Search - Jonny Lang :: Wander This World

One of the Best CD's of the Year!

Tom White | Austin, Texas USA | 08/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Youth has its own special grace. This is one of the best CD's of 2000 or any year! It's safe to say Jonny Lang is a prodigy, although some credit has to go to producer David Z. There's not a bad track here, but "I Am," (co-written by Prince, David Z, and Levi Seacer, Jr.) "Angel of Mercy," and "Wander This World" are three astonishing standouts. Better still is "Right Back," written by Jerry Lynn Williams and Danny Kortchmar. Even better than that is "Before You Hit the Ground," written by Kevin Bowe and Mr. Lang. And best of all is the brilliant (Bowe/Lang) "Breakin Me," already a radio hit. Discussing blues influences is like peeling back layers of an onion to find a center, but I definitely hear echos of the great Paul Butterfield Blues Band, especially in the drumming and piano arrangements. What pushes Lang ahead of other great guitarists such as Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton is his singing voice, reminiscent of Joe Cocker's style. Do we do the boy harm raving about his work at such a young age? If he can withstand the ravages of fame, there's not much telling what this kid can come up with. Get this--it's a masterpiece."

Lighten up, he's just a kid.

Karl, a Blues fan | Brainerd, MN USA | 12/05/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When he was still Kid Jonny (16), he used to come over from Fargo to play in Brainerd (yes, that Fargo and Brainerd). We knew then that we would be seeing a future Blues star and he packed 'em into the old hardware store converted to a bar to the tune of about 1200 people. We saw him several times with The Big Bang and his band on Lie to Me. Jonny was never the best musician on the stage. In the Big Bang, his guitar teacher who was in the band was a better guitarist.In his next band, Bruce McCabe on keyboards is phenomenal (pick up a CD by The Hoopsnakes to check out his talent featured and look who wrote Still Rainin', Second Guessing, Wander This World and Angel of Mercy on WTW, and Lie to Me, Darker Side, and Rack 'em Up on LTM). What Jonny did have was stage presence, his young age, and a lot of talent that he has worked hard at developing and maturing. No he's not SRV, (see Walter Trout live if you want to get closer to that), no he hasn't "paid his dues"... no more than any other 19 year old growing up in the Upper Midwest in a "normal" family and community. He happened to hear The Blues, love them, and chose to work extremely hard at learning to play, sing, and eventually write them. Much the same that any of you adoring, young fans could do at something you loved and chose to work as hard as Jonny has at his passion. Just as Lie to Me was, this is very good music, not totally what I was expecting, but still entertaining. For my sake and other Blues lovers, I hope he stays grounded in the Blues because Jonny has a great future. He deserves it because he has talent and he's worked very hard developing it."

Exhilirating peice of blues work for a up and coming star.

p1284 | decatur,ga | 12/30/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This cd marks an astonishment on an ever growing career in blues for a 18 year guitarist from minnasota.He mixes blues with a modern blend of his own,with catchy songs such as (breakin me,second guessing and i am)to the deep song enthusiasm he puts in such great song as the leeve and cherry red wine. He surely will someday follow in a great group of guitarist's such as eric clapton and jimi hendrix he can only get better in time. This cd his second following the prior release LIE TO ME is a 4 star only miscounting for 1 star cause he is just so young but just oh so talented WANDER THIS WORLD is every thing you want in a blues/modern rock compilation so i recommend you buy this for an ever loving blues fan in your home they certainly will enjoy. If this review isn't enough to convince you check out the sample show above to listen to this great young bluesman crank out the rock solid blues."