Wilderness Road isn't precisely
Gino Vannelli's first album in decades -- he's returned to the studio to revisit his old songs, along with tunes written by other people -- but it is his first fully realized conceptual album since 1998's Slow Love.
Vannelli embraces both his advancing age and his wilderness years by slowing the tempo down and turning his attention to softly focused, jazzy ballads. Everything on Wilderness Road sounds as if it was designed to be delivered in a smoky cabaret where
Vannelli can tell stories between his sentimental tales of love, loss, and life. This slightly cheesy quality is ingratiating, since it's not performed with a wink and a nod. Instead, this is
Vannelli singing from his cornball heart, and considering how long it's been since he's done such a thing, it's a welcome turn of events hearing the singer pour himself into this mellow passion project. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine