Rating: NNNN
Although it’s interesting to hear what happens when artists unfamiliar with the songs they’re covering take that first crack, the more rewarding interpretations often come from contemporaries who’ve lived with the music. While the tribute album to benefit ailing Austin singer/songwriter Alejandro Escovedo getting most of the media attention this week is the celebrity-stacked Por Vida (Or Music) two-disc set, which boasts covers by John Cale, Steve Earle, Ian Hunter, Cowboy Junkies, the Jayhawks, Son Volt, Lucinda Williams and others, there’s another Escovedo benefit disc worth checking. Coming out of Vancouver, Alejandro 101 features contributors like Harold Nix, Linda McRae, Dallas & Travis Good and the late, great Ray Condo, who clearly have a strong connection with Escovedo’s songs. Let’s hope he keeps writing them for years to come. www.alejandrofund.com
