Alejandro Escovedo: Heartbeat Smile

If you've ever been to Austin and seen Alejandro Escovedo walking down the street, you'd notice that everyone greets him – so many people that you might mistake him for the mayor. He’s also a unifying force on the musical landscape. His newest album was co-produced and co-written by R.E.M.'s Peter Buck. "Heartbeat Smile" is an unstoppable track propelled by drummer John Moen (The Decemberists) which soars with vocals by Kelly Hogan (Neko Case).

Photo: Nancy Rankin Escovedo