Hi friends,
Let It Go came out in April 2008, yet after almost two years, it continues to get good reviews. This one is from the UK from Zeitgeist/Stuart Hamilton. Zeitgeist is a great music review sight describing itself as an "idiosyncratic collection of music news and reviews", to which I very much agree. (
http://www.the-rocker.co.uk/)
Mr. Hamilton reviewed my previous album
The Howl Sessions to which he says in this new CD review that he "drooled rather unbecomingly over that one". Any music journalist willing to say something like that has my unwavering respect. I offer a tissue along with my humble thanks for that beautifully written and enthusiastic musical evaluation. I also send my thanks for reviewing
Let It Go and offering his influential stamp of approval.
The Howl Sessions is definitely the album that sort of put me on the map (I'm still obscure) and it garnered an enormous amount of positive press. I still love that album and all of those reviews are still posted here on my sight.
Let It Go has also done extremely well and is still going strong. While both albums sold well,
Let It Go surpassed
The Howl Sessions total sales after about three months of its release and is still selling (mostly through downloads at iTunes). The new review from Zeitgeist is below as well as the original review of
The Howl Sessions.
Enjoy,
Steven
STEVEN ALVARADO
Let It Go
Mott St Records
It's been a while since Mr Alvarado and I crossed path. In fact, it was way back in 2005 when I got more than a wee bit excited about his "The Howl Sessions" release. I drooled rather unbecomingly over that one.
This record sees him creating his "record about heartbreak", which is always fertile ground for a singer / songwriter. Of course, it can also get self-indulgent and narcissistic but that's, thankfully, not the case here.
There are some really delightful tunes here with 'Nobody Knows' bringing back some very unhappy memories. Git. However, he does get a bit more chipper on 'New York', one of the few outward looking moments on offer. He's also put together another top-notch band for this album with Marc Ribot, Kenny Wollesen, Rob Burger and Joe Quigley having served time with the likes of T-Bone Burnett, Norah Jones. Beth Orton and Lisa Loeb, amongst others.
If you only listen to one song before making your mind up, then take a listen to 'Blue'. That should make your decision very easy indeed.
-Stuart Hamilton/Zeitgeist
REVIEW: Steven Alvarado
The Howl Sessions (Mott Street)
Solo album 3, in a recording career going back to 1991 isn’t a frenetic release schedule, but it’s worth waiting for something this good.
His vocal style alone would make this worthwhile, even if he was singing the equivalent of the telephone directory, for his warm, lived in voice, is a treat. However, he knows how to write a memorable tune as well. Amongst the many highlights here are the tragic “Morphillia (A Girl I Knew)” and “Wish You Were Here (Postcards From Hell)”, which show a depth of lyricism rarely heard these days. How can you go wrong with an opening stanza of;
You told me I’m going to Hell
I’m finally here and doing swell
I’ll send you a card ‘wish you were here’
‘umm humm, down here
He is well respected enough to be able to call on some well connected players to help bring his vision to life, with Rob Burger (Rufus Wainwright, Norah Jones) on organ, Joe Quigley, (Shawn Colvin, Lisa Loeb) on bass, Mike Presta, (Counting Crows, Melissa Etheridge) on drums and Richard Barone, (Lou Reed, Patti Smith) on bongo's, amongst others.
But it’s to his credit that his songs and voice rise above the backing to make a righteous claim for respect in his own right. A truly excellent release.
-Zeitgeist (LONDON)
