A Man Under the Influence is the fifth studio album by the American singer-songwriter

Alejandro Escovedo Pedro Alejandro Escovedo (born January 10, 1951) is an American rock musician, songwriter, and singer, who has been recording and touring since the late 1970s. His primary instrument is the guitar. He has played in various rock genres, includin ...

, released on April 24, 2001, on

Bloodshot Records Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, which specializes in alternative country music. History Bloodshot Records was founded in 1994 by Nan Warshaw, Rob Miller, and Eric Babcock, who knew each other from ...

. It was produced by

Chris Stamey Christopher Charles Stamey (born December 6, 1954) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. After a brief time playing with Alex Chilton, as well as Mitch Easter under the name Sneakers, Stamey formed The dB's with Peter ...

. A deluxe edition was released on November 15, 2009.

Critical reception

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' wrote that ''A Man Under the Influence'' was "the best studio performance Escovedo has ever delivered". Similarly, Joshua Klein wrote in ''

The A.V. Club ''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...

'' that the album "could be Escovedo's best yet", and James Mann said in ''

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...

'' that the album was "far and away his best work". Several critics also commended Stamey's production on the album: Joe Tangari wrote in ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

'' that on the track "Velvet Guitar", his production "keeps he five guitarists on that trackall in their respective places, avoiding a sloppy mess." Additionally, Raoul Hernandez wrote in ''

The Austin Chronicle ''The Austin Chronicle'' is an alternative weekly newspaper published every Thursday in Austin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demogra ...

'' that Stamey "deserves credit for the LP's overall cohesion of sound", while Michael Barclay of ''

Exclaim! ''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly ''Exclaim!'' print magazine publishes seven ...

'' wrote that Stamey's production "captures the mood perfectly". Conversely,

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and later became a ...

of ''

The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture publication based in Greenwich Village, New York City, known for being the country's first Alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, ...

'' selected "Wave" and "Castanets" as "choice cuts", indicating good songs "on an album that isn't worth your time or money."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Alejandro Escovedo; except where indicated #"Wave" #"Rosalie" #"Rhapsody" (Escovedo, Stephen Barber) #"Across the River" #"Castanets" #"Don't Need You" #"Follow You Down" (Escovedo, Stephen Barber) #"Wedding Day" (Escovedo, JD Foster) #"Velvet Guitar" #"As I Fall" #"About This Love"

Personnel

*Alejandro Escovedo - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals *

Ryan Adams David Ryan Adams (born November 5, 1974) is an American Rock music, rock and Country music, country singer-songwriter. He has released 30 studio albums and three as a former member of Whiskeytown. In 2000, Adams left Whiskeytown and released ...

- vocal harmony, backing vocals *Lynn Blakey - vocal harmony, backing vocals *Caitlin Cary - violin, backing vocals *Tonya Lamm - vocal harmony, backing vocals *Michael "Cornbread" Traylor - bass *Mike Daly - bass, 12-string electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mando-guitar, mandolin, pedal steel *

Mitch Easter Mitchell Blake Easter (born November 15, 1954) is a musician, songwriter, and record producer. Frequently associated with the jangle pop style of guitar music, he is known as producer of R.E.M.'s early albums from 1981 through 1984, and as frontm ...

- electric guitar, engineer *Eric Heywood - pedal steel, pump organ, vocal harmony *Joe Eddy Hines - electric guitar, slide guitar *Hector Muñoz - drums, orchestral percussion, tambourine *Aaron Oliva - bowed double bass, double bass *David Perales - violin, vocal harmony *Chip Robinson - vocal harmony, backing vocals *

- bass, acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, electric guitar, Kurzweil synthesizer, sleigh bells, engineer *Brian Standefer - cello *Jon Wurster - shaker ;Technical *John Plymale, Tim Harper - mixing *Markus Greiner - design *Dana Lee Smith - artwork

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Man Under the Influence Alejandro Escovedo albums 2001 albums Bloodshot Records albums Albums produced by Chris Stamey