Alejandro Escovedo

Street Songs of Love

(Fantasy)

Record Review by Adam McKibbin

59-year-old Alejandro Escovedo has been through a number of significant and distinct career phases, starting out as a punk pioneer with The Nuns, then securing the sort of roots-rock bona fides that led No Depression to name him their artist of the ‘90s, and finally – after a serious health scare – comfortably settling into a role as a Springsteen-ish rock godfather who never got the credit he was due but also never let it knock him off course.  He still has his youthful spirit, and Street Songs of Love lives up to its name by tossing around the l-word lots and lots.  “I’ve always loved your love!” he sings at the kickoff point of the album (and this is a guy who knows how to start an album with a bang – in this case, it’s “Anchor,” easily one of the catchiest tracks in the collection).

It would be overstating things to say that Escovedo has become a polarizing figure, but despite the fact that he’s about as straight-shooting and accessible as a vintage rock-and-roller could be, there are some who begrudge him for not discarding the formulas and adding some contemporary flavors to his hot dish.  While it’s true that Street Songs of Love suffers from some hiccups in momentum, there is seldom any doubt that Escovedo is making the style of songs that suits him best.  When Springsteen shows up to holler alongside Escovedo about love and faith (on the aptly titled “Faith”), it fits like a comfortable pair of jeans.  I know it’s only rock and roll, but I like it.