With his departure from
Warrant a few years prior to
Back Down to One, many viewed
Jani Lane as a one-trick pony unable to hack it without his hair metal cronies. Bound and determined to prove his critics wrong, he began compiling the "Jabberwocky" project but never brought those demos to fruition. Instead, he unleashed this 11-song offering. It's this record which perfectly illustrates the challenges of musicians who face the daunting task of evolving in a musical climate which no longer takes them seriously, instead viewing them as retro-novelty acts from the '80s.
Lane, for the most part, passes the tests laid before him with reasonable skill, abandoning the misogynist lyrics which were a hallmark of
Warrant for more introspective compositions. The music has also taken a more contemporary twist, with the album's title track taking direct lines from the
Foo Fighters' play book.
Back Down to One may not win him any new fans, but it proves that there was some substance buried beneath all of that lingerie, Aqua Net, and leather. ~ Rob Theakston