King of California [25th Anniversary Edition]

Personnel: Dave Alvin (vocals, acoustic, electric & steel guitars); Syd Straw, Rosie Flores (vocals); Greg Leisz (acoustic, electric & pedal steel guitars, mandolin); Jimmie Wood (harmonica); Steve Van Gelder (fiddle); Skip Edwards (accordion, organ); David Jackson (accordion); James Intveld, Don Falzone (acoustic bass); Bob Glaub (bass, percussion); Alan Deremo (bass); Donald Lindley, James Cruce (drums, percussion); Bobby Lloyd Hicks (drums, percussion, background vocals).
Includes liner notes by Dave Alvin.
For his fourth album, 1994's KING OF CALIFORNIA, Dave Alvin mixed new songs with selections revisited from his back catalog, as well as numbers first recorded with his previous band, The Blasters. The setting is a pared-down acoustic ensemble perfectly suited to his songs of the downtrodden, the lovelorn and the lost--all tempered with a sense of hope. The title track is a perfect example of Alvin's finely crafted tales of the working class dreaming of sunnier climes. Bobby Lloyd Hick's brushed snare beautifully echoes the literature of the lyrics.
Throughout, the album's spare accompaniment is rich with warm interplay, creating a sense of community that further bolsters this music's personal nature. Singer Rosie Flores duets with Alvin on one song, and Syd Straw lends her voice to another. "Border Radio" brings things to a close, with a gorgeously quiet rendition that celebrates the heart that was always beating inside of the Blaster's earlier revved-up take.