Despite the title,
Thorbjorn 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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine