Music review: Jonny Lang — 鈥楩ight for My Soul鈥�
Jonny Lang continues his musical revival on his first album in seven years, maturing as a solid lyricist and versatile singer.
Lang follows up 2006鈥檚 Grammy Award-winning 鈥淭urn Around鈥� with more spiritually-charged arrangements possessing elements of funk, blues, gospel, soul and contemporary R&B in his new album 鈥淔ight for My Soul.鈥�
The gifted guitarist lets it all burn down on the scorching opener 鈥淏lew Up (The House).鈥� The high-energy number relays a blues-rock vibe while setting the musical tone for this diverse album.
It鈥檚 certainly no secret that Lang can belt out the blues with the best of them, but now the North Dakota native ventures beyond the blues to evolve into a cross between John Legend and Prince, delivering his signature mixture of textural arrangements filled with complex vocal layering and passionate musicianship.
The old-school funk of 鈥淲e Are the Same鈥� is pulsating and infectious as Lang pulls off a Stevie Wonder-esque vocal performance. On 鈥淭he Truth,鈥� Lang delivers Santana-sized guitar licks as he pours out his heart in this intoxicating number of fading love.
Motown soul and contemporary gospel carry the 鈥淭he River鈥� to the album鈥檚 inspirational breakout moment, featuring a sweeping chorus with a get-off-your-feet attitude. Tommy Sims, who co-wrote Eric Clapton鈥檚 Grammy Award-winning 鈥淐hange the World,鈥� masterfully oversees the stellar production, blending the numerous styles into a satisfying and cohesive magnum opus.
鈥淔ight for My Soul鈥� offers plenty of tender moments, such as the engagingly stunning love songs 鈥淎ll of a Sudden鈥� and 鈥淚鈥檒l Always Be.鈥� 鈥淪easons鈥� is a charming look at the coming fall months with a nostalgic flavoring as Lang鈥檚 voice sounds comforting and
welcoming. Lang鈥檚 new material is a slight deviation from the tunes found on his major label debut 鈥淟ie to Me,鈥� recorded when he was still a teenager.
Now 32, Lang鈥檚 songs are steeped in the spiritual elements of love, faith and hope. The spotlight is now clearly focused on Lang and deservingly so, as 鈥淔ight for My Soul鈥� is a resounding triumph.
Lang will perform from his latest work at Greensburg鈥檚 Palace Theatre on Nov. 12.