Steven Alvarado: Press

 

 

On his third album, Let It Go, New York City singer-songwriter Steven Alvarado plumbs the emotional depths to come up with perhaps his most intimate, affecting offering yet. If there's one thing Alvarado seems to have learned over the years, it's the value of concision — Let It Go's ten songs take up less than half an hour. Quality trumps quantity, though, as Alvarado employs his rough-edged, emotive voice on a batch of tunes that dig way down into the dark underbelly of human emotions. The truths he comes up with aren't always pretty, but the sounds with which he frames them are consistently compelling. With a sort of post-Elvis Costello power-pop/folk-rock songwriting aesthetic, he offers indelible melodies to match every emotional sucker punch here. And while much of the album features little beyond Alvarado's own acoustic guitar and incisive singing to put the song across, when he does add other colors, he doesn't mess around: accompanists include Tom Waits' guitar genius Marc Ribot and quirky, inventive drummer-to-the-stars Kenny Wolleson.

 

-By Jim Allen, LimeWire Store

Steven Alvarado’s “Let It Go” is his fifth album. On Mott St. Records, it has a crack team of players on it and it’s quite latterday Springsteen although I’d have to say that the songs are better. Maybe it’s closer to Greg Trooper now that I think about it a little more. I don’t see this so much as Americana, it’s more electricity-fused acoustic. Not really pop but courting certain elements of that. Essentially these are stories set in very able arrangements that deserve to be heard. But where? As the planet continues to disappear up its own hind-end, there are less and less places to connect with good, honest music like this. Check it out in the confines of wherever you may be accessing this via the wonders of not-so modern technology.


-Lindsay Hutton

Steven Alvarado - Let It Go (Mott Street)

Met ‘The Howl Sessions’ raakte Alvarado drie jaar geleden uit de obscuriteit. De singer-songwriter die opgroeide in Los Angeles was in 2001 via Nashville in New York City beland en had voordien in eigen beheer al twee langspelers uitgebracht. ‘Let It Go’ is een wat somber klinkend werkstuk waarin Alvarado zijn zielenroerselen blootlegt met rauwe klagelijke zang.

Dat gebeurt meestal op een rustige manier, met uitzondering van de forse opener waarin percussief akoestisch snarenwerk van Alvarado het gezelschap krijgt van de rinkelende elektrische gitaar van Marc Ribot, bekend van zijn werk met Elvis Costello en Tom Waits. Naast een percussionist uit het entourage van Tom Waits is er een ritmesectie met connecties bij Rufus Wainwright, Rickie Lee Jones en Shaw Colvin. Pianist Rob Burger kennen we van zijn recente samenwerking met Lucinda Williams. Deze gereputeerde muzikanten vervullen hun werk meer dan voortreffelijk en het puike songwerk krijgt nog meer glans met subtiele accenten. In het treurige New York herinnert de stem van Alvarado enigszins aan de rasp van Waits, maar dan in een soort light versie, evenals bij ’It’s Allright’, dat op sloom twangend snarenwerk drijft en waarin Steven terugblikt naar zijn verblijf in Nashville. Het vroegere werk heb ik even fragmentarisch beluisterd op het net. Niet onverdienstelijk, vooral ‘The Howling Sessions’. De tien nummers van ‘Let It Go’ klinken ongetwijfeld stuk voor stuk meer beklijvend. Ongetwijfeld het beste dat we tot dusver van deze getalenteerde songwriter gehoord hebben.

-Cis Van Looy, Keys & Chords Magazine

Google Translate:

With The Howl Sessions Alvarado was three years ago from the obscurity.

The singer-songwriter who grew up in Los Angeles in 2001 by Nashville in New York City and brings in his own administration had previously been given two long-players. Let It Go is a rather gloomy sounding piece which Alvarado his soul stirring principles exposed complainant to establish a raw vocals.

This is usually done in a peaceful way, with the exception of the strong opener which percussief acoustic strings work of Alvarado the company receives from the tinkling electric guitar of Marc Ribot, known for his work with Elvis Costello and Tom Waits. In addition to a percussionist from the entourage of Tom Waits is a rhythm section with links to Rufus Wainwright, Rickie Lee Jones and Shaw Colvin. Pianist Rob Burger, we know of his recent collaboration with Lucinda Williams. This renowned musicians perform their work more than excellent song and a very fine piece of work gets even more shine with subtle accents. In New York, the sad voice of Alvarado slightly to the rasp of Waits, but in a kind of light version, as in 'It's Allright ", which slow Twan ing strings work drives and Steven looks back to his residence in Nashville. The former work, I just listened to patchy on the net. Not full service, especially 'The Howling Sessions. The ten songs of "Let It Go 'sound certainly all more persistent. Undoubtedly the best we have so far heard this talented songwriter.

-Cis Van Looy, Keys & Chords Magazine

Steven Alvarado – Let It Go
Ook Steven Alvarado heeft op Let It Go een paar prima gasten, waar Marc Ribot de opvallendste van is. Ribot voegt met zijn electrische gitaar op elke plaat waar hij op meespeelt iets toe, hij zet de boel op scherp, zorgt voor het ruwe randje en zorgt ervoor dat de andere muzikanten wakker blijven. Zo ook hier. De tien zelfgeschreven nummers zijn vrijwel allemaal droevige liefdesliedjes, al worden ze soms in een swingende rockversie gebracht. De cd is alleen wat aan de korte kant - een krap half uurtje.

-Moors Magazine

Steven Alvarado “Let it Go”
Singer songwriter Steven Alvarado is een artiest die onder gebracht is bij Hemifran records, en is een mix van rock, blues, folk qua muziek.

De man zet prachtige songs neer, die doen denken aan Springsteen, JJ Cale, roots-blues, en meer van dit soort dingen. De tracks zijn erg gevarieerd naar mijn menig, en de man speelt prima gitaar en zingt erg prettig, en de songs hebben een lekkere sfeer.
Ook de meerstemmige dingen mogen er wezen. Als je misschien denkt dat dit een saai album is, kan ik je meteen gerust stellen want het ligt erg lekker in het gehoor. Zijn stem is ook elke keer anders. Vele rootsy invloeden, en ook new-orleans klanken zijn de man niet vreemd. Uitstekende begeleiders maken dit album tot een zeer genietbare schijf, die heerlijk wegluisterd.

Mooie voorbeelden zijn It”s allright en Burning bridges. Laat je verassen door alweer zo een mooie release uit de stal die singer-songwriter, maar net zo gemakkelijk ook blues-rootsy en folk invloeden zeer hoog in het vaandel hebben staan, en elke keer weer voor een zeer prettige verassing zorgen op muziek gebied.

-Mayor Tona

Translation
Steven Alvarado "Let it Go"
Singer songwriter Steven Alvarado is an artist who was brought to us from Hemifran records (Netherlands), and is a mix of rock, blues, and folk music.
Alvarado’s beautiful songs are reminiscent of Springsteen, JJ Cale, roots-blues, and more of this sort. The tracks are very diverse in my view and this noble artist plays guitar and sings wonderfully, and the songs have nice ambiance.

The recording is stripped to the essential, but don’t think this album is bleak. I can reassure you that it is worth consideration. Alvarado’s voice is distinctive each time with many roots and New-Orleans influences with a sound out of the ordinary. His excellent choice in musicians, contribute to making this album a very enjoyable disc. It is simply delicious.

Some beautiful morsels include It 's Alright and Burning Bridges. Let yourself be surprised by this album. Alvarado is a hardly-known, nicely-established, singer-songwriter, made of easy-blues, and folk-influenced roots and is of the highest priority for your must-have CD’s. A very pleasant surprise.

-Mayor Tona

After the critically acclaimed The Howl Sessions, Steven Alvarado comes back with a new album titled Let It Go, that features ten tracks where he sings about himself and his personal experiences. Marc Ribot appears as special guest in all tracks.

1 Get This Far
2 It's For You
3 Nobody Knows
4 Burning Bridges
5 New York
6 Blue
7 Gone, Gone, Gone
8 See You Again
9 It's Alright
10 Reasons

Steven Alvarado si è segnalato negl’ultimi anni come un onesto cantautore con buoni numeri che gli hanno permesso di togliersi qualche soddisfazione come nel caso del bel disco inciso nel 2005, The Howl Sessions. Oggi ci riprova, alzando la posta, con Let It Go disco che raccoglie dieci nuovi brani incisi con una band eccellente nella quale spiccano Marc Ribot alla chitarra, Kenny Wollesen alla batteria, Rob Burger al piano e Joe Quigley al basso. Lo stile rispetto al passato ha perso quella riflessività che lo contraddistingueva ma non la capacità di toccare le corde del cuore dell’ascoltatore, il songwriting ora è più maturo e sembra strizzare l’occhio ora a John Mellencamp ora a Springsteen, senza dimenticare il suo nume tutelare Bob Dylan, che fa capolino qua e là durante il disco. Nelle canzoni di Alvarado ritroviamo lo spirito del blue collar, delle polverose strade della provincia americana ma anche un spaccati di vita quotidiana come la difficoltà di vivere un rapporto di coppia e la delusione per un amore finito. All’ascolto il disco sorprende per gli arrangiamenti e per le ottime parti di chitarra di cui si fa carico Marc Ribot e che impreziosiscono non poco ogni singolo brano. Si passa così dal Dylan evocato in Gone, Gone, Gone al Van Morrison di Get This Far fino ma è con brani come It’s For You e Nobody Knows che emerge quel pizzico di originalità che fa di Alvarado una sicura promessa. Godibilissime sono anche la cantautorale See You Again, il country di Burning Bridges e i due rock strada ioli New York e It’s All Right. Chiude il disco quella perla che è la pianistica Reason, un brano intenso ed emozionante che evidenzia tutte le potenzialità del songwriting di Alvarado. Let It Go è senza dubbio una bella sorpresa ma solo il futuro ci dirà qual è il valore reale del suo autore.

-Salvatore Esposito

Google Translation

Steven Alvarado was reported negl'ultimi years as an honest singer with good numbers that enabled him to shed some satisfaction as with the beautiful disc recorded in 2005, The Howl Sessions. Today we try again, raising the post, with Let It Go disc that collects ten new songs engraved with an excellent band in which stand out Marc Ribot on guitar, Kenny Wollesen on drums, Rob Burger of the plan and Joe Quigley on bass. The style than in the past that has lost reflexivity that distinguishes it but not the ability to touch the strings of the heart of the audience, the songwriting is now more mature and seems to squeeze the eye now John Mellencamp Springsteen now, without forgetting his nume protect Bob Dylan, who is head here and there throughout the disc. The songs of Alvarado find the spirit of blue collar, the dusty roads of the province but also an American snapshots of daily life such as the difficulty of living a relationship of the couple and a love for disappointment over. Listening to the disc surprises for the arrangement and for the good parts of the guitar which is being Marc Ribot and not just embellish each song. We move so touched by Dylan in Gone, Gone, Gone to Van Morrison to Get This Far up but with songs like It's For You and Nobody Knows emerging that hint of originality that makes Alvarado definite promise. Godibilissime are also cantautorale See You Again, the country of Burning Bridges and the two rock road IOLI New York and It's All Right. That closes the disc which is the pearl piano Reason, an intense and emotional song that highlights the potential of songwriting to Alvarado. Let It Go is certainly a surprise but only the future will tell us what is the real value of its author.

-Salvatore Esposito

MAVERICK MAGAZINE, UK

Steven Alvarado CD Review

Steven Alvarado
Let It Go
Mott Street Records MS-002

**1/2

A new name and to some degree a new sound, ever lively and with Steven Alvardo carving out clever hooky grooves merging rock with pop he has already gained himself an audience in Europe

On hearing but a couple of songs you get to thinking, what away to go! Such is the fashion Alvardo tackles the job of making music—apart from when on a couple of the latter cuts he becomes deeply entrenched in music offering a moody feel. On showing hints of Tom Waits, Dylan, Jesse Malin among others, the one-time Nashville-based Alvarado remains solid throughout.

One of the reasons Alvardo’s music rocks so keenly lies in the use of musicians, Marc Ribot’s ever present electric guitar alongside Kenny Wollesen’s percussion, Joe Quigley’s bass and pianist Rob Burger plus Steve’s acoustic guitar and vocals. The music on Burning Bridges, incessant Gone, Gone, Gone and the smouldering It’s Alright is stripped down as he reflects, sombrely, on how he met his love when he was living back in Nashville and is of a slower tempo than initially promised.

Rather than focussing on any particular relationship or specific person, Steven has blended them all into the material written for an album best viewed as being, contemporary. No better or stronger does he lay down his work than on, New York. Most fitting it is too, seeing as both the album and, where he now resides when not on the road, both Stateside and over here in Europe.

-Maurice Hope, Maverick Magazine

MAKING MUSIC MAGAZING, UK
Steven Alvarado - Let it Go

Regular visitors will be aware of our unlimited admiration for the songs and voice of Mr. Alvarado. This latest release has been painstakingly put together in New York with some well respected musicians, whilst the whole production is minimalist, the key guys have really added just the right amounts of quality and class for Steven's production recipe and the result is ten beautifully crafted, deeply personal offerings. The attention to detail is perfection. Get This Far, It's For You, Burning Bridges and New York make up the rhythm section of this CD and as brilliant as they are, the heart wrenching and thought provoking lyrics of their 6 brothers and sisters on this production once again provide evidence—If it's required, of this guy's superb writing ability.

Once again it is a privilege to listen to this CD and one that we can offer you guys to. We have six copies to give away to the first six applicants, just email us and tell us why you need a free copy of the CD and it's yours.

There are rumors that Steven will be heading back to these shores for some live shows. Last year we caught up with him in New York at Kenny Castaways and The Porter in Bath - look out for him soon. In the meantime try this link stevenalvarado.com

-Rob Wyborn

Steven Alvarado: Let It Go
by Lee Zimmerman

Up until now, New York singer/songwriter Steven Alvarado has dwelled mostly on high-minded precepts, with philosophical ruminations veering towards politics and religion. However, on his latest effort, Let It Go, he, well, lets it go, trading his proselytizing for dark deliberations about broken relationships. Largely acoustic, it opens with a flourish of earnestly strummed offerings – the rockabilly-tinted “Get This Far,” the ever-persistent “It’s For You” and, most notably, the vibrant and jangly “New York.” Ultimately though, the album falls prey to a veil of tears, a downcast demeanor that finds Alvarado reveling in his own despair. “Nobody Knows” is especially affecting, a loser’s lament that finds our hero “Drinking and thinking about you,” even though the woman in question apparently broke his heart into a zillion tiny splinters. Still, that’s only the first hint of apparent anguish; “Burning Bridges,” “Blue,” “It’s Alright” and “Gone, Gone, Gone” document bitter break-ups with unflinching animosity. Several star session players rally in support, but ultimately it’s down to Alvarado wielding his guitar like a weapon and blasting his ex partners in the process.

(Mott St. Records)

Le Cri Du Coyote Magazine (France)
Steven Alvarado - Let It Go
"Gruff folk blues from New York, 'Let It Go' by Steven Alvarado. Ten tracks without unnecessary detours, harsh, a bit like Escovedo. The always brilliant presence of the sublime Marc Ribot is noticeable: his sharpened guitar puts incredible colours to ”Get This Far” or ”It's Alright”. Steven's voice is beautiful without being too demonstrative, just what's needed in order to captivate."

- Le Cri Du Coyote Magazine

CTRL. ALT. COUNTRY Web-Zine

STEVEN ALVARADO “Let It Go” (Mott St Records)
(3,5****)

Erg sympathieke schijf van de zo’n jaar of zeven geleden in NYC neergestreken singer-songwriter, wiens stembanden het midden lijken te willen houden tussen die van Tom Waits, die van Jon Dee Graham en die van Ben Weaver. Knapen met wie hij verder overigens maar tot op zekere hoogte vergeleken kan worden. Steven Alvarado experimenteert immers minder graag dan Tom Waits, is véél minder Americana dan Jon Dee Graham en mist ook het excentrieke karakter van Ben Weaver. Waarvoor hij dan wél staat? Voor een vakman in hart en nieren, die zich voor zijn indie folk en akoestische pop steeds weer weet te omringen met de beste begeleiders. Zo wist hij zich voor zijn “album about heartbreak” te verzekeren van de goede diensten van drummer Kenny Wollesen, bassist Joe Quigley, pianist Rob Burger, percussionist John-David Hahns en van die van de ondermeer uit de entourage van Tom Waits bekende supergitarist Marc Ribot. En dat resulteerde in een bijzonder warm aandoend geheel, waarop zijn eigen fantastische stem en zijn ook al bijzonder fijne liedjes voortdurend uitstekend tot hun recht komen. Vooral wat tragere songs als “Nobody Knows”, “Reasons” en “Blue” zijn wat ons betreft echte blijvertjes. Maar ook wat meer uptempo spul als het aantrekkelijk rammelende tweetal “Burning Bridges” en “Gone, Gone, Gone”, het loom rockende “Get This Far” of het nadrukkelijk naar de nodige airplay lonkende “It’s For You” mogen er absoluut wezen. Dat soort van deuntjes vormt als het ware een open invitatie om er zo snel mogelijk ook Alvarado’s eerdere platen “Mercy” (1991), “Bleed” (1997), “The Howl Sessions” (2005) en “Howling Live In New York” (2006) eens op na te slaan, al zijn enkele daarvan ondertussen spijtig genoeg dan ook enkel nog als download verkrijgbaar.

(Google Translation)

Very sympathetic drive of the seven or so years ago in NYC neergestreken singer-songwriter, whose vocal cords the middle seem to want to keep between those of Tom Waits, that of Jon Dee Graham and Ben Weaver. Knapen with whom he deficiencies but to a certain extent can be compared. Steven Alvarado experiment is less happy than Tom Waits, is much less than Americana Jon Dee Graham and also misses the eccentric character of Ben Weaver. What does he have? For an expert in heart and kidneys, who for his indie folk and acoustic pop always knows how to surround with the best escorts. If he knew about his "album about heartbreak" to secure the services of drummer Kenny Wollesen, bassist Joe Quigley, pianist Rob Burger, percussionist John-David Hahn and those of the out among the entourage of Tom Waits known supergitarist Marc Ribot. And that resulted in a particularly hot-looking whole, which his own great voice and are also already very fine songs for their right to excellent. Especially what slower songs like "Nobody Knows", "Reasons" and "Blue" are what we are concerned real blijvertjes. But also a bit more uptempo stuff as the two attractive junky "Burning Bridges" and "Gone, Gone, Gone", the loom rocking "Get This Far" or explicitly to the necessary airplay lonkende "It's For You" should absolutely orphans. That kind of tunes, as it were an open invitation to there as quickly as possible Alvarado's previous boards "Mercy" (1991), "Bleed" (1997), "The Howl Sessions" (2005) and "Howling Live In New York "(2006) even after store, although some of them now unfortunately is only available as a download.

THE DELI MAGAZINE

Steven Alvarado
Let It Go
Mott Street Records 2008
★ ★ ★ ★ four stars

There’s an excellent book. “I’ll Take You There: Pop Music and the Urge for Transcendence,” that talks about music that tries to take the listener to a different emotional – almost spiritual – plane. Transcendence in music, the author argues, isn’t necessarily a religious experience: It might just come in the form of a particularly gifted songwriter who can take a moment and make it so universal that it transforms into a truth. Steven Alvarado’s latest effort, “Let It Go,” definitely has its moments of managing to achieve this concept. “Let It Go” managed to pull this particular reviewer in from the very first riff on the opening track “Get This Far” (not an easy task, by the way). How? It was a note-perfect homage reminiscent of Bowie’s iconic opening riff to “John, I’m Only Dancing.” Transcendence in the form of Bowie, you ask? Why not? It certainly worked on Flight of the Concords. But it’s not just Bowie that Alvarado manages to (consciously or unconsciously) channel in this album.

Alvarado’s voice is equal parts Tom Waits and Bruce Cockburn – deep gravel by the way of Leadbelly’s “Goodnight, Irene.” And when you manage to channel Leadbelly, you better believe you’ve achieved transcendence.

-Stephanie R. Myers, New York City

We Heart Music

STEVEN ALVARADO – Let It Go
One look at Steven Alvarado's cover artwork for Let It Go, an album that was released in April 2008 from Mott Street Records, I thought it was a tribute to Bob Dylan's The Freewheelin'Bob Dylan, but completely opposite: without a girl, presumably sadder, a little more modern, and his back to you.

One listen to the album, it definitely feels like good-time American folk rock.

I love the interaction of electric blues guitar fighting against the acoustic guitar on the brilliant opening track, "Get This Far". Even the lyrics seems to be duking it out and full of contradictions: "I'm outta gas, I got no car, I never thought I'd get this far"
Many of these songs are short, but catchy, pop-rock-oriented songs, perfect for the radio. The few exception does stick out, for instance "Nobody Knows", a slow burning depressing song. What Alvarado does best here is give such a descriptive setting:

It's Saturday night, and I'm drinking and thinking about you. _It's cold and it's raining, I'll stop complaining soon. _I cannot help myself, my heart is aching again.
Somebody throw him a lifeline, it sounds to me as if he's committing suicide here!

Fortunately, there's more happier songs makes up for that depressing one. Check out "New York", a song dedicated to Alvarado's friend and poet Aaron Smith. The song lyrics also lends itself to the title, "Let it Go".

Let It Go is out now, you can pick it up directly from CD Baby. He's planning on doing a European tour in and around September 2008, I'll be sure to mention it if I hear anything.

GROOVE MAGAZINE (Sweden)



__________

I Sverige är han inte så känd än, Steven Alvarado från New York, men har man väl hört honom så sitter han fast i hjärta och sinne. Han är dessutom uppbackad av musiker som stöttat storheter som Tom Waits och Lucinda Williams.

Med enkla, mestadels akustiska, medel framkallar han starka, laddade känslor. Första låten får mig att tänka på Ryan Adams 30-årskris-platta 29, som också den börjar med en kreativt energifylld bluesrocklåt. Här bidrar Marc Ribot med passionerat elgitarrspel. Sedan blir det lugnare, men både text och musik är så okomplicerat direkt. Temat är det uttjatade ämnet ”hjärta och smärta” men när Alvarado sjunger och spelar blir det inte för sentimentalt utan ärligt och verkligt – bara det är ett svårt vågspel i sig. Så här bra kan bara de operfekta låta.

Sången är inte insmickrande utan kommer rakt inifrån med självupplevda relationers uppgång och fall som drivkraft. Jag vill lyssna på Alvarado när bara han och jag finns i rummet, som att samtala med en nära vän. Vi kan ta oss igenom livets mörka sidor tillsammans och allt känns bättre efteråt.

En lite vemodig med samtidigt trösterik stämning sprider sig när skivan snurrat sitt sista varv. Få singer/songwriters når hela vägen fram, men Alvarado är nära målet. Han väljer sin egen väg, en lite mer svårframkomlig sådan men när han väl är framme lär han vara så mycket starkare än de flesta andra.

-Matilda Dahlgren/Groove Magazine

Translation

He's not well-known here in Sweden yet, Steven Alvarado from New York,
but soon as you hear him, he'll stick in both mind and heart. Besides,
he's backed up by musicians who've played behind giants like Tom Waits
and Lucinda Williams.

By simple, mostly acoustic means, he causes strong, electrically charged emotions. The first song makes me think of Ryan Adams and the record dealing with his 30-year crisis, "29", also beginning with a creatively energetic blues track. Here, Marc Ribot provides some passionate playing on his electric guitar. Then, it all cools down, but both lyrics and music are uncomplicatedly direct. Thematically, it's the same old subject "moon and June", but when sung and played by Alvarado, it never becomes too sentimental but honest and real. That in it self, is a daring adventure. This good is only how the non-perfect sound.

The singing is not falsely intimidating. Instead it comes straight from within with the rise and fall of self-experienced relations as the driving force. I prefer to listen to Alvarado when there's only him and I in the room, just like talking to a close friend. We'll go through the dark side of life together and afterwards, everything feels better.

A slightly sullen, yet trustful atmosphere takes over as the record spins its final run. Few singer-songwriters make it to the very end, but Alvarado is close. He chooses his own way to go, one that may be a little harder to travel though, but when he's home, he may be much stronger than the rest.

-Matilda Dahlgren/Groove Magazine

Backed up by a crack team of musicians, including Marc Ribot and Kenny Wollensen, Steven Alvarado returns with his radiant fourth album “Let It Go” (Mott Street). A queer take on roots and Americana music, Alvarado’s gruff but gracious vocals provide the glow in songs such as “It’s For You,” the early Tom Waits-like “Nobody Knows,” the swishing swing of “Burning Bridges,” the urban twang of “Gone, Gone, Gone,” the Springsteen-esque “It’s Alright” and the most overtly gay number on the disc, the glorious “New York,” a track Alvarado dedicated to his best friend, acclaimed gay poet Aaron Smith.

Steven Alvarado
Let It Go
Mott Street Records 2008
6.5 Stars

Dalla West Coast passando per Nashville, un percorso che infine si confonde tra le sensazioni della grande mela, ancora oggi una terra promessa profumata di sogni e speranze. Le influenze di Steven Alvarado seguono le rotte del cuore, e dal cuore si materializzano in canzoni imbevute di tradizione, in particolare quella dei colletti blu e delle dusty roads, vera e propria metafora dell'american way of life, quella più vera. Una vita e una chitarra, due album autoprodotti fino all'ottimo riscontro in patria e nella vecchia Europa (soprattutto in Francia) grazie a The Howl Sessions (2005), un disco che mette in mostra le doti sincere di un artista che fa musica per piacere, con quel pizzico di coraggio che non guasta, anzi. Non ci sono brani da capogiro in questo nuovo Let It Go, 10 canzoni che scorrono via che è un piacere in poco meno di mezz'ora, ma la proposta merita assoluto rispetto, soprattutto se paragonata al mainstream senza corrente elettrica che ormai ha colonizzato le onde radio. Tanto per cominciare, nei credits figurano musicisti di spessore non comune, in primis Marc Ribot, che regala pennellate di puro godimento con la sei corde, seguito a ruota da Kenny Wollesen alla batteria, Rob Burger al piano e Joe Quigley al basso, strumentazione essenziale degna del perfetto rocker stradaiolo. Ed è alla dimensione heartland che Alvarado attinge maggiormente, facendo sua la lezione di Petty, Mellencamp e del Boss, fino a giungere al Jesse Malin dei giorni nostri, con il maestro Dylan nelle vene e nella struttura di alcuni brani portanti, come ad esempio Gone, Gone, Gone, dove anche il titolo sembra nascere a Duluth per approdare con naturalezza al Greenwich Village. Il suono è eccellente, chitarristico e mai invadente, come si addice al genere, i testi parlano di sentimenti comuni, quelli quotidiani, della difficoltà di vivere le relazioni, di rapporti tormentati, finiti, ricordati. Il feeling sixties di Get This Far richiama il primo Van Morrison, It's For You ha Petty come mentore, un'ottima sezione ritmica e un refrain di primo impatto, Nobody Knows e See You Again sono due ballad di impianto cantautorale che ricordano il Michael McDermott migliore, Burning Bridges attraversa territori country, New York è un rock di strada nella sua quintessenza con i solchi imperlati di sudore, It's Alright deve molto a Springsteen, così come la conclusiva e pianistica Reasons. Blue è infine una dark song che spezza il filo conduttore di un disco che manca di un paio di brani superiori per diventare una proposta notevole. Ma l'onestà di fondo è più che apprezzabile, e a noi basta e avanza.

-David Nieri


Translation (from Google Translate, very rough)

Steven Alvarado
Let It Go
Mott Street Records 2008
6.5 Stars

From the West Coast passing through Nashville, a journey that eventually forms between the sensations of the big apple, still smelling a promised land of dreams and hopes. The influence of Steven Alvarado follow the routes of heart, and heart materializes in songs imbued with tradition, especially blue-collar and dusty roads, real metaphor the American way of life, the most true. A life and a guitar, two albums reflected excellent self-up at home and in old Europe (especially in France) thanks to The Howl Sessions (2005), a disc that puts on display the talents of a genuine artist who makes music for pleasure, with that bit of courage that fails not, indeed. There are songs from dizziness in this new Let It Go, 10 songs that flow path that is a pleasure in less than half an hour, but the proposal deserves absolute respect, especially when compared to mainstream without electricity which now has colonized the radio waves. To begin with, in credits include musicians thick uncommon, primarily Marc Ribot, which gives the stroke of pure enjoyment with six strings, followed by Kenny Wollesen on drums, Rob Burger on piano and Joe Quigley on bass, instrumentation essential worthy of the perfect rocker stradaiolo. It is the size heartland that draws more Alvarado, making the lesson of Petty, Mellencamp and The Boss, reaching to Jesse Malin of our day, with the teacher Dylan in the veins and structure of some passages carriers, such as Gone, Gone, Gone, where even the title seems to be born in Duluth to lead naturally to Greenwich Village. The sound is excellent, guitar and never intrusive, as befits the genre, the texts speak of common sentiments, those newspapers, the difficulty of living relationships, relationships tormented, finished, remember. The feeling of sixties Get This Far recalls the first Van Morrison, It's For You has Petty as mentor, a good rhythm section and a refrain of the first impact, and Nobody Knows, See You Again, are two ballad planting cantautorale who remember the Michael McDermott better, Burning Bridges crosses territories country, New York is a rock road in its quintessence with the furrows imperlati sweat, It's Alright owes much to Springsteen, and the conclusive piano/acoustic guitar Reasons. Blue is finally a dark song that breaks the thread of a disc that lacks a couple of songs become higher for a substantial proposal. But the fundamental honesty is more than welcome, and we justly recommend.

-David Nieri

Steven Alvarado - Let It Go
Mott Street Records
Steven Alvarado, singer - songwriter uit New York, is in de wolken over de airplay die zijn album " Let It Go" aan deze kant van de grote plas ten beurt valt en hij is beslist niet de enige en laatste singer - songwriter in het alt. country / roots gebeuren die via Europa ook in zijn eigen landje (h) erkenning verwerft.

Onder het motto "Let It Go baby" laat Mark Ribot meteen de gitaartjes scheuren op de openingstrack " Get this Far", mogen drummer Kenny Wollesen (T - Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits) en bassist Joe Quigley ( Lisa Loeb, Shawn Colvin) hun ding doen op " It's For you" en "Burning Bridges" en doet Alvarado Tom Waits en Warren Zevon de duivel aan met "Nobody Knows", "See You Again", "Reasons" en "Blue" want de man beschikt net als de meesters over een vakkundig geraspt stemgeluid. Maar ook zonder het excellente gezelschap plaatst Alvarado zich in de kijker, de schitterende akoestische pareltjes " Gone, Gone, Gone" en "It's Alright" zijn daar prima voorbeelden van en verduidelijken op een erg treffende manier waarom dit schijfje gebrandmerkt wordt als "an album about heartbreak "

Tien zelfgepende songs die in een klein halfuurtje hart, ziel en geest beroeren ....uw dienaar van dienst is Steven Alvarado !

Translation:

Steven Avarado, singer – songwriter from New York, is in the clouds about the
airplay his new album “Let it Go” is getting on this side of the big pond and he is
not the only or last singer-songwriter in alt/country/roots music to achieve
recognition in his own country via Europe.

With the motto “Let it go baby”, Mark Ribot (T - Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits) immediately lets the guitars rip on the opening track “Get this far” and drummer Kenny Wollesen (Norah Jones, Rickie Lee Jones, Rufus Wainwright) and bassist Joe Quigley (Lisa Loeb, Shawn Colvin) are allowed to do their thing on “Its for you” and “burning bridges”; and Tom Waits and Warren Zevon tease the devil with “Nobody knows”, “see you again”, “reasons”, and “blue” because this guy [Steven Alvarado] has, like the masters, a professionally raspy voice. But even without such excellent companions Alvarado puts himself in the limelight, the beautiful acoustic pearls “gone gone gone” and “its alright” are perfect examples of this and clarify poignantly why this disc has been branded as “an album about heartbreak”.

Ten self-created songs that touch in a small half an hour your heart, soul, and
spirit….compliments of your servant Steven Alvarado.

Steven Alvarado - Let It Go
Mott Street Records
☆ ☆ ☆ three stars Let It Go komt met stip in de Top 10 van MinstZeggende Cd-covers Aller Tijden binnen. Hoe bestaat het toch dat Alvarado deze foto, waarop zijn rug is afgebeeld en een paar keurig geparkeerde auto’s, gekozen heeft als gezicht van zijn nieuwe liedjes? Ik heb werkelijk geen idee. Gelukkig zijn de 10 liedjes alles behalve nietszeggend. Steven Alvarado zingt met gruis op de stembanden over zijn liefdes en zijn leven. Hij kan door voor het minder hese broertje van Matthew Ryan. Hij is niet alleen minder hees, hij is ook minder opdringerig. Ze staan wel allebei liever in de schaduw te vertellen dan in het volle licht. Ik hou overigens heel erg van een opdringerige Ryan, maar dit ter zijde. Alvarado laat op Let It Go horen dat hij het genre van singer-songwriter/roots beheerst. Hij slijpt en rockt en wordt daarbij begeleid door de bezoekers van de studio in New York waar hij werkt: gitarist Mark Ribot (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, T-Bone Burnett), drummer Kenny Wollesen (Norah Jones, Rufus Wainwright), pianist Rob Burger (Beth Orton, Lucinda Williams en ook Rufus Wainwright) en bassist Joe Quigley (Lisa Loeb en Shawn Colvin). Zowaar geen kattenpis.


Translation:

“Let It Go rushing into the Top 10 of Least-Interesting CD covers of all time. How can it be that Alvarado chose this picture, where his back is shown and a few neatly parked cars, as the face of his new songs? I really don’t know. Luckily, the 10 songs are anything but uninteresting. Steven Alvarado sings with rawness on his vocal cords about his loves and life. He could be the less scratchy-voiced brother of Matthew Ryan. Not only is his voice less scratchy, but it also less pushy. Though both of them prefer to stand in the shade to tell their stories instead of the bright light. By the way, I really like Ryan, but that is beside the point. Alvarado shows on Let It Go that he is in full control of the singer-songwriter/roots genre. He slides and rocks and is accompanied in this by the visitors to the studio in NY where he works: guitarist Mark Ribot, drummer Kenny Wollessen, pianist Rob Burger, and bass player Joe Quigley. Truly nothing to be sneezed at.”

Steven Alvarado - Let It Go
Mott Street Records
Der ursprünglich aus Los Angeles stammende Steven Alvarado ist seit sieben Jahren in New York ansässig und spielt frische, lebhafte, von akustischen Gitarren dominierte Rockmusik. Sein aktuelles Album "Let It Go" liegt mir nun vor und ich sehe mich mit einem Songwriter konfrontiert, der qualitativ hochwertige Musik abliefert. Zehn Songs umfasst diese Scheibe und kommt dabei bloß auf eine halbe Stunde Spielzeit.

Das bedeutet in diesem Fall allerdings, dass Alvarado und seine fünf Mitstreiter kurze, knackige Lieder aufgenommen haben, die sofort ins Ohr gehen: Mehr als die Hälfte der Songs liegen im Zweiminutenbereich. "Let It Go" bietet ansprechende Kost und keinerlei Lückenfüller. Thematisch geht es auf dem Album um persönliche Erfahrungen, die Alvarado einer ehrlichen Beobachtung unterzieht. Dabei bleibt es nicht aus, dass auch sein Umzug nach New York das ein oder andere Mal verarbeitet wird.

Dementsprechend nachdenklich sind die Texte des Amerikaners, auch wenn die musikalische Untermalung meist etwas anderes erwarten lässt. So plätschert der Quasi-Titeltrack "New York" beispielsweise fröhlich vor sich hin, obwohl der Text die Verwahrlosung in Alvarados Wahlheimat beschreibt:

»Bethesda angel touches...
Earth with blackened iron toe...
God don't live here baby...
Better learn to let it go«

heißt es im Refrain.
Wie eingangs bereits erwähnt, dominiert die Akustikgitarre das musikalische Geschehen - neben Alvarados Stimme natürlich. Seine Mitmusiker halten sich dagegen deutlich im Hintergrund, einzig Drums und Percussion hört man fast immer. Das stört aber ganz und gar nicht, sondern unterstreicht den insgesamt sehr ruhigen Charakter von "Let It Go".

Diese Scheibe wächst mit der Zeit, eventuell muss man ihr ein paar Durchläufe genehmigen, bevor sie ihre wahre Schönheit offenbaren kann. Dann kann man sie aber auch wunderbar nebenbei hören. Oder aber man füttert damit seinen CD-Player, wenn man sich nach einem anstrengenden Tag beim wohlverdienten Feierabendbier entspannen und schönen Klängen lauschen möchte. Songs wie "It's Alright" eignen sich zum Abspannen nämlich ausgezeichnet. Aber was rede ich, denn das ganze Album ist für derartige Situationen bestens geeignet. Macht auch beim Kuscheln mit dem Partner eine wirklich gute Figur, solang man nicht unbedingt auf die Texte hört.

Nun noch ein paar Worte zu den einzelnen Songs: Eröffnet wird die Scheibe von dem Akustik-Rock'n'Roller "Get This Far", dessen Lead-Gitarren-Untermalung zum Mitwippen einlädt. Das darauf folgende, schön leichtfüßige "It's For You" kommt nur mit Stimme, Akustikgitarre und Bass aus, ist textlich gesehen aber todtraurig. "Nobody Knows" ist vergleichsweise getragen (es geht um das Vermissen und die Traurigkeit, nachdem jemand gestorbenen ist) und macht mal eben so deutlich, dass diese ersten drei Songs schon fast den Kauf wert sind. Aber es geht ja noch weiter: Nach dem wieder etwas flotteren "Burning Bridges" gibt es mit dem weiter oben bereits angesprochenen "New York" ein kleines Highlight der Songwriting-Kunst. Tolle Melodien und ein schöner Refrain machen den Song zu einem echten Schmankerl!

Die zweite Hälfte von "Let It Go" wird vom schleppenden, ziemlich traurigen "Blue" eröffnet. Es ist das langsamste, schwermütigste Stück des Albums. "Gone, Gone, Gone" ist wieder recht lebhaft, "See You Again" nimmt das Tempo daraufhin etwas heraus (traumhafte Gitarrenmelodie gegen Ende), und die letzten beiden Songs "It's Alright" und "Reasons" beenden Alvarados neuestes Werk ganz entspannt.

Anspieltipps: "It's For You", "Nobody Knows", "New York", "See You Again", "It's Alright".

Abschließend noch etwas zu den Musikern auf "Let It Go". Da hätten wir zum einen Marc Ribot an der elektrischen Gitarre, der z.B. schon für Tom Waits oder Elvis Costello gespielt hat. Dann wäre da noch Schlagzeuger Kenny Wollesen, der Fans von Norah Jones, Rufus Wainright u.a. kein Unbekannter sein sollte. Aber auch Tastenmann Rob Burger sowie Tieftöner Joe Quigley haben schon bei bekannten Gesichtern in Lohn und Brot gestanden.
Somit hat Steven Alvarado also eine hochkarätige Besetzung für diese CD zusammenstellen können.

Line-up:
Steven Alvarado (all vocals & acoustic guitar)
Marc Ribot (electric guitar)
Kenny Wollesen (drums)
Joe Quigley (bass)
Rob Burger (piano)
John-David Hahs (shakers, etc.)

Today's Music Review: Steven Alvarado!

April 7, 2008 11:38 AM:

Steven Alvarado
Let It Go
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ four stars



Mott St. Records
Released: 04/08/08
www.myspace.com/stevenalvarado
Reviewed by Rob Browning

Steven Alvarado is a California transplant who landed in NYC about ten years ago via an ill-fated major label deal. In recent years, he’s performed mostly as a solo acoustic guy for practicality’s sake and it’s garnered him a bit of renown overseas, especially in France and the British Isles. The solo acoustic thing is a necessary evil and while Alvarado is an engaging performer, it’s his records with a full band that really shine.

Alvarado manages a recording studio as a day job and it’s worked out well for him, allowing him access to some of the city’s best players while keeping recording costs low. It also gives him a very realistic perspective on what it takes to be a successful musician in this day-and-age. Alvarado has embraced the web heartily, and is no stranger to a podcast. Both have broadened his renown nicely. He’s had music on PBS and the mini-documentary about the recording of his last record. The Howl Sessions, has been well-received. The buzz from Howl finds Let It Go in a great position to get a lot of shine.

There is a lot of Dylan in Alvardo’s music: Bob compositionally and Jake vocally, maybe with a touch of Jesse Malin for good measure. He’s strong songwriter who knows his craft. It’s obvious that the songs here were written acoustically and embellished during recording; a wise move that allows him to get the record noticed and still be able to play it out and have the songs be familiar. There is a gang of heavy hitters backing up Alvarado on Let It Go, most notably Marc Ribot, who plays his usual masterful guitar on all the tracks, whether it be roots rock twang on “Get This Far” or more subtle textural stratification like on “It’s Alright”.

It’s hard to make a living as a musician in the 21st century, but Steven Alvardo seems to be making all the right moves. By self-releasing his stuff, promoting on the internet, cultivating good personal and professional relationships, and, most importantly having some pretty damn good songs, he’s got everything he needs to do well with Let It Go.

STEVEN ALVARADO - THE ADVOCATE INTERVIEW

“I DON’T FIT INTO THE GAY MUSIC SCENE, if there is one,” muses singer-songwriter Steven Alvarado at a coffee shop in New York City, his adopted home. “I hate dance music, and I know this is a sin, but I’m not a fan of Madonna.” Alvarado is instead a Bob Dylan man, and there’s no question the 30-something’s acoustic guitar—based folk is steeped in the tradition of troubadours like Bruce Springsteen and Paul Westerberg.

Growing up gay as a born-again Christian in Southern-California, Alvarado wrote songs to deal with the central contradiction of his life: “You have to be a broken person if you want to really connect to people,” he says. He scored his first record deal with a band, but both quickly dissolved. Then he played solo gigs around Los Angeles until he was signed by Richie Valens’s old label, Del-Fi, and recorded Mercy. After relocating to Nashville, Alvarado made Bleed, while working in a grocery store and later at DreamWorks Records, where he was gifted a TiVo by an unlikely admirer: country star Toby Keith.

Seven years later, Alvarado moved to New York landing a job at a recording studio that would change his life. “I got to meet all of the musicians who played on my new album,” he says of April’s Let It Go, a record that’s piquing the interest of gay and straight listeners (the first single, “It’s for You,” was picked up by Logo and VH1’s websites). When legendary guitarist Marc Ribot swung by the studio, Alvarado seized the opportunity and booked him, and Ribot’s soulfully edgy riffs adorn Alvarado’s husky-voiced meditations on love gone wrong. “Every time I sat down to write a song I was writing about all these fallen-apart relationships,” he explains, before backtracking a little: “But no one song is about any one specific person—they’re all blended together.”

—Caryn Ganz

PHOTO BY MEGHAN PETERSON. GROOMING BY SUSIE SOBLE. STYLING BY ALLYSON VIEIRA. SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE TRASH BAR IN WILLIAMSBURG, NYC

PRO SOUND NEWS MAGAZINE

STEVEN ALVARADO
LETTING IT GO AT DUBWAY
-By Christopher Walsh

Steven Alvarado is set to release his fourth solo album, Let It Go, on April 1st on his own Mott Street label. The product of sessions at Dubway Studios that spanned one year, Let It Go, which features musicians Marc Ribot, Kenny Wollesen, Rob Burger and Joe Quigley, is a shining example of the other music-industry revolution launched by the personal computer: online, Alvarado’s music is distributed globally via download and CD sales and is spun on internet and terrestrial radio stations based around the world. Further, by virtue of demand in cities around the world, he organizes tours via online correspondence with local promoters and agents.

Let It Go is an extremely likeable collection of songs, most of them featuring sparse and acoustic arrangements that recall, to this listener, Tom Waits, Neil Young and early Van Morrison. Upon its release, Let It Go is likely to build on the considerable buzz around Alvarado’s previous release, The Howl Sessions.

“We definitely went for ‘high-fidelity lo-fi,’ if that makes any sense,” Alvarado allows. “There are not a lot of instruments on the album—mostly acoustic guitar, bass and drums throughout, with a sprinkling of Marc Ribot’s electric guitar, and piano on one song. So we really stripped it down, but definitely went for a high-fidelity sound, without overdoing it.”

Like many other contemporary independent artists, Alvarado is exploiting the Web’s distribution and promotional opportunities. His Cds are sold through CD Baby (www.cdbaby.com), which distributes indie artists’ music to iTunes and scores of other e-tailers, and recently began selling downloads via its own website.

“It’s funny,” Alvarado muses of his global reach. “It’s all so much internet-related. Last year I got 80,000 hits to my website; I don’t know how people find me, they just seem to do it. I get lots of e-mail from people I don’t know, asking me for a copy of the CD for their radio station, or internet station. The internet has totally changed everything for independent artists. My last two tours were entirely booked through the internet, and I never spoke to anybody in person until I actually got to the venues.”

It’s Hard to Let This CD Go!
5 Stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Once again, Steven touches the heart and moves it from idle complacency to the human longing which is the heart beat of every soul. Good work!

-The Schnied/Apple iTunes

Out Smart Magazine

Steven Alvarado Let It Go

Alvarado, who released the Parisian-based Radio Dio fave The Howl Sessions in 2005, provides flat-out, acoustic-laced rock 'n' roll on his fourth album. Fans of Lucinda Williams and Beth Orton may enjoy this collection, especially “Get This Far” and “Blue.” Mott St. Records