Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado - Change My Game (2017) CDRip

Despite the title, Thorbjørn Risager -- supported by his band the Black Tornado -- doesn't change his game on this 2017 album. He remains faithful to Southern soul and Chicago blues. Playing the songs with conviction if not invention, Risager revels in convention: as fun as the soft rock detour "Hard Time" is, he's best when he's following a familiar path, sinking into simmering soul and R&B. Sometimes the tempo kicks up -- "Hold My Lover Tight" is propulsive, as is "Maybe It's Alright" -- but Change My Game usually keeps things low-key and that's its appeal: never showy, the album is steeped in tradition but prefers to keep things lively and fun.