John Batdorf Singles
Singer-songwriter John Batdorf recently released his latest album, Singles, a collection of songs, most of which were co-written with Michael McLean, whom Batdorf calls his songwriting “brother from a different mother.”
Batdorf explains, “Back in September of 2025, I had a musical idea for a song. I had released Anthem For The Damned some months earlier and wasn’t really ready to jump back into the writing mode, but I did indeed jump right in. There was so much to write about, and so the ‘Singles’ project began with the song ‘Time Bombs.’”
He goes on, “Soon after that song was recorded, the writing juices really started revving up, so I wrote another song, ‘Suffering.’ Since the song content was so relevant with the times, I decided to release them both as singles. Both songs were very well received with hundreds of radio stations all over the world, I thought, why stop now? Next thing you know, I wrote ‘I’ll Stand Ready’ and ‘Just Another Day In Paradise.’”
Batdorf recorded, engineered, and mixed the album; Kevin Bartley handled the mastering. Musical contributors on the album include Dean Parks, Michael Dowdle, and Matthew Batdorf. Jessica Agg created the cover art.
Including the bonus track, “What’s Done Isn’t Done,” Singles encompasses a dozen tracks. Highlights include “In The Middle Of It All,” a subdued country-flavored tune featuring shimmering guitars, a light, catchy melody, and Batdorf’s easy-to-listen-to vocals.
“Time Bombs” travels on a potent rhythmic flow, as resonant instruments form a muscular melody, full of dramatic surfaces. Batdorf’s high tenor conjures up suggestions of Dennis DeYoung.
“Unfamiliar” blends hints of SoCal country rock with delicious folk-rock textures. The flow of the melody is creamy and luminous, radiating a wonderfully layered feel. Whereas “Maybe Tomorrow” merges elements of pop and folk into a low-slung, sparkling tune. Passionate lyrics give the song a feel-good glow.
“Puppy Love 2.0” rides a finessed rhythm, shifting from sidestick snare to a tight, popping beat. Batdorf’s vocals imbue the lyrics with quixotic savors, capturing the intense sensation of young love.
A personal favorite because of its wistful, tender aura, “We Oughta Know By Now,” starts soft and builds to gleaming colors. There’s a luscious warmth to Batdorf’s evocative voice that lures listeners in with its revelation of deep emotions.
Surprisingly excellent, with Singles, John Batdorf shows off not only his captivating voice but his gift for writing appealing melodies.
Discover more about John Batdorf here.
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: REVIEW: John Batdorf “Anthem for the Damned”