stephen Bruton who hailed from that Texas town.

While some fans might miss the violin and cello presence, there is no doubt whatsoever that Al and the Sensitive Boys have come to rock on this record, and rock it does.

For the music fan that likes a variety of styles all on one record, this quality set is for you. Check it out.