Jonny Lang - Long Time Coming [14 Tracks] (CD)

All Music Guide

Not content to be respected for his talents as an above average blues rocker, Jonny Lang makes a rather abrupt change on his third album. Unfortunately, it's to a below average, religiously inspired, hard rocking singer/songwriter. Arriving nearly five years after his last release, there is no problem with Lang realigning himself and staking his claim as a more "adult" musician. But between over the top vocals that sound like he's straining to zip up his trousers, and turgid tunes that lay languid between funk, hard rock and bluesy RB, the album lost whatever audience he still had and didn't acquire any newcomers either. Additionally the tracks are fattened up with multiple overdubs and Pro Tools enhanced sweetening, making the majority of them sound like dated, second rate Journeystyled arena rock. Some of the blame should be handed to producer/cosongwriter Marti Frederikson who seems to think that ladling on strings, drum tracks and as much extraneous goop as possible will make Lang ...more "contemporary." It generally fails and one hopes that Lang can bounce back on his next project. Even the comparatively stripped down "Touch" is obliterated by Lang's uncomfortably strained vocals that make it sound like he's trying to imitate Prince at karaoke night. The acoustic title track starts to make amends, but coming fourteen songs in, it's too little too late. A closing "bonus live version" of Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City" finally nails it, but Lang's singing is still pretentious, the blaring horns are overkill and it only accentuates how subpar the material on the rest of the disc is. It's a major disappointment and setback for a once promising musician. - Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide Read more Less