Home Again
author: Larry DeVine
This is a great cd from the opening song to the last.
I always loved Batdorf and Rodney and had there albums from the 70'S. The new versions of "Ain't it like home" and "Where are you now" are the kind of songs I can listen to over and over again.
The whole cd is just a great cd.
If you remember Batdorf and rodney these songs will take you back and forward in time.
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Welcome Home
author: Jeanette A. Lundgren
A friend of mine said something once that I am borrowing here: If I only hear one voice for the rest of my life and it's Johns' voice, that's okay. Of course, I don't really wish that - not because I don't appreciate his voice but because I need to hear other voices and styles in order to come back to being able to listen to John, fresh, and appreciate him more every single time -- from pronunciation or enunciation to that endearing quality of Johns' voice to how far he can bend and stretch his vocal range. I hear the person I know now in that voice and sometimes, I can hear the voice I've come to know was Johns' when he was part of Batdorf and Rodney back in the day. The one thing I can always count on from Johns' music is that it brings me back from wherever I've been and centers me and gives me hope and makes me breath easier and know that I can get through another day. --
Musically, that raw talent that started with Batdorf and Rodney in the 1970s, grew and got trained by life, living, and many years of studio background performances as well as television composition. John is a perfectionist when it comes to his music but in being a perfectionist he also does not overwork. He knows when a composition is done and that in and of itself is a musical talent. When John started the project that became HOME AGAIN, he knew exactly what he wanted for each song ... he knew where every drumbeat would go, every shake of the tambourine, where mandolin notes would be dropped in -- all for the best effect. Some of us can hear songs we already know in the engines of a train or airplane but part of Johns' talent is that he can hear it way before it's even a song. --
Altogether HOME AGAIN is a fine piece of work. In being Johns' first full-length solo project it also showcases all those people he has had partnerships with down through the years. This is also one of Johns' talents. He brings out the best in everyone. It's one of the reasons I call him "Magnetic Gold" - he attracts the best of people to him and they stick around. --
Here we all are, safe at harbor. HOME AGAIN. Welcome to it and pass it on.
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Excellent acoustic rock CD. Pick up a copy today!
author: RadioIndy.com staff
"Home Again" by John Batdorf, is a very impressive acoustic adult rock CD. The CD is filled with impressive acoustic guitar work, which sounds really good on this recording. John's vocals are especially beautiful on this CD, and include rich harmonies on many tracks. The recording quality is crystal clear, which is especially effective on this acoustic, unplugged CD, and allows the lyrics to cut through nicely. The songwriting combines well thought-out and thought-provoking lyrics combined with memorable choruses. "Home Again," the title track, combines memorable acoustic guitar work and a memorable chorus, with a powerful lyrical message. "Me and You" includes clever lyrics and nice 2-part harmonies. "Something Is Slipping Away" is a remarkably beautiful song. The up-tempo "One Night Stands" is one of our favorite tracks, with it's hook-filled chorus. If you enjoy acoustic adult rock artists of the 60s and early 70s, such as Crosby, Stills, & Nash, you will enjoy this CD. Pick up a copy today!
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This CD is really the essence of what make John so much fun to listen to and tak
author: The Soft Needle (University Heights, Ohio)
John Badorf Brings Us Home Again, April 13, 2007
This is a really a terrific CD from John Batdorf. It's deep, features two of his most memorable B & R songs in "Home Again" and "Ain't It Like Home" and just resonates with the beauty and the magic he first shared with us over 30 years ago. And, after 30+ years of waiting, we had the great pleasure of seeing him in Kent, Ohio for a solo show. He was superb. This CD is really the essence of what make John so much fun to listen to and take in. The acoustic guitar is memorable and distinctive. His voice is clear, harmonies are beautiful, and the lyrics are either loving or biting, depending on what the song's message is. And when I say "deep", the songs are strong throughout. Few throw-aways here, and there shouldn't be, because Mr. Batdorf hasn't been nearly as consistent with his CD releases as we'd like him to be. Know that his Batdorf and McLean CDs are excellent, but this one is really a return to the feel of Batdorf & Rodney, while giving us the full measure of just what a strong and gifted artist John is. Thanks, John, for reminding us how great it is to hear your brand of acoustic folk or acoustic rock, depending on your mood. Now, if you could just see your way to give us a remake of "Can You See Him," I could go to heaven fulfilled.
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