Subj: Sound Bites: Audio Reviews

Date: 4/20/99 4:59:29 AM Pacific Daylight Time

From: AOL News



Sound Bites: Audio Reviews



.c The Associated Press



By The Associated Press



Wander This World (A&M) -- Jonny Lang



This teen-ager's exceptional first album, the 1996 Lie to Me, like any
such startling debut, raised more questions than it answered.
This, his second release, answers them profoundly. Jonny is for real and
this disc is a must. His ability, at age 18, is intimidating. As a singer,
Jonny is settling down. As a guitarist, his play and sophisticated variety
are astonishing.



Already a darling of teen fanzines, he has powerful friends like Mick
Jagger, B.B. King and Buddy Guy. The sharpest track of this disc, ``Still
Rainin','' has been getting rock radio exposure. Lang could emerge as Stevie
Ray Vaughan once did in attracting a pop-weary audience to the blues.



But he is truest on his own, with some nicely written songs, refreshing
variety and soulful vocals that remind us of Steve Marriot, a gravelly young
Stevie Winwood, perhaps even Lang's own idol, Otis Redding.



Lang's covers of Luther Allison's ``Cherry Red Wine'' and Prince's ``I Am''
show a range that would be the envy of many pros who have been at it since
before this kid was born.



By Ralph Siegel, Associated Press Writer.