Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Artist: Alex Lopez
CD: Is It a Lie
Label: Independent Artist
URL: http://www.alexlopezmusic.com/
Who doesn’t like Old School Blues? I’d all hands go up in the air. I mean, while Swampy Guitar-based blues, which by the way kind of emerged in the late 20’s and 30’s with the arrival of artists like T-Bone, Blind Lemmon Jefferson, Robert Johnson and T-Bone Walker, they represented a close and personal artistic snapshot from the artist in question. This amazing style of music at it’s true core tended to be at times gripping and very powerful. Many feel the Blues –Rock sound has lost its way evolving into overly commercialized, highly corporate songs that do a better job at getting under your skin rather than getting into your heart.
Add in a modernized electric blues sound, despite this introduction most music fans can’t deny getting into a good Blues based groove every now and then and really enjoy well written music within this style from time to time. You know bands like: Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. The latest release by Alex Lopez entitled appropriately enough “Is IT a Lie” came to my attention last week. I must admit I yawned expecting the typical modern day cookie cutter Jack Johnson John Mayer poppy-blues music conventions – only to be blown away with what I heard. As I type this I Am eating my words. I get the impression Lopez writes and records in a unique fusionist style of music combining the best of rhythms of Blues and gold old fashioned Americana-Rock. His unique style meshes rhythms and sounds with short, humorous stories – still-life if you will for an increasingly busy age. Lopez asks us to examine the world in a fresh light. I hate to pigeonhole but if you like Robbie Williams, Rusted Root, Iron and Wine, Jonny Lang, Ben Harper, Paul Butterfield, Joe Bonamassa and Andrew Bird you will like Alex Lopez. “Is it a Lie” is exceptional music and multi-dimensional to say the least – bit it sounds more like a live recording because it’s that charged up. All songs presented on this stunning 10 track collection are uplifting, thought provoking, and will suck you in like a drug. It also however possesses an Americana Blues core kind of breaking the traditional mold for modern day Singer-Songwriter style of music. Does all of this sound a bit over the top to you? Just listen to marquee tracks like “”When Will I See You Again”, “Smile At Me” and “I Need to Know” and you’ll begin to see my perspective. I got hooked on Lopez after the first few seconds of Track 1: “Can’t Hide Your Love.”
The main focus of this genre of music is generally the personality of the artist and raw truth, here Lopez manages to win you over without even trying. The amazing lyrical content never feels like an afterthought. What’s more the vocal work and impeccable songwriting from Lopez really brings it all together. All in all it’s a powerful combination that puts a guy like Lopez on the map for 2015. He should go a long way towards proving that real old school Rocking-R&B is still alive and well.
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Is-It-Lie-Alex-Lopez/dp/B00X7YDEIQ
5/5 Stars
Carlos Grisso
