Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 05/01/2007
Live from Austin TX, part of a series of CD and DVD releases from the
Austin City Limits archive, features former
Blasters songwriter and guitarist
Dave Alvin recorded on January 29, 1999. On these 13 tracks,
Alvin and his awesome backup band,
the Guilty Men, tackle three songs from his then-current album,
Blackjack David --
"Mary Brown," "Abilene," and the title cut -- along with a few tunes from the 1994 release
King of California and, of course, fan favorites
"Border Radio" and
"Marie Marie," which were initially recorded with
the Blasters. The highlight of the set is another
Alvin-penned
Blasters track,
"Jubilee Train," which is transformed here into a medley that incorporates
Woody Guthrie's
"Do-Re-Mi" and
Chuck Berry's
"Promised Land." Alvin masterfully weaves these narratives into an engaging slice of
Americana, thematically reminiscent of
Johnny Cash's concept travelogues such as
Blood, Sweat and Tears. It's inevitable that any time
Dave Alvin covers
Blasters material (all of which he wrote), his vocals will be compared to those of his older brother,
Phil Alvin. Since the younger sibling's range is the polar opposite of his brother's, comparisons -- especially at this point -- are insignificant, as his deep baritone is tailor-made for these tunes. All in all, this is a spirited performance and acts as a companion set to
Alvin's 1996 album,
Interstate City, which was also recorded live.
~Al Campbell, All Music Guide
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