With Retro Revival, Alex Lopez and his powerhouse trio ALX deliver the kind of blues-rock album that doesn’t just nod to the past—it reclaims it, rewires it, and fires it back into the present with a renewed sense of purpose. Due February 6, 2026, the record arrives with strong early buzz calling it a likely “blues-rock album of the year,” and for once, the hype feels earned. Lopez, long regarded as a revitalizing force in the modern blues scene, has crafted an 11-track set that functions as both a tribute and a forward push, an homage to the architects of the genre and a statement about where blues-rock can still go.
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From the first crackling notes of opener “One More Time”, Retro Revival sets out its thesis clearly: emotion, storytelling, and guitar-driven firepower. Lopez’s Cleveland rock-and-roll roots are on full display in the track’s swagger, but so is his lifelong study of the British blues gods—Clapton and Page—whose influence infuses his phrasing without ever overshadowing his own voice.
“Your Lovin” brings a funk-tinged strut that recalls his genre-blending era on Yours Truly, Me…, proving that while ALX is currently working with a stripped-down three-piece format, they’re not interested in sonic minimalism. Lopez’s guitar fills the space with seasoned authority, bending and stretching the melody like a vocalist in its own right.
Traditionalists will gravitate toward “When I Sing the Blues,” a blues-rooted track built on the rich, emotive delivery that has earned Lopez comparisons to some of the genre’s most expressive singer-songwriters. This is where his mission—to inspire through emotive performance—comes through most clearly. It’s storytelling first, technique second, but the technique is undeniably formidable.
The heart of the album, though, lies in its wild card cuts. “What the World Needs Now” and “Angry” feel spiritually linked to the expansive narrative ambition of his 2022 concept triumph Nasty Crime. Lopez once again reflects on the world’s fractures: division, uncertainty, a society stretched thin. But instead of despair, he frames his observations with resolve. The blues is not just a genre—it’s commentary, catharsis, a call to stay awake…and even smile occasionally.
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“Hey Little Sister” adds warmth and charm, while “Loving You Gave Me the Blues” dips into slow-burn heartbreak with the kind of precision only a veteran songwriter can deliver. “Name of Love” and “Black Hole” crank the rock energy up several notches, showcasing the muscular cohesion of the new ALX configuration. This three-piece format clearly brings out a rawer, more immediate side of Lopez’s playing.
The closer, “Keep on Living,” is an anthem with genuine uplift—an echo of Lopez’s long-standing blend of inspiration and electric blues grit. It’s the perfect note to end on, reflecting a career marked by evolution, resilience, and a relentless commitment to pushing the genre forward.
Retro Revival succeeds because it isn’t content to celebrate the past; it insists the blues still has something urgent to say. And with ALX behind the wheel, it does.
Gwen Waggoner