Rod Jenkins
Album: The Long Road Home
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: http://livemusicshowcase.weebly.com/rod-jenkins.html

Dorset singer Rod Jenkins is, according to The Long Road Home's producer Andy Stone, "a collector of rather obscure songs, mainly of the Americana genre". Whilst this collection of ten songs is not particularly obscure, Jenkins has successfully avoided going for the obvious tracks from his songwriters of choice.

There is no L.A. Freeway or Desperados Waiting For The Train by Guy Clark instead, he performs a beautiful duet with Jane Eyre on Magnolia Wind. The Road Goes On Forever from Robert Earl Keens early nineties heyday may be the compilation album staple, but this album opens with Black Baldy Stallion from the more recent Ready For Confetti.

Jenkins is not the possessor of the most flexible of voices but it is warm, honest and pleasing, working perfectly on Jeffrey Foucault's Northbound '35 and Richard Shindell's Fishing - both excellent choices. Female backing vocals feature on most tracks and colour is added by way of banjo, mandolin and violin; the slide guitar on Julie and Buddy Miller's My Love Will Follow You is exceptional.

In short, The Long Road Home is a delightful album that feels more than just a simple collection of songs.

John 'The Jacket' Hawes