If it's possible, In This Life Together may be even stronger lyrically than its predecessor, as Kindred continues to go where no one else does. Who else would handle a song like "Woman First," in which a tired young mother, stuck in the rut of "working or nursing, not sleeping or eating," sings of the moment of respite from her husband, whose romantic touches "make my body remember who I used to be when all I had to be was your woman first." Their celebration of the "in between" of life flows through on great cuts like "Thru Love" and "Where Would I Be (the Question)." Best of all is the first single, "As of Yet," a beautiful song of hope and an acknowledgement of life as a work in progress.
Musically, In This Life Together is a bit of mixed bag, but the subtle melodies get better with each listening. Ultimately, though, this is an album about a message and, especially for those of us living our lives "in between," is so lyrically compelling that, like its predecessor, it is one of the "must have" CDs of the year and is a triumph for this talented duo. Highly recommended.
by Chris Rizik
