Jonny Lang - Turn Around (2006)

BIOGRAPHY ALLMUSIC

(by Stephen Thomas Erlewine)

Modern blues in the '90s had a weird phenomenon of teenage blues guitarists rocketing to popularity with their first album. The entire trend culminated with Jonny Lang, a guitarist from Fargo, North Dakota, who released his solo debut album Lie to Me when he was 15. At the age of 12, he attended a show by the Bad Medicine Blues Band and began playing with the group. Several months later he had become the leader, and the newly re-named Kid Jonny Lang & the Big Bang relocated from Fargo to Minneapolis and released their debut album, Smokin, in 1995. The LP became a regional hit, leading to a major-label bidding war and culminating in Lang's signing to A&M Records in 1996. Early in 1997, his major-label debut, Lie to Me, was released to mixed reviews; Wander This World followed late the next year.

REVIEW ALLMUSIC

(by Thom Jurek)

On 2003's Long Time Coming, Jonny Lang made the first turn from his rap as an itinerant blues-rocker to being a spiritually inspired rock and pop songwriter. Producer Marti Frederiksen took Lang's tunes and glossed them to the breaking point, leaving the album an unfocused, gobbledygook set of songs that had no center. Three years later, Lang returns with Turn Around. And the title does not refer to him turning back to his blues guitar slinger roots. Instead, the title refers to the biblical term that is the definition of the word "repent." (No mistake.) Lang's overt spirituality comes ringing through the mix created by Drew Ramsey Lang and Shannon Sanders. Turn Around is funkier, dressed in contemporary gospel, gritty rock and yes, the blues. Lang's still got a way to go as a songwriter, but the material here is infinitely better than it was on his last outing. The gospel underpinnings help because his "the Jonny Lang Thankful Choir" is no less than 13 voices strong. Unfortunately, the "anthem" on this record, "One Person at a Time," is just plain corny, talking about wishing for triple-platinum success, but if it "only reaches one set of ears/I will have fulfilled my purpose here...." C'mon. Nice sentiment, but as a song it's just plain lousy. Tracks like "Thankful," which utilizes the choir very effectively and employs duet vocalist Michael McDonald, is startlingly good. Another track that works well is "My Love Remains," which takes its opening riff from a very big radio hit of the '90s, and then inverts it. The track's real surprise is in Lang's falsetto vocal performance, which reveals a new depth for him as a singer. "Don't Stop for Anything," proves that Lang should just give up trying to be a hard rocker; he simply can't pull it off. Much better are his attempts at gritty soul, such as on "Anything's Possible (Don't Let 'Em)," which once again has dumb lyrics but as a singer's tune is a delight. It's as if he needs to prove to someone — perhaps only to himself — that he's arrived as a musician. The funky gospel and soul of "On My Feet Again" blends all of his talents as a singer, guitarist, and songwriter — with killer horns and choir in the pocket — and offers a real view of what this man is capable of. His acoustic numbers, such as "That Great Day" with mandolins, steel guitars, and a country gospel flavor are also noteworthy. Lyrically, he's singing from the heart, not his resentments on these tunes; he has nothing to prove to anybody anymore. It should also be noted that A&M is to be applauded for sticking by him with such a bold move. Ultimately, Turn Around is a great leap from Long Time Coming, and is an exciting if somewhat flawed hint at what is on the horizon as Lang develops further, becoming more confident in his role as a veteran instead of a boy wonder.

CREDITS
David Angell: Violin
Jim Anton: Bass
Michael Bland: Drums
Sam Bush: Mandolin
Danelle Corbin: Choir, Chorus
David Davidson: Violin, String Arrangements
Ametria Dock: Choir, Chorus
Melinda Doolittle: Vocals (bckgr)
Chris Dunn: Trombone
Jason Eskridge: Vocals (bckgr)
Dean Esther: Choir, Chorus
Barry Green: Trombone
Jim Horn: Sax (Baritone)
Matthew Emery Johnson: Choir, Chorus
Kim Keyes: Vocals (bckgr), Choir, Chorus
Anthony LaMarchina: Cello
Haylie Lang: Vocals
Jonny Lang: Guitar, Piano, Vocals, Choir, Chorus, Producer
Cynthia Matthews: Choir, Chorus
Michael McDonald: Piano, Vocals
Buddy Miller: Guitar
Doug Moffett: Sax (Tenor)
Aaron Pearce: Choir, Chorus, Wurlitzer
Shannon Sanders: Organ, Choir, Chorus, Producer
Chimere Scott: Choir, Chorus
Rebecca Shocklee: Choir, Chorus
Javier Solís: Percussion
Quentin Ware: Trumpet, Horn Arrangements
Sara Watkins: Fiddle
Kristin Wilkinson: Viola
Jackie Wilson: Choir, Chorus

TRACKS
1 Intro 0:17
2 Bump in the Road (Lang, Ramsey, Sanders) 3:40
3 One Person at a Time (Lang, Ramsey, Sanders) 3:02
4 The Other Side of the Fence (Lang, Ramsey, Sanders) 3:04
5 Turn Around (Lang, Pierce, Ramsey) 4:41
6 My Love Remains (Chapman, Lang, Ramsey, Sanders) 3:51
7 Thankful (Lang, Ramsey, Sanders) 4:04
Performed by: Lang, Michael McDonald
8 Only a Man (Lang) 4:15
9 Don't Stop (For Anything) (Lang, Ramsey, Sanders) 5:00
10 Anything's Possible (Lang, Ramsey, Sanders) 3:48
11 Last Goodbye (Lang, Ramsey) 3:56
12 On My Feet Again (Carney, Lang, Ramsey, Sanders) 4:23
13 That Great Day (Lang, Ramsey) 4:36
14 It's Not Over (Lang, Ramsey, Sanders) 5:32
15 Outro 0:50

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