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| Cover Alex Lopez |
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 16, 2019
DISTRIBUTION: CD BABY
Alex Lopez - guitar and vocals
Kenny Hoye keyboards
Steve Roberts - bass
David Nunez - drums
Steve Pagano - bass;Michael Maxim - drums on:
"I'm a losing it" "I love you blues" "Cheating blues"
Special Guest Vocalist - Ellie Carr on "Sinful"
Guest Horn section: Carlos Ortiz and Jule Boyer
Tampa based singer/songwriter Alex Lopez explains the meaning behind the title of his fourth
album, “Yours Truly, Me,” as “a simple collection of songs, no theme or concept, except to create
the best music possible.” The guitarist grew up in the rock ‘n’ roll heartland of Cleveland Ohio
and settled in Florida after college, where he has honed his skills as an entertainer, soaking up all
the influences that meld together in the sunshine state from Latin to Southern Rock, smooth jazz
and R&B. Backed by his touring band, The Xpress, featuring Kenny Hoye on keyboards, Steve
Roberts on bass and drummer David Nunez, Lopez moves easily from British blues to soul and
jazzy pop, on eleven original tracks and an inspired cover of a Texas blues rock classic.
The opening track, ‘Woe Is Me,’ introduces us to the gritty tenor vocals and expressive guitar
work from Lopez on a tale of tough love that starts out with a shifting current but ends on
smooth sailing guitar outro. Next up the band reinvents a ZZ Top standard ‘Tush,’ as a
sophisticated urban blues, swapping the shuffle for a modern funk rock groove peppered with
hot Hammond B3.
Lopez then picks up an acoustic to bring in the first of what he tags as redux
tracks that have been reworked from a previous recording, delivering ‘Take Me Back Home’ as an
easy-going blues. The tempo jumps up for the pumping rocker ‘I’m A Working Man,’ and a hot
go-go beat opens the Motown inspired ‘I’m A Losing It’ that is nicely spiced up by hot horn hits
from Carlos Ortiz and Jule Boyer. Lopez gets passionate for the emotional ballad ‘I Love You
Blues,’ featuring fine piano work from Hoye. Lopez channels Richie Valens on the Chicano rock ‘n’
roll boogie ‘I Can’t Stop,’ then his guitar channels Eric Clapton on the sentimental ‘I Will Miss
You.’
The lovely acoustic sonnet, ‘Chase My Blues Away,’ is slipped into the set for a quick palette
cleanser before Lopez and crew play out the Latin pop fused ‘All I Really Want Is You.’ Special
guest Elle Carr joins Lopez for the duet ‘Sinful,’ bringing her sultry alto from Somerset to the
project, perfectly playing the foil to Lopez on the sizzling tango that should prove to be the
highlight of the album. The horn section joins in again on ‘Cheating Blues,’ adding spice and fire
to the Chicano rock party finale.
Alex Lopez and The Xpress have much to be proud of on this strong fourth release, “Yours Truly,
Me,” taking another bold step forward on their mission to make a positive impact on people’s
lives through their music.
Tracklist:
Woe is me (4:29)
Tush (3:42)
Take me back home* (4:59)
I'm a working man (3:10)
I'm a losing it* (4:06)
I love you blues* (3:14)
I Can't Stop* (3:35)
I will miss you (4:01)Chase my blues away (1:22)
All I really want is you (3:52)Sinful (4:27)
Cheating Blues* (3:22)
Publicist: Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon, betsie@blindraccoon.com
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