ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO
A Man Under The Influence (Bloodshot)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Oh the heartbreak. Though it's been hashed out in song thousand times before, it still gets the job done when presented with the right aplomb. Alejandro Escovedo is no stranger to the genre, but he's never made such a defining song cycle as this. A little rootsier than previous records, A Man Under the Influence digs deep in Texan dust, closer to the Mexican border than the town Escovedo calls home, Austin. Edging dangerously close to Los Lobos territory, Escovedo steers the songs on his own path with some wonderful cello and pedal steel work, instilling a definite countrified feel. Escovedo can still kick up a fuss, as he proves on the romping "Castanets", but it is no longer a well kept secret that he is indeed a master song writer.

© 2001 - John Sekerka