King of California
Former Blaster Dave Alvin takes a break from bluesy rock & roll for a folk-country collection of his best-known songs and a few choice covers. Alvin's voice, a raspy and limited yet emotionally revealing baritone, is better served with some electricity at his back, but this unplugged set is still never less than charming. The spare, new versions of Alvin songs such as "Fourth Of July" and "Border Radio" place renewed emphasis on his detail-rich lyrics, although the most memorable moment comes when Syd Straw joins him for a rollicking duet of the George Jones classic "What Am I Worth."--David Cantwell