With These Hands is the third album by the American roots rock musician Alejandro Escovedo, released in 1996.[2][3] It was his only solo album for Rykodisc.[4]

Production

The album was produced by T.S. Bruton.[5]

"Tugboat" is a tribute to Sterling Morrison; Escovedo knew him from their days working at the University of Texas.[6] Willie Nelson duets with Escovedo on "Nickel and a Spoon".[7] The title track includes contributions from several Escovedos, including Alejandro's brother Pete and niece Sheila E.[8] Jennifer Warnes sang backing vocals on "Pissed Off 2AM".[9] Charlie Sexton also contributed to With These Hands.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
The Austin Chronicle	[12]
Calgary Herald	[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[15]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	[4]
Uncut	[16]
Vancouver Sun	[10]

The Chicago Reader stated that Escovedo's "warm, slow-bubbling melodies are given alternately dense, sumptuous, and spare treatments that help the ballads flutter and the rockers rock."[17] Trouser Press praised the duet with Nelson, labeling it "classical-folk balladry."[18] Miami New Times called the album "a grim and sprawling masterpiece that weds his rough-hewn baritone with classic rock and roll riffs and the elegiac ambiance of vintage country weepers."[19] The New York Times considered the album to be the best of Escovedo's first three, writing that it "doesn't try for comfort, but for stoic acceptance."[20]

The Philadelphia Inquirer determined that Escovedo "employs a blunt rock attack softened by the calm, considered observations of a natural poet."[21] Entertainment Weekly opined that the "multi-textured roots-pop ... would be utterly beguiling if it weren’t for his unresonant, plain-as-dough voice."[22] The Calgary Herald declared that "Alejandro is on a roll, arguably the most original voice in America today, a man whose heart and soulful music aches with a sense of being that is a beauty, however bruised, to behold."[13]

AllMusic wrote that "if With These Hands doesn't break much new ground for him, it shows he's still in full command of his considerable gifts as a musician, and it's an impressive achievement."[11] Reviewing the 2003 reissue, The Austin Chronicle called the album "dense with guests, guitars, and every musical spicing save for mortar and pestle."[12] Uncut thought that "it’s a suitably raucous affair, though the full band tends to swamp Escovedo’s dusky timbre occasionally."[16]

Track listing

References