Tuscan-based singer songwriter Brian Lopez recorded this solo debut in between serving as the lead singer for Mostly Bears, and his occasional collaborations with Calexico and Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta. He sings in both English and Spanish and incorporates a mess of instruments, giving his songs a dense rounded-out quality. Indie rock with distinct conjunto, Norteño and Tejano flavors, and also a touch of country and the blues. FCC CLEAN

RIYL: Jeff Buckley, Calexico, Beirut, Squares on Both Sides, M. Ward


1. Driving country-rock with a yodeling hook.
*2. Midtempo with a strong Tango vibe.
3. Slow-drifting, delicate piano ballad. Confessional and touching.
*4. Crooning vocals—some of the best on the record. Sparse piano rolls and eerie slide guitar. Midtempo fragile, confessional.
*5. Midtempo. Pained vocals, loud percussion, and noisy guitar. Lyrics in both Spanish and English.
*6. Midtempo country rock. A desert atmosphere with sandy breezes. Pretty cool slide guitar solo at the end.
7. Throaty love song with hurt vocals and deep swelling orchestral accompaniment. A bit cheesy.
8. Bluesy front porch country rock with a mean fiddle solo.
9. Slow-marching downer. Sparse instrumentation.
10. Slow conjunto with waltzy accordion and sparkly percussion. Lyrics in Spanish.
*11. A proper outro track—slow and epic with rolling piano chords and great vocal harmonies.