Customer Reviews

Gravity

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't know for the States, but Alejandro Escovedo is unknown in Europe (at least in France), except by special music lovers of course. I discovered him last year only myself, with his beautiful album "A Man Under The Influence". I'm so lucky to have found out this "Gravity" re-issue, along with the "Thirteen Years" one, both are nothing but splendid! Satisfying at any level: the quality of the sound, the beauty of the booklet, of the cover art, and especially of the music! "Gravity" is a masterpiece. As lyrical as the best of Pink Floyd (from "Dark Side" and "The Wall"), as beautiful and pure as the best of the Velvet Underground or Lou Reed (think of the violins of "Street Hassle"), with sometimes rocks as good as the Rolling Stones ones. What could I say more?? The voice of Alejandro is raw and moving. His music is simple and inspired. His subjects are experienced from life. "We fell in love and it's never funny" he sings in "Last To Know".
Bonus CD: eight live songs from the same album, recorded in Santa Monica in 1993, plus a cover of Ian Hunter's "I Wish I Was Your Mother". The customer is happy! :o)

This earlier solo project is nothing short of incredible. Heartfelt lyrics with great acoustic instrumentation. "Gravity"was follwed by "Thirteen Years" (...), an absolutemasterpiece - talk about singing from the soul.

I keep 4 or 5 disks close to me almost at all times, ones I can listen to any time and they always do something important for me (important *to* me).

_Gravity_ is one of them; as vital to me as _Who's Next_ or _Highway 61 Revisited_, this is an outstanding effort by one of the greatest songwriters going.

Alejandro Escovedo is one of the best of a group of talented singer/songwriters from Austin, TX. Along with Joe Ely and Stephen Bruton (who produced and played on Gravity), Escovedo writes and sings some of the most thoughtful and inpsired music anywhere. Gravity's main strengths lie in words and music that when combined, put the listener in the same mood you imagine he must have been in when the song was penned. It's a rare gift that many songwriters try for but miss the mark on most occasions. Another plus on Gravity is Bruton's stellar playing and producing. Bruton is among the best guitar players anywhere, and Gravity shows off his feel for this music. Alejandro Escovedo is a rare gem, and deserves a much larger following than he currently has. I highly recommend this album.

This album is incredible! The quote above is from one of his songs but can just as well pertain to him. Buy this record and enjoy and hopefully his live show will be coming to a town near you!

I can tell that I'm going to be in the vast minority on this. I saw this artist several weeks ago on Austin City Limits & I was blown away, I mean, I was impressed. I was so impressed that I immediately went on line & bought this. Gravity never did enter the charts nor did any singles, I haven't found any evidence of singles but I could be wrong.

What I saw on the PBS network made me wonder why I haven't heard of this guy. Here he was on TV with a band that could play almost anything. What impressed me the most was the violinist & two celloists (that doesn't appera to be a word); and they ROCKED! I thought I had discovered something similar to Electric Light Orchestra. Of course I realize that this was his first album & that he's come a long way since this release. But I wanted to hear this first album, sometimes it's the best album an artist had ever put out. I realize the man has been on the fringes of music for many years, paying his dues like few others have. I can tell all these albums were independently produced, probably on a shoe string budget & out of his own pocket, or friends that really believe in him.

What I found on this album is a roots rocker & what could be called Americana, it borders sometimes on country. The song that impressed me the most was "Pyramid of Tears". I really, REALLY wanted to like this album. No, he's not a great singer, no, he doesn't have the greatest stage presence; but from some of the things I have since read about him, he seems to have a lot of respect in the business. I would love to tell you that this is the greatest album I've heard in years but, alas, it isn't. I'm not sure who I can even compare him to; he runs the gamut of music on the mellow end of things. Perhaps I should get one of his later live albums because he really impressed me in his live performance.