Brian Langlinais
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Brian Langlinais

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"Altcountry.nl Review"

Brian Langlinais(www.brianlanglinais.com) is a singer. A singer with soul. The real thing.

On the opening tune "It Could Be
You", written by Pat McLaughlin, you'll hear a supple voice like that
of Robert Cray. But don't worry, Brian Langlinais steers well clear
of smooth blues. This is the sort of rhythm and blues with which
Delbert McClinton raised the temperature in honky-tonks. In recent times we've regularly heard white soul rooted in country music, but not nearly always as strong as on this record. Rock & Fire is the title of the debut album from Brian Langlinais, who hails from Louisiana. He writes none of the tunes himself. Seven of the eleven songs on this album are by Gary Nicholson, who for ages has fulfilled a similar role for Delbert McClinton. Langlinais hits the correct notes with his supple voice, but much more important is that he sings as if they're his own words. The album was produced by Walt Wilkins and Tim Lorsch, the team that two years ago was also responsible for Mercy by Sam Baker. With five guitarists there's also a lot to enjoy instrumentally. On Reason To Try Langlinais sounds
like Ray Charles, and that alone should be reason enough to try this
CD.
- John Gjaltema


"Rootstime.be review"

Some reviewers wait the entire year until just before Christmas to reveal their list of favorites, but I never cared for this approach. I don't give points to music, for me the only criterion is: does it move me deeply from within, or not? If I nevertheless had to make a list, then I'd have to add a newcomer to position 1 or 2 at the last moment. Brian Langlinais from Louisiana is the best I've heard in a
long time, and whether his music moves me... What he contributes is along the lines of Subdudes, Pat McLaughlin, Delbert McClinton, Levon Helm or even Ray Charles. Thus a sort Rhythm & Blues that is grafted on Country and Honky Tonk, and I dare to claim without blushing that he deserves a place among these great names. Brian previously sang in the Cajun band "File" and thereafter in the Zydeco/Blues band Zydeblu. On this album he covers two songs from one of his musical influences, Pat McLaughlin, in an extremely convincing fashion, and Pat even plays guitar on these two songs, "It Could Be You" and "Not Far From It". More great names also join in. Pianist and accordianist Steve Conn, for example, and the guitarists Walt Wilkins and James Pennebaker. Brian is a wonderful singer, not only technically, but he knows how to touch the listener with his voice and convey directly the emotions of the lyrics, soul to soul (to use a lovely English term). The lion's share of the songs are written by Gary Nicholson, the man who provided hits to Delbert McClinton, and these songs aren't leftovers. They are strong songs with beautiful melodic lines, the reason that I have continued to follow Delbert (with Glen Clark) since his debut. "Leap of Faith" is one of the songs that Nicholson and Clark wrote. Clever of Brian to pick one of the strongest songwriters of the moment who writes songs suited to his voice and style. If all the rest is good, you have a winning team. Thus I don't think it's necessary to emphasize this again, but as far as I'm concerned Brian Langlinais is just about the most promising Roots artist to come along in 2007, but I realize tastes differ, so if you're a fan of the musical influences mentioned above, listen to this CD now!
- Freddy Celis


"Keys and Chords"

Once again we connect with this man,and I say,wow, what an
encounter,because Brian has everything ,his physique included,to break through on the highest level.

In order to make this cd he was surrounded by thirteen or so
musicians and apparently they were chosen very carefully for this job. Most of the cd is what I would call a mix of contemporary blues with soft soul, but Brian keeps everything on a very low burner.So we don't get exaggerated guitar rifs here to accentuate a solo, nor a woodchopper of a drummer,but a guy who knows how to make his hides sound in the right tone. The organ has a supporting role here, but here and there it gets a little too much.

As an opener we get It Could BE You ,a number that is dripping of the delicious chords,a fantastic mix of organ and guitar and again that
professional approach; all the instruments seem to b e dosaged in the right place.And it doesn't end with this fantastic number ,because
all the following ones will make you wonder again, "Why haven't we heard from this guy sooner?"

Listen for instance to Reason To Try, to get goosebumps, not only
from the music and the text, but also because of Brian's amazing
voice timbre. Sometimes he reminds me of Southside Johnny. With only a soft piano, drums and a guitar he knows how to create a brew that for everybody will taste as a delicious fresh pint of beer. What a great voice that guy has.

Thanks to the great variety in the numbers you get a homogenous cd
that won't bore you one moment.A caleidoscope of terrific songs are
released on the listener and that listener will only ask for more.
Once again a man who wouldn't stand wrong on one of our Flemish
podiums,because it's about time that the gentlemen organizers come up with some new names.If it were only to break the monotony in their offers( constantly recurring names) or don't they dare to try anything new?

- Alfons Maes


"Wade Jessen"

“Although distinctive singers are often in short supply, Brian Langlinais is a fresh voice that's worthy of notice. With an obvious ear for top shelf songs and a unique vocal approach, Brian's
Rock & Fire is a must-hear.”
- Billboard


Discography

"Zydablu"
"Rock and Fire"

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Bio

IN HIS DEBUT CD, ROCK AND FIRE, singer Brian Langlinais reveals a talent solid as stone and a voice hot enough to ignite a crowd or fuel a smoky affair. Rhythm and blues, rock and honky-tonk, even soulful ballads benefit from Langlinais’ skillful phrasing and supple voice in this impressive first release. Rough and smooth in all the right places, his voice shakes up the house one moment and soothes sweat-soaked listeners the next. Langlinais (pronounced LONG-li-nay) is a native son of Louisiana, a fact evident in his music. His vocals have a driving, infectious energy but the real power of his performance is his willingness to give the music away, to make the song about the listener—not himself or the band, but anybody and everybody whose ever loved, lost, taken a chance, told a lie, hit bottom or touched the sky. “For me, the whole point is to evoke emotion, touch the soul,” Langlinais says. “That’s what ‘soul’ music means to me—and that’s what I’m trying to create.”
Produced by Walt Wilkins and Tim Lorsch of Bull Creek Productions in Nashville, the recording is clear-headed, creative, and happily devoid of heavy overdubs. Mature, but with enough kick-ass spirit to make you believe time is on your side—at least until the music stops. “When I was looking for songs for this album, I wanted lyrics that spoke to my heart as much as they might showcase my voice,” says Langlinais. “I’m a guy who’s been married for more than a few years, so I know a song like “I Wish I Could Be That Strong” speaks to a lot of people,” he adds. “And who, at our age, doesn’t know somebody with an addiction problem—which is why I chose “How Far Down.”
Langlinais’ rendition of both songs demonstrates a depth and quality of understanding absent in many performers, including some whose recordings top today’s charts. Clearly, Langlinais knows it takes more than hitting the right note; an enduring performance requires striking a chord with the listener. And that he does, track after track.
For Rock and Fire, Langlinais selected cuts—many by Gary Nicholson, an award-winning songwriter and longtime writing partner of the inimitable Delbert McClinton—urging us to dust off our dreams or find new ones. Langlinais sings the lyrics with confidence, even muscle, but never sounds cocky—his vocals infused with genuine empathy. His music is heavily influenced by his deep Acadian roots which can be traced back to the 1700s and the original migration of French Canadians to Louisiana. Growing up in Lafayette—the heart of Cajun country—Langlinais was steeped in the distinctive and evocative vocals, strong rhythms, bluesy backbeats and undulating bass lines typical of swamp pop, zydeco and other musical sub-genres of south Louisiana.
His music also reflects his late father’s musical tastes, which favored innovation over tradition. “My dad was a tenor sax player in a ‘swamp pop’ band and played every night in clubs,” Langlinais says. “But he really wanted to be a jazz player.” His father exposed him to the best in jazz—Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins, Bud Shank and other legendary innovators—and, later on, to progression fusion bands such as Chicago, and Blood, Sweat and Tears. Listening to Rock and Fire, its clear Langlinais has distilled the best of those musical influences into a fluid, emotional essence and, along the way, become a “soul” singer in the truest sense of the word.