My recommendations 2006:The Boxing Mirror by Alejandro Escovedo

Alejandro Escovedo: The Boxing Mirror
Back Porch 5/2/2006

Few musicians (outside of gangsta rap) could benefit more from a witness relocation-type program than Alejandro Escovedo. Almost every review of The Boxing Mirror makes a point of reminding the reader that Escovedo's niece is a famous percussionist that once collaborated with Prince, as if our impressions of this record should be affected by this knowledge. Not to knock Escovedo's family, but at the very least he deserves to be evaluated on his own merits. Luckily for him, his merits are plentiful. Escovedo is a gifted songwriter in the Americana/country/blues rock tradition. If he should be compared to anyone, it should be Jeff Tweedy or Howe Gelb. Actually, to be more accurate, they should be compared to him.