Eleven Eleven is the eleventh studio album by folk rock musician Dave Alvin. It was released on June 20, 2011, on Yep Roc Records, and an expanded reissue was released on April 17, 2012.
Recording The recording of Eleven Eleven was influenced by the then-recent deaths of Alvin's friends Chris Gaffney and Amy Farris. The eleven songs on Eleven Eleven were written over the course of seven months, with three exceptions: the three duets on the album, which were "What's Up With Your Brother", "Manzanita", and "Two Lucky Bums".Dave Alvin announces all-new studio album Eleven Eleven available 6/21 on Yep Roc "What's Up With Your Brother" is a duet between Alvin and his brother, Phil Alvin, in which both brothers sing together for the first time on record since the breakup of their legendary band "The Blasters". "Manzanita" is a duet between Alvin and Christy McWilson, a member of his band, the Guilty Women. "Two Lucky Bums" is a duet between Alvin and Chris Gaffney, and represents Gaffney's last recording before he died in 2008. The song "Harlan County Line" was written for the TV show Justified.
Critical reception
Eleven Eleven received mostly favorable reviews from critics. Wayne Robins wrote in American Songwriter that the album's best songs were "character studies or snapshots of history". Many critics described "Johnny Ace is Dead" as one of the best songs on the album, with Steve Horowitz of PopMatters calling it "the best damn Johnny Ace song one could ever imagine."
Track listing All tracks composed by Dave Alvin; except where indicated "Harlan County Line" – 5:12 "Johnny Ace Is Dead" – 4:27 "Black Rose of Texas" – 4:52 "Gary, Indiana 1959" – 4:06 "Run Conejo Run" – 4:52 "No Worries Mija" (Chris Gaffney) – 3:36 "What's Up with Your Brother?" – 4:44 (duet with Phil Alvin) "Murrietta's Head" – 5:59 "Manzanita" (Christy McWilson) – 4:09 (duet with McWilson) "Dirty Nightgown" – 5:19 "Two Lucky Bums" – 2:28 (duet with Chris Gaffney)
Bonus tracks on 2012 reissue "Beautiful City 'Cross the River" "Signal Hill" "Never Trust a Woman" (duet with Candye Kane)
Personnel Dave Alvin – vocals, guitar Phil Alvin – vocals Gregory Boaz – bass Chris Gaffney – accordion, vocals Bob Glaub – bass, percussion Don Heffington – drums, percussion, timbales David Jackson – accordion, upright bass Greg Leisz – baritone guitar, guitar, lap steel guitar Christy McWilson – piano, vocals Steve Mugalian – drums, percussion Danny Ott – slide guitar, guitar, vocal harmony Wyman Reese – organ, piano Jack Rudy – harmonica Rick Shea – guitar, pedal steel guitar Gene Taylor – piano
Production Dave Alvin – producer Craig Parker Adams – engineer, mixing Joe Gastwirt – mastering Michael Triplett – art direction, design Harry Sabin – photo assistance Nancy Sefton – art direction Beth Herzhaft – photography
References