Rolling Stone magazine's David Fricke once proclaimed that "musically, Alejandro Escovedo [ tickets ] is in his own genre." Escovedo has played it all: punk rock with The Nuns, "cowpunk" with Rank and File and the True Believers, and, more recently, the role of the Americana troubadour both solo and with his accompanying string orchestra.

Having fought a serious battle with advanced Hepatitis C beginning in 2002, Escovedo uses "The Boxing Mirror" to reflect on his near-death experience, as well as embrace his convalescence and rebirth. It's this duality that draws in the listener.

Masterfully produced by The Velvet Underground's John Cale, "The Boxing Mirror"--Escovedo's first album in five years--is enveloped in a shroud of immediacy that drives not only the songs but the album as a whole.

Longtime fans will note the already gripping title track from Escovedo's 1999 album "Bourbonitus Blues" is re-cut here with even more force, venom and grit than before.

Escovedo in a genre all his own. It's his game, he owns it. We just watch from the peanut gallery and hope to keep up.