Eleven Eleven

Dave Alvin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 21, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Yep Roc Records
• ASIN: B004PZI9X6
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,414 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Dave Alvin turns it up. The intensity, the focus, the volume. On Alvin's new album Eleven Eleven, the man who many credit with pioneering what has come to be known as 'roots rock,' revisits the burning, guitar-centered blues rock that initially defined his career along with his band The Blasters in the late 1970s. After The Blasters, Alvin explored the path of American folk music, a road that led to classic albums and Grammy wins (for his album Public Domain: Songs from the Wild Land), establishing him as one of America's most distinguished songwriters and California's de facto roots music ambassador. Fast forward to Eleven Eleven and Dave is ready to raise the stakes again, calling on some Blasters including his brother Phil, with whom he duets for the first time ever on record. The inaugurals continue with Dave writing all the songs while on the road touring, a first for the seasoned performer. The new method clearly sparked new ideas for Alvin, with the blistering guitar runs and Bo Diddley beat of ''Run Conejo Run'' sidling up alongside the gentle finger-picking of the tremolo-soaked ''No Worries Mija.'' Eleven Eleven also features ''Harlan County Line,'' the song featured, along with an Alvin cameo as himself, in FX original series Justified and Alvin's highest and fastest-selling digital single ever.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Dave Alvin Writes A Great Album While Touring In 2010!" June 21, 2011

By M. Mariba TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

It's 2011, 11 tracks & 11th album for the legendary 'roots' rock pioneer Dave Alvin. This great CD 'Eleven Eleven' was written during his 2010 touring 'down time'. It's a well balanced rock album (mainly bluesy rock tracks, countryish track in "Manzanita" & jazzy in "Two Lucky Bums"). Dave Alvin has services of musicians from the Blasters including his brother Phil Alvin (duet for the first time on record in "What's Up With Your Brother") in this CD. His varied baritone-velvety voice is as enjoyable as ever. Stands-outs/gems/solid tracks include "Black Rose Of Texas" (an incredible slow track with magnificent guitar, melody & his enjoyable baritone voice somewhere between those of Greg Brown & Mark Knopfler), "No Worries Mija" (wonderful slow track, beautiful guitar finger pick-ups, accordion & melody), "Manzanita" (excellent countryish guitar sound, melody & vocals. A wonderful duet featuring Christy McWilson on vocals & piano) & "Two Lucky Bums" (jazzy track with incredible harmonies, melody & accordion. A duet featuring Chris Gaffney on vocals & accordion). Great tracks include "Harlan County Line" (bluesy rock track featured in TV series FX in which Dave Alvin also had a cameo role), "Johnny Ace Is Dead", "Run Conejo Run" (mid-tempo track, 'some rapping' vocals, great guitar solo & melody), "What's Up With Your Brother" (bluesy rock track, great guitar/harmonica & duet with his brother Phil) & "Dirty Nightgown" (a rock track with great vocals & melody). Okay tracks are "Gary, Indiana 1952" & "Murrietta's Head". The purchase of this CD entitles you to Free bonus material not included on the album to download. On overall, Dave Alvin does not disappoint in his 11th CD release 'Eleven Eleven', a highly recommended CD listening.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars One of his best! June 23, 2011

By RF

Format:Audio CD

I bought Eleven Eleven just before seeing Dave live in a small club in Northampton, MA. I knew it would be cheaper at Amazon, but I had to have it then. It's his best CD since King of California. But none of his recordings match his live performances and lately he's better than ever, with his strongest band yet. Rolling Stone just called him "one of the great unrecognized guitar heros". So true! Buy his music and go to his shows!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Unfortunately, It Doesn't Wear Well... March 27, 2012

By Troy M. Meier

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

Well, as this recording was ramping up toward its release date I was extremely excited to be among its first listeners. I love Dave Alvin and have long admired him all the way back to 1980 when I first discovered the Blasters. It seems like I grew up with him as we're from the same area in SoCal and I've watched him go from from blistering sideman to a pensive, impassioned singer-songwriter and back again (with his work with the Knitters. I've seen him too many times to count and I count him among the best songwriters working today.

Having said that, I bought "11" on its release date and it's been in my shuffle rotation ever since. I gotta say, next to much of his other work, it just doesn't seem to hold up comparatively. Trust me, as a huge fan, I WANT to like it.

For example, on Run Conejo Run, the overt drama in the lyric seems forced to me, almost like a screenwriter on a perilous deadline for a straight-to-dvd B-movie. And Dave has no reason to shy shy away from his singing voice. It's good. It's rough. It's proven. Instead, on much of the record, the listener is forced to suffer a rather dull narrative of half-spoken, half-sung lyrics that left me wanting for more of his great melodies and hooks. And I'm not onboard with the bent towards straight-up blues on this collection of songs. No doubt, he can play the heck out of the blues. I dig it, but it just doesn't translate well on this album. It feels lost.

There are some exceptions, such as "Black Rose of Texas" where he's back in rare form as the singer-songwriter I've come to relish. In fact, I think it's one of the best he's ever penned. Danny Ott's slide guitar is soulful and evokes real emotion. The lyric is truly melancholy and sweet which is when Dave does his best storytelling.

While I'm far from giving up on Dave Alvin because of this record, I'd recommend sampling the album track by track and picking out the few gems on it.