By himself, Alejandro Escovedo is one of the sturdiest, most dependable, and supremely talented songwriters and rock musicians on the scene today. But paired with legendary producer Tony Visconti on his ninth solo release, "Real Animal," Escovedo is simply divine. Escovedo has always gone out of his way to avoid being pigeonholed - he's careened from raw punk to string quartets to alt-country during his career - and "Real Animal" should make us glad for that eclecticism. The pure power of his live shows need to be experienced first-hand, but "Real Animal" is the next best thing. It's primal, pulsating stuff, and it's a perfect summary of a brilliant musician's career and legacy.