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VARIOUS ARTISTS
Por Vida: Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo
(Or. Music)
Reviewed by Jeremy Barker
Alejandro Escovedo is a living, breathing musical phenomenon. His career spans from opening for Sex Pistols at their last show to being named "Artist of the Decade" by the seminal No Depression magazine, less than halfway through the decade. Escovedo faced complications with Hepatitis C and cirrhosis in April, 2003. Amid the myriad of health problems, he also faced rising debt due to a lack of any health insurance.
But being a legend is far from thankless. Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo was released to great fanfare and anticipation. The list of bands and artists covering Escovedo's songs reads like a who's who of alt. country superstars: Lucinda Williams, Cowboy Junkies, Calexico, Jayhawks, Son Volt, The Minus 5, and John Cale, among many others, including Javier Escovedo, his brother, as well as The Dragons, brother Mario Escovedo's band. "Pyramid of Tears," reinterpreted by Lucinda Williams, starts off the first disc of covers. Slow and gravelly, and a little slurred, it's a perfect starting point. "Wave," done by Calexico, is another highlight on disc one. Mournful accordion as well as restrained drums and guitar add to the overall sadness of the song. John Cale's sparse arrangement of "She Doesn't Live Here Anymore" sounds like Jim Morrison channeled through a dollar store drum machine. Los Lonely Boys also show up, however add little to the song "Castanets." The Section Quartet takes "Crooked Frame" and makes it a lilting piece of chamber music.
On the second disc, The Jayhawks use swells of guitar and psychedelic vocals to warp "Last To Know" into a delicate mixture of influences. A newly rejuvenated Son Volt makes an appearance with the song "Sometimes." M. Ward, Vic Chesnutt, and Howe Gelb show up together to cover "Way It Goes." Ward's gentle guitar picking and weary croon carry the song on its own without the help of anyone else. While it's great that everyone wanted to help, I think this would've been far better stripped down to just Ward. I wouldn't mind a Vic Chesnutt solo song on here as well. The song is good, I just feel a little cheated. Caitlin Cary, formerly of Whiskeytown, also shows up to do "By Eleven," which is pleasantly surprising in its simplicity. The Minus 5, featuring Peter Buck of R.E.M., churn out "I Was Drunk." Not overtly country, this song is perhaps one of the best reinterpreted pieces on the album. Alejandro shows up himself at the end of disc two. The song "Break This Time" was recorded shortly before his health problems began. While not his best song, it's a nice gesture to his fans. Who wants an Alejandro record, even a tribute album, without Alejandro himself somewhere on it? While alt. country superstars cover him, there's only one Alejandro, and this song is a nice place for the average fan of one of the many bands on this album to get an introduction to the man himself.
The album itself is an incredibly gesture to the legacy of Escovedo. Not only will he get new fans due to the participation of great bands, but possibly he'll be able to recoup his health, without having to pay for it for the rest of his life.
© 2004 - Jeremy Barker