TK #47: Alejandro Escovedo – A Man Under the Influence (2001)
Escovedo emerges from his gritty cowpunk roots and achieves pure grace on this set, where his sharp eye and commanding voice conspire to push beyond any artificial constraints imposed by the alt.country label. “As I Fall” should’ve been a hit, and “Velvet Guitar” is a classic, no matter how many folks never heard it.