Christian López – Red Arrow (2017)

320 kbps | 105 MB | LINKS

Lopez’s Red Arrow, out September 22nd, finds him aiming higher than ever. No longer wishing his years away, he captures a transitional moment familiar to anyone with a Y chromosome – but he does it in real time, not after the fact. Like Onward, it’s full of old-soul insight and melodies as crisp as Appalachian spring water, but now he sings about being young and stupid from experience, letting the mental tug of war between love, exploration and home leave its mark.

Working with a different acclaimed producer this time – Marshall Altman, who’s produced Marc Broussard and Frankie Ballard – Lopez landed on a sound with Red Arrow that flies straight through multiple eras of rock, pop and country. Organic sounds are favored over electronics, while Lopez’s versatile guitar playing provides a millennial take on everything from Eighties rock to timeless folk. Sly, generation-bridging vocals are the common thread, and as interest in Americana rises, Lopez could connect the dots for many young listeners.