Lou Arreaga - ROAD

Lou Arreaga

ROAD
self-released; 2021

3.7 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

Lou Arreaga is a singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, CA, who recently released ROAD. The musician mentions: “The album was inspired by a solo road trip where much was contemplated on miles of highway. The album reflects my thoughts on life, love, existence.”

The album is a mix of rock and folk with a somewhat classic Americana vibe. “Face” is the opener and starts with drums and a solid guitar groove. It’s pretty catchy and also contains a decent amount of psychedelia.

“Tell Me Something Good” is a little more classic rock with an attitude. The first song that really stuck out to me was the melancholy and sparse “A Hunger.” It’s a straightforward folk song but well delivered and emotive.

“Want” lays into all the classic staples of Americana. It’s a tale of a guy waking up beside a glass of whiskey and is mixed with a lot of nostalgia and reflection. “Drive On” is more of a blues jam with a solid lead guitar.

“The Way” is more another sparse stripped back song but more in the style of Pink Floyd but that might have just been because of the reverb. The mood is lifted up by the more energetic and driving “Reflection.” “Inside” is a tender, intimate and heartfelt tune while “Tired” is more of a rock ballad. Last up is a reflective closer entitled “Long.”

As an engineer myself I thought the recording quality was solid for DIY. On that note I would love to hear some future recordings with some more fidelity.

The writing and delivery was consistently good. I do think his sound was a bit broad and it was hard to pick up on a signature sound. The one thing I think I’d like to hear more of is an X-factor which really defines his work to him.

​I really enjoyed these songs. He’s a versatile artist who can rock and also find intimate moments that feel real and in the moment. Take a listen.

Become A Fan

Tweet