Dave Alvin - West of the West - VINYL LP

This 16 song collection features studio performances that Dave Alvin recorded over the years for his own albums or for tribute albums but mainly they're just things he did for the pure kicks of playing music he loves with musicians he loves and admires. The songs range from some originals to interpretations of compositions by dear friends like Peter David Case, Chris Smither and the late Bill Morrissey to tunes written by heroes like Willie Dixon, Bob Dylan, Lil Hardin Armstrong, Earl Hooker and Marty Robbins. The music ranges from acoustic blues and ballads to electric barroom blues, folk/rock and even a little country/rock. There are contributions from dearly departed comrades like Chris Gaffney, Amy Farris and Bobby Lloyd Hicks as well as from old Blasters pals like Gene Taylor along with various members of The Guilty Men/Women/Ones plus help from brilliant accompanists like Greg Leisz, Cindy Cashdollar, Bob Glaub

To celebrate the eleventh anniversary of Eleven Eleven, Dave Alvin has added three songs to the album, which were originally released as bonus tracks on the deluxe edition. This album includes songs, which are now standards in Dave Alvin's live set, including InchJohnny Ace is DeadInch, InchHarlan County LineInch and InchWhat's Up With Your Brother,Inch featuring Dave's brother, Phil Alvin. The album received critical praise upon it's . MOJO said, InchA lot happens on Eleven Eleven - all of it good,Inch and The Independent (UK) claimed the, Inchalbum may be his best yet!Inch InchHarlan County LineInch was featured in the TV show, Justified, where Dave Alvin also guest starred. The show is coming back, which will hopefully bring new attention to this album. Since this album's released, Dave Alvin has released to albums with his brother, Phil Alvin, an album collaborating with Jimmie Dale Gilmore, an album by his psych rock improve group The Third Mind, as well as a compilation of solo odds and ends. But Eleven Eleven stands as one of Dave's greatest albums, among his many great albums. It is more than worthy of an anniversary reissue, and an Eleventh Anniversary released on November 11, as was the original album, is only appropriate.

TexiCali, the new album from Grammy winner Dave Alvin and Grammy nominee Jimmie Dale Gilmore, continues to bridge the distance between the two troubadours' respective home bases of California (Alvin) and Texas (Gilmore). The geographic theme reflects Alvin's repeated journeys to record in Central Texas with Gilmore and the Austin-based backing band that has toured with the duo for the past few years. As Alvin puts it in the liner notes, those road trips informed the music they made on TexiCali. The 11 songs on this double LP also connect their shared fondness for a broad range of American music forms. Gilmore is primarily known for left-of-center country music, while Alvin's compass points largely toward old-school blues. But there's a lot of ground to cover beyond those foundations, and both artists also are well-known for transcending genre limitations. So it's not surprising that they've spiked TexiCali with cosmic folk narratives, deep R&B grooves and even swinging reggae rhythms.