Alan Cornelio & La Paz – Peace Boy (Album Review)

Today’s review will take you down the road less travelled yet earnestly travelled, through music that combines a myriad of influences ranging from alternative rock to hip-hop and rap, with a bit of pop, funk, singer-songwriter and Latin mixed into this. Meet Alan Cornelio.

Alan Cornelio is a multi-hyphenate: a singer, songwriter, rapper, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist from Dallas, Texas. He is of Mexican descent, and this rich cultural background colours and influences his art, making hip sing and rap based off of his experiences regarding his identity and upbringing in his music.

In his latest project, titled ‘Peace Boy’, we will explore a soundscape of live rock instrumentation coupled with 90s/00s hip-hop sampling. This also includes a pastiche of rap flows, sample textures, alto singing and compelling lyrics. This is his 2nd project released independently, and it has done well on college radio, debuting at #18 on the North American College Radio charts in the Latin genre. Some of the notable singles on this release include the title track and ‘Zacatecana’.

Honestly, this album is quite predictable in what it intended to put out. I would frankly say that the strongest parts of the album are the songs that stay close to Hispanic culture, such as the Interlude and Zacatecana, as they sound absolutely exhilarating and cultured, with a lot to pay homage to. However, the rest of the album to me seemed to be a combination of an interpretation of indie rock mixed with a bit of what intended to be ‘hip-hop’ influences, but really came across as either badly-mastered or almost like a 2010s attempt at trying to revitalize the genre of hip-hop- it really doesn’t fit to my ears.

However, beyond my own ears, I think all of the songs on the album would definitely appeal to most people. It is from the heart, with a lot of melodic arrangements that go through the motions of how it feels to exist. I think this is one of the plus points of composing an album from the perspective of a singer-songwriter: you get to personalise everything, even if a particular composition reminds you of other existing compositions.

Even the songs that have hip-hop influence, I have to genuinely say, it has an ‘indie’ appeal to people who can appreciate things that are quirkier without the need for it to sound operatic or rather, subtle. This album is chock-full of character and gusto.

One thing that I have to praise Alan for is his skill of lyricism. The lyrics for ‘Peace Boy’, pulled from the official Bandcamp release will show you his exemplary skill for condensing a thought-provoking conundrum relating to human affairs into an artistic series of musings:

Uh, hop in the cut with the flow of a Christian Dior (yeah)
This angel going up, but morale going low
Lost souls, faded glow of our brethren
Heathen-like disgusting, political gain of pure digression
Spin around their way, and it’ll add the depression
Aptitude in their wicked ways
Saying “watchu got on you that I don’t have?”

Ever longing feeling, all they want
Eyes to the universe, it’s gotta get got
Want to play inside the rot?
Nah, rather be a peace boy
I’m that peace boy
Ordinary man can scorch the earth
If they ever had a chance it’d all be sold
Never to return
Nah, I’d rather be a peace boy
I’m that peace boy

Punishment fits the crime
Watered down colors, they don’t do the time
Hold them in their praise, but you got no safe tabernacle
They’re gunning, finding new ways to shoot you down to just shambles
Nothing but the pain, leave you strained on a gamble
The farse, a face that worsens the facade, vandals
Changing up the rhythm and we got to pretend to play the part
Bright future, stunted dark

Ever longing feeling, all they want
Eyes to the universe, it’s gotta get got
Want to play inside the rot?
Nah, rather be a peace boy
I’m that peace boy
Ordinary man can scorch the earth
If they ever had a chance it’d all be sold
Never to return
Nah, I’d rather be a peace boy
I’m that peace boy

It almost reminds me of the lyrics to ‘Where is the Love?’ by Black Eyed Peas. It has the underpinnings of social commentary mixed with the humbleness of a simple individual, who yearns to be the champion of peace rather than the instigator of turmoil and consternation, also bleeding to the very subtle yet dynamic soundscape surrounding the song.

If I had an artist to compare him to, minus his cultural flair that frankly sets his sound apart, it would be the artist Sondre Lerche from Norway. He has a very similar knack for indie-rock mixed with a particular need for experimentation stuck within the otherwise freeing confines of genres specific to a certain time period. There’s a suaveness to the licks, all while staying true to himself.

I think there’s definitely a larger space for Alan Cornelio to take up in the world of music. He definitely has a knack for knowing what genres to mix, all while supplementing these compositions with adequate lyricism. I also have to say, kudos to the mastering, as the tracks are mostly adequately balanced with none of the levels off.

SCORE/Good: ‘Peace Boy’ is a down-to-earth album that does not hold back when it comes to having an authentic body of work for Alan to metaphorically jot down his experiences and connect with not only his audience, but himself. It is humble but filled with creativity and familiar motifs, all that is enough to truly find a spark with an eager listener.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

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