The Alex Lopez Xpress “Retro Revival” (LP)

The Alex Lopez Xpress, aka ALX, are going from blues rock to funk rock on Retro Revival, an album chock full of blues rock with funky flavors, which might just be a better way of putting it. Either way you slice it, Lopez has earned his way through the subgenres to combine his influences with his chosen category, and it comes out vibrant and cerebral in a time of uncertainty, and serves its purpose to entertain, which Lopez and his band tour to back it. Retro Revival differs from the previous AXL release, without changing the sound beyond any recognition.

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Retro Revival is grounded in the present but leaves one foot in the past while stepping another foot toward the harder to see future, and Lopez holds his own musical keys to it all on the undeniably good full-length release. “One More Time,” “Your Lovin,’” and “When I Sing The Blues” get the album started with a variety that explains the entire album without getting too far along in the process with the middle of the three tracks showcasing the most.

“Here I Am” is where the beat goes in different directions and the funky side of Lopez comes to the fore with an exuberant rush of songs you can’t ignore once they fly out of the Retro Revival album. “What The World Needs” is where some more funk comes to the surface with some Wha Wha from the guitar of Lopez, which he expands even more on later during the album. The song covers the subject of solutions of what the world currently needs, with great lyrics by Lopez that spell it all out perfectly.

One of the finest moments on Retro Revival comes with “Hey Little Sister” almost ringing of many traditional blues drenched rock song, not far removed from how Led Zeppelin or Stevie Ray Vaughan would do it, and I like the live atmosphere at the end, which I prefer to fade away tracks. “Angry” is a mad song with a point clearly made about the times and where it leaves us with less hope than ever and asking who to blame as it eats from the inside out. However, “Loving You Gives Me The Blues” helps forget about current affairs, and it’s the best way to contrast the subject.

“In The Name Of Love” brings even more to the table than the former, without leaving the tempo, as it just gives more where it came from, along with some more excellent (almost jazzy) guitar work. “Black Hole” could be one of the most accessible tunes on Retro Revival, and takes a turn yet again for the better, showcasing the songwriting skills of Lopez. Don’t miss it as the album nears the end, with more hot tracks going for it than not, and Lopez savors another good one to take the album to a close with “Keep On Living” which everyone should take a word or two of advice about, and it’s also one of the album’s most well-crafted songs.

Mark Druery