On "Real Animal," Alejandro Escovedo blasts through memories of a lifetime in rock 'n' roll.
The album's a musical yearbook of sorts. Escovedo hears the echoes of his former bands — The Nuns, Rank and File, The True Believers and Buick MacKane. He also communes with the spirits of old friends and colleagues who've departed — Jeffrey Lee Pierce of The Gun Club, Sid Vicious, Nancy Spungeon...
Tony Visconti, a producer for David Bowie and T. Rex, helped Escovedo channel the memories of his musical heroes, including Mott the Hoople, whose imprint is all over the album. Chuck Prophet, who cowrote the songs and leant his guitar, added both grit and grease.
In short, the album rocks. I love hearing Escovedo's poignant ballads — there are a few here, notably the gorgeous "Sensitive Boys — but he's best when he finds a frenzied groove and rides it to the end of a song.
Give "Real Animal" a listen and let Escovedo guide you down your own path of rock 'n' roll memories.
