It's hard to imagine that there's anything honest left to say on a rock 'n' roll record; whether it's sex and drugs or the politics of the underprivileged, it's all been said and done before. But every now and then, someone picks up a guitar and finds a way to make us think and feel again. With a unique perspective on family, lost love and his Mexican heritage, Alejandro Escovedo uncovers rock 'n' roll like a long-lost artifact, turning it this way and that in the sun, showing us the dazzling dapples while never hiding the tarnished edges. A Man Under the Influence showcases all of Escovedo's talents and travels, from his purist punk beginning to the story-telling prowess that's a trademark of the best alt-country. Escovedo's real success is songs that resonate deep within the soul, as on the disc's opening track, "Waves". Here he details the journeys of a family who embark for a land of promise that so often guarantees failure: "Don't you cry, I made it to the other side. The sun's not brighter here. It only shines on golden hair."

A Man Under the Influence can be just as playful as it is serious. "She turns me on like a pick up truck, I like her better when she walks away" ("Castanets") is just one example of Escovedo's ability to lyrically wink at his listeners, which keeps the record's pace from bottoming out.

The album also features a slew of guest musicians, including Ryan Adams and Caitlin Cary (both of Whiskeytown) offering background vocals and John Wurster and Mac McCaughan (both of Superchunk) lending an occasional hand with various instruments, including the Moog and some drums. It's just our luck that Escovedo has allowed us to walk along with him as he continues a musical quest that began so long ago. His songs, like his boots, are covered not with the dust of age, but the chalky powder of experience that echoes like footfalls throughout his songs. A Man Under the Influence is another enchanting reason to walk a little farther down the trail with him -- if only just to find out what's up around the bend for rock 'n' roll and Escovedo.