Best known as a bluesman, Alex Lopez’s latest release, ‘Rising Up’ finds the musician augmenting his blues roots with rock, soul, and jazz influences.
Opening tracks ‘Light It Up’ and ‘Paradise’ are classic blues rockers. Their sound, reminiscent of the 1970s features powerful chord progression, guitar effects, and harmonic choruses. Add in driving beats and swirling organ and both songs provide a strong introduction to this versatile record.
Some of Lopez’s best and most subtle playing stands out on the traditional blues of ‘Not This Time’. Highlighting his versatility as player on the humorous, ‘I’m Always Wrong’, Lopez mixes swing and jazz to recreate a big band sound that is a treat to the ears. Lopez further pushes his boundaries with the funk-laden ‘Blues In My Groove’. With all the style and sound of a modern day Stax Records composition, it is destined to be a dance floor filler.
Moving into country rock territory, ‘Anymore’ is an up-tempo, radio-friendly, melodic masterpiece that deserves repeated airplay. Hinting at an otherworldly mystical side to his music, ‘Mountain Rain’ makes more than a nod to the classic acoustic tunes of Led Zepplin.
‘Rising Up’ is an album that mixes the best of the blues, rock, and soul to deliver an energetic and positive listening experience.