Holy fuck, this is a great album! Now that I've gotten your attention - and possibly offended you - let me clarify my point. Real Animal is one of Alejandro Escovedo's best albums, which is to say, this is a fucking great record.
And now that I've proven myself to be both profane and inarticulate, let me further note that Escovedo has never before put together a package that blends his entire musical history so seamlessly, and he acknowledges his past without ever leaning too heavily on it. This is a tribute to his former bands and former cities, but in that way it also serves as a love letter to Rock and Roll in general. It doesn't matter that Escovedo actually lived these adventures. If he hadn't, he'd need to make them up. Real Animal is the Great American Rock and Roll Manifesto, delivered by an artist at the absolute peak of his powers. It manages to be both romantic and clear-eyed about the past. What's more American than that?
Escovedo has made many terrific albums. Some might argue he's made nothing but. Following his bout with Hepatitis C, he emerged with 2006's deeply introspective and mostly brilliant The Boxing Mirror. Produced by John Cale, it was a deep dive into his recent history, full of minor-chord reflections on mortality and struggle. It also took full advantage of Escovedo's pioneering "chamber rock," which incorporates cellos and violins alongside guitars and drums. The Boxing Mirror was a gorgeous revitalization of Escovedo's artistry, but it sounded mostly like what you'd expect - mature and bittersweet. But Real Animal is a celebration, sometimes a racous and debauched throwdown but also balanced by many quieter moments. Some might even complain that the juxtaposition can be jarring, but Escovedo leaves no doubt that he is the master of every style he lays his guitar pick on. The disparate elements might crumble in lesser hands, but they positively shine from every angle in his.
Special kudos should also be give to cool cat Chuck Prophet, who has made several great records of his own (including last year's Soap and Water). Prophet co-wrote every song on Real Animal and was obviously a productive partner for Escovedo. Producer Tony Visconti, hand-picked for his history with Bowie and T. Rex, puts a glorious, sparkling sheen on the proceedings while retaining the spontaneous spirit of the songs.
Back in April, I saw Escovedo join Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band onstage for a version of Real Animal's opening track "Always A Friend." What was striking was how comfortable that song sounded in an arena with 16,000 people. Escovedo might not be as popular as The Boss - not even by a long shot - but he is every bit the Rock Star that Springsteen is. Even from the cheap seats, that was pretty obvious.
(Here's a great article from JamBase that traces the threads of Real Animal and Escovedo's musical biography.)
