Alex Lopez & the Xpress – Retro Revival
This collection has a raw, passionate modern summation of the blues genre by adding the pepper of rock to a salty blues soup as Alex Lopez (guitar/vocals) does. The aggressiveness of the performance adheres to the relevance of the blues tradition. After all, it’s not dance hall music.
The 11 temperatures on Retro Revival (Drops Feb 6/Maremil Music Records/40:38) were produced by George Harris (B Bender guitar on “Keep On Living”). Alex provides the traditions of blues lyricism & rock sensibilities in a composite of a true blues idiom. Songs are wound around barbed wire guitar strings with notes prickly with love lost, especially tight on “Angry,” — a darker blues potion. Quite an expanse.
Blues artists forget at times the captivation of the true blues foundation: the Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters, Charley Patton, & Robert Johnson. It’s an expression of unhappiness, who done who wrong, unrequited love, the empty depressive pulls on a broken heart. Sadness.
With the addition of the rock measure the blend uplifts the blues transformatively. Alex knows this recipe & spirit. The performance, instead of being moody, is unrestrained & expressive. “One More Time” finds Alex, knowingly or unknowingly, performing the tune with an early Elvis Presley blues vocal intonation. It’s not “Reconsider Baby,” with Elvis’ wide range of inflections, but it’s retro effective.
By “Your Lovin’” Alex goes deeper & pivots closer to the blues enthusiasts as the late Duster Bennett & Paul Butterfield Blues Band (“Walkin’ Blues”). Then goes atmospheric with “When I Sing The Blues.” A good rootsy blues with the punch of Terry Reid (“Season of the Witch”).
Lopez has a good, high-pitched, bluesy angst & emotional voice. What’s nice about this performance: no embellishments, showboat deviations & the guitar break is loyal to the song’s structure. Whereas “Here I Am” is the obligatory “let’s impress the audience” since it’s a bit more entertainment-oriented. Cliched lyrics, a Leslie West vocal approach.
“What The World Needs Now” (not the famous ‘60s pop ballad) is a good idea. It’s just not quite sung correctly, in my opinion. Too funky for a “serious topic.” If Alex had Muddy Waters in mind or Elvis (“A Mess of Blues”), he would’ve sung this in a more intuitive tone. Slower phrasing, lecturing vocals. It’s the arrangement that needs work. Not the song.
“Hey Little Sister” is presented with guts; the musicians play skillfully & solid. A good groove with pleading & rhythmic punch. The closers are more commercialized. At times, more Jr. Walker & the All-Stars & Edwin Starr than Muddy Waters, or Blues Traveler.
The final ballad, “Keep On Living,” is wonderfully bluesy & suave with acoustic sparkle.
Highlights – “One More Time,” “Your Lovin,’” “When I Sing The Blues,” “Hey Little Sister,” “Angry” & “Keep On Living.”
Musicians – Steve Roberts (bass), Kana Leimbach (drums) & Lightning of Memphis (guitar solo).
Color images courtesy of Alex’s website. CD @ Apple & https://www.alexlopezmusic.com/