reviews from around the web #2

Originally Posted Wednesday, March 7th, 2007

MUSIC REVIEW:

Batdorf and Rodney are home again

By JIM CARNES, The Sacramento Bee

More than three decades after putting an end to Batdorf and Rodney, John Batdorf and Mark Rodney are singing together again - and it's great. Just like old times. Except with a maturity of songwriting on Batdorf's part that imbues this set with warmth and depth. Batdorf refers to "Home Again" as "the Batdorf and Rodney album that was never made," which is sure to delight a bunch of old fans.

It includes three songs from the duo's days together - the title track, which is performed here in a version that's even better than the original; "Ain't It Like Home," which Batdorf performs as a solo; and "Where Are You Now," a duet that has never appeared on a studio album - plus seven new songs.

Those two "home" songs are a clue to a major theme of this set. It's about finding a place of safety and comfort. Other fine songs include "Solitude," "Me and You" and "One Night Stands," which is only about extramarital affairs in that it's about a performer's love of his music and the one-night concert stands on the road.

This is a really fine collection.

**** out of four stars.