Spring Break
Jonny should've kept playing the blues
By: Jared M. Gulick
Issue date: 2/15/04 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Jonny Lang - Long Time Coming - A&M Records
Genre - Rock
Release Date - 10/14/03
Rating **
Jonny Lang, known as an acclaimed blues guitar prodigy with his prior releases, Lie To Me and Wander This World took a very different approach after an extended wait since his last release. The aptly titled Long Time Coming shows a new side to Lang. This new side doesn't really do him much justice.
Listening to Lang's previous two releases shows just how much he has lost. Lang used to be easily put in the category of great bluesmen such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King just to name a few.
Lang's new sound revolves around rock on Long Time Coming. His guitar playing has become generally simplified and some of his songs sound almost as if they were put on a deadline that was too early to meet. The songs also have become more immature than his past material. The album is geared toward listeners of a younger generation than his last two. He proved in the past that he could be above that. His fans agreed. Now he has regressed to something none of the fans ever thought he would: A musician trying to sell albums, rather than write great blues tunes.
"Long Time Coming," the title track on the album is an acoustic-blues song, yet the guitar is actually out of tune, and at one point his voice even cracks. The slip-ups are too evident to be accidentally left on the album, so only he knows why they're left on. The song was left for dead.
A few "light in the dark" songs on the album were actually enjoyable. "Give Me Up Again," "Red Light," and "Livin' For The City."
"Give Me Up Again" is a basic rock progression (verse/chorus/verse) that includes a killer guitar solo. If Lang would have taken this song as a base approach and built from there, the album would have been much better.
In "Red Light," the ballad of the album, Lang becomes a preacher of sorts. The song has many other hidden meanings, but the most prominent message throughout the song has to do with drinking and driving. He directly says, "A chance to think, am I drinking too much, should I keep going, lose the life that I love, a second glance when coming to a red light." The composition of this song was really done well.
"Livin' For The City," originally written by Stevie Wonder, was a bonus track on this album. It was recorded live at The City Of Hope benefit concert on Oct. 11, 2001. Lang shows off his amazing guitar ability on this track. He transformed Wonder's keyboard lines into sizzling guitar sections.
Two things can be said about Lang. One is that even though this album is a disappointment, he is still one of the best guitarists to come out of the last decade. Another is that he has the potential to be better than what Long Time Coming displayed to his listeners.
Lets hope Lang turns back around for next time.
Genre - Rock
Release Date - 10/14/03
Rating **
Jonny Lang, known as an acclaimed blues guitar prodigy with his prior releases, Lie To Me and Wander This World took a very different approach after an extended wait since his last release. The aptly titled Long Time Coming shows a new side to Lang. This new side doesn't really do him much justice.
Listening to Lang's previous two releases shows just how much he has lost. Lang used to be easily put in the category of great bluesmen such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King just to name a few.
Lang's new sound revolves around rock on Long Time Coming. His guitar playing has become generally simplified and some of his songs sound almost as if they were put on a deadline that was too early to meet. The songs also have become more immature than his past material. The album is geared toward listeners of a younger generation than his last two. He proved in the past that he could be above that. His fans agreed. Now he has regressed to something none of the fans ever thought he would: A musician trying to sell albums, rather than write great blues tunes.
"Long Time Coming," the title track on the album is an acoustic-blues song, yet the guitar is actually out of tune, and at one point his voice even cracks. The slip-ups are too evident to be accidentally left on the album, so only he knows why they're left on. The song was left for dead.
A few "light in the dark" songs on the album were actually enjoyable. "Give Me Up Again," "Red Light," and "Livin' For The City."
"Give Me Up Again" is a basic rock progression (verse/chorus/verse) that includes a killer guitar solo. If Lang would have taken this song as a base approach and built from there, the album would have been much better.
In "Red Light," the ballad of the album, Lang becomes a preacher of sorts. The song has many other hidden meanings, but the most prominent message throughout the song has to do with drinking and driving. He directly says, "A chance to think, am I drinking too much, should I keep going, lose the life that I love, a second glance when coming to a red light." The composition of this song was really done well.
"Livin' For The City," originally written by Stevie Wonder, was a bonus track on this album. It was recorded live at The City Of Hope benefit concert on Oct. 11, 2001. Lang shows off his amazing guitar ability on this track. He transformed Wonder's keyboard lines into sizzling guitar sections.
Two things can be said about Lang. One is that even though this album is a disappointment, he is still one of the best guitarists to come out of the last decade. Another is that he has the potential to be better than what Long Time Coming displayed to his listeners.
Lets hope Lang turns back around for next time.