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Music review: Jonny Lang — ëƵFight for My SoulëƵ

By Cliint Rhodes crhodes@heraldstandard.Com 2 min read
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Music review: Jonny Lang -- 'Fight for My Soul'

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Rhodes

Jonny Lang continues his musical revival on his first album in seven years, maturing as a solid lyricist and versatile singer.

Lang follows up 2006ëƵs Grammy Award-winning ëƵTurn AroundëƵ with more spiritually-charged arrangements possessing elements of funk, blues, gospel, soul and contemporary R&B in his new album ëƵFight for My Soul.ëƵ

The gifted guitarist lets it all burn down on the scorching opener ëƵBlew Up (The House).ëƵ The high-energy number relays a blues-rock vibe while setting the musical tone for this diverse album.

ItëƵs 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 ëƵWe Are the SameëƵ is pulsating and infectious as Lang pulls off a Stevie Wonder-esque vocal performance. On ëƵThe Truth,ëƵ 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 ëƵThe RiverëƵ to the albumëƵs inspirational breakout moment, featuring a sweeping chorus with a get-off-your-feet attitude. Tommy Sims, who co-wrote Eric ClaptonëƵs Grammy Award-winning ëƵChange the World,ëƵ masterfully oversees the stellar production, blending the numerous styles into a satisfying and cohesive magnum opus.

ëƵFight for My SoulëƵ offers plenty of tender moments, such as the engagingly stunning love songs ëƵAll of a SuddenëƵ and ëƵIëƵll Always Be.ëƵ ëƵSeasonsëƵ is a charming look at the coming fall months with a nostalgic flavoring as LangëƵs voice sounds comforting and

welcoming. LangëƵs new material is a slight deviation from the tunes found on his major label debut ëƵLie to Me,ëƵ recorded when he was still a teenager.

Now 32, LangëƵs songs are steeped in the spiritual elements of love, faith and hope. The spotlight is now clearly focused on Lang and deservingly so, as ëƵFight for My SoulëƵ is a resounding triumph.

Lang will perform from his latest work at GreensburgëƵs Palace Theatre on Nov. 12.

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