Harry Bodine, Travellin’ The Southland (EP) (Independent)
Offbeat - New Orleans
There’s always been a kinship between New Orleans and Austin, Texas—Cyril Neville, Marcia Ball, the Iguanas and Theresa Andersson are among the musicians who’ve lived in both cities. So it makes sense that Austin songwriter/guitarist Bodine would team up with a pair of Louisiana standbys, subdudes members John Magnie and Steve Amedee, on his second solo CD after a stint with the band Delta Roux.
Bodine sounds like a man who’s done some hard travelin’, but hasn’t given into world-weariness just yet. The opening title track is a close cousin to John Hiatt’s “Memphis in the Meantime,” the kind of open road song that makes you eager to hit the ignition. “Can’t Get Love Right” is less about the singer’s romantic screw-ups than his willingness to give it another shot. “Now I See” is about feeling the spirit of a lost friend, a topic he pulls off without overdoing the sentiment (and the gospel-esque chorus doesn’t hurt). The instrumental “Graceful Moves” has a late-night cantina feel and allows Magnie to play some conjuncto accordion.
The subdudes’ instrumental contributions generally take a backseat to Bodine’s slide guitar, which is most obviously influenced by Sonny Landreth—his tone is a dead ringer on “Can’t Get Love Right.” Amedee plays the full drum kit instead of his usual tambourine, but keeps his parts characteristically spare; Magnie’s piano bits are also nicely understated. But the two ‘dudes leave a mark on the vocal harmonies. They always appreciated a slow-burning tune with a rousing chorus, and they get some good ones here.
“Austin singer and slide guitarist Harry Bodine gloriously displays his terrific grasp of roots styles on the self released “Which Way Home”. With uniformly excellent song craft, singing, and playing, Bodine has created a daring new album in the often-stagnant Americana genre.” …………………………..……………………………Blues Revue
“What Bodine seems to understand so many others miss; that often less is more. Tasty. Pure. Delicious. Harry Bodine’s album, “Which Way Home,” could be an exciting find for those that love a really good song presented by high-class players with a bent toward underplaying and subtle nuisances.” ………………Rick Galusha - Omaha City Weekly
“Drivin' Up Thru Memphis is the ultimate highway song and can be easily put in the row of classic Memphis songs among which Memphis In The Meantime, Walking In Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee... think John Hiatt with Sonny Landreth on slide.
Why this magnificent CD is self-released and is not released with one of the better labels in the genre is a mystery to me.”………………………………..Mazz Musikas – Belgium
“Bodine, is an exciting guitarist because he relies not on volume but on talent, imagination and excellent songs. Adept at playing slide on resonator and other guitars as well as picking solid body and hollow body guitars, Bodine always shows whats possible in the blues when the songs, not the volume, actually rule.”…………………………....... ………………………………………………………San Antonio Express-News Jim Beal
“Bodine is an original, who first draws on the best of his myriad of musical influences and then stamps his own individual style on the songs, There is not a weak track on this superb album and the conversationalist narrative style and moody slide guitar grab your attention”
………………………………............................................................Blues Matters Issue 40