Henry Cruz is really coming into his own sound, and we love to hear it. With riffs like Mountain and vocals that feel like a new-age Black Crowes, the blues-rock elements throughout What Love Is For: Live Volume 2 scratch that itch in just the right spot. Comparisons be damned, though- Cruz isn’t just copying what’s already been done. He’s taking those influences and turning them into something that feels like his own.
The energy is there from the very beginning and never really lets up. The live-and-loud aesthetic makes you feel like you’re right there in the room, taking in every riff and vocal right alongside the crowd. Every track grabs you almost immediately, but a couple that really stand out are the opening track Just My Luck and What Is Hip?, which is pretty much impossible to sit still through.
One of the best things about discovering an up-and-coming artist like Cruz early is getting to watch them blossom. There’s already a lot of ability and personality here, and seeing how that develops as his songwriting and sound continue to mature is going to be a lot of fun. If you’re down for a fun, straight-up, raw rock ’n’ roll record, What Love Is For: Live Volume 2 is absolutely worth throwing on.