Nashville-based Alex Blizzy is an award-winning artist, whose track “These Footsteps,” earned him a finalist place in the 2022 UK Songwriting Contest’s Adult Contemporary category and has previously won and placed in competitions such as the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest & the International Songwriting Competition. Blizzy is constantly finding new ways to innovate on his sound. And with his debut album A Step Behind, he has created the type of alt-country/Americana music that will have you coming back to it again and again. It’s his timeless approach with warm instrumentals and honeyed vocals that makes his music sound just like home.
A Step Behind gets started with the title track “A Step Behind,” where the electric and acoustic guitar are interwoven here for a great sound. Once Blizzy’s vocals arrives, you can right away sense the sound he is going for. I was immediately getting rock and alt-country vibes. The warm appeal to this track made for a very nostalgic and sentimental vibe. I was reminded of such artists like Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp. The raucous instrumentals in the background proved to be a great listening experience. More simmering instrumentals come in on “Drinking Town.” Blizzy’s vocals are touched with reverb in this track. He sounds like he’s singing away from the mic, offering up a very old-timey approach. The music was very dynamic here. Off to a sauntering groove, the music meanders for a bit for a slow burning appeal on “Wrong End Of Goodbye.” Once Blizzy’s country-bent vocals enter, it certainly clinches the Americana and country vibes.
Some melodious finger-picking on the guitar arrives for a simmering and mesmerizing sound on “These Footsteps.” Blizzy sings with ease on this song. You get the sense he’s perfectly comfortable in his own skin belting out tunes in front of the mic. His performance is very on-point. “Comin’ For You” is a direct change of pace from the other tracks. The sound of an organ is jam-packed with great energy. The jaunty beats and fast vibes were great to listen to. Some more melodious music flows in from the organ and guitar on “Even The Strongest Girls.” I was once more reminded of Springsteen and Mellencamp. The warm vibes definitely made for a great sound.
On “Love On Paper,” some acute strumming on the acoustic guitar comes through for an inviting acoustic sound. Blizzy sings with feeling on this up-close-and-personal track. It really sounds like he’s a mere six feet away performing this song onstage. More rollicking rock tunes comes from the band on “Culture King.” The vibe was jaunty and happening and created great energy. Some melodious finger-picking on the acoustic guitar comes through here. Blizzy’s vocals are imbued with tons of mood and feeling. This proved to be another track in the pensive vein.
Blizzy really has something here. Each of these tracks are imbued with feeling and a sentimental vibe that I couldn’t get enough of. With on-point musicianship and observant lyrics and dynamic vocalizations, the album should actually be called “A Step Forward.” Blizzy shows a lot of talent here and I can’t wait to hear more from him.
