For fans of: the Velvet Underground, No Depression magazine

Over the course of a three-decade career - from his days with '70s San Francisco punks the Nuns to leading '80s Texas rockers the True Believers, to his moody, rootsy solo work - Alejandro Escovedo has established himself as one of the most consistent and revered talents working in the American underground. But his world came crashing down in 2003 after he collapsed following a performance in Phoenix and was diagnosed with a potentially fatal case of hepatitis C. The next few years saw Escovedo battle the condition as a group of his musical peers rallied around him, recording the tribute album Por Vida to help defray his medical costs. Finally recovering his health, he's spent the past year making a gradual return to the road and the studio, resulting in this stellar comeback effort. Produced by longtime friend and former Velvet Undergrounder John Cale, the 11 tracks here spike Escovedo's signature brand of melancholy, orchestral Americana with a batch of atmospheric sounds, electronic touches, and programmed beats. Lyrically influenced by his recent experiences, the album brims with haunting, powerful tales of sobriety ("Arizona"), mortality ("I Died a Little Today"), and family ("Evita's Lullaby"). All told, it's a literate and musically moving song cycle that matches the depth and resonance of Escovedo's best work. - Bob Bozorgmehr