I’ve been writing about music for over 20 years now. I would have said I’ve heard every angle imaginable about how a songwriter approaches their craft. I would have been wrong. Alaskan Josh Fortenbery has a new album out, Tidy Memorial, and the ten songs are all written as a eulogy to something or someone. It’s a brilliant idea because you’re forced to find the good, the strength, the positive in the subject. It’s just not right for a send-off to be all disparaging.
The record is generally old school country music, with some dalliances in folk and bluegrass. Nobody Is Pleased has some sweet pedal steel from Erik Clampitt, the only musician on the project not from Alaska, and nice, subtle vocal harmonies. Groundhog (yes, inspired by that movie) is a twangy country ballad about how bad behaviors eventually become habits. Fortenbery notes those tendencies become so ingrained that “I could argue with a statue, still think I won.” City Lights uses Hammond B3 and pedal steel together in a tale that started as a treatise on losing one’s youth, but somehow stayed relevant as fears evolved with age and maturity.
Bluegrass slips in on Poppy’s Waltz, an homage to a beloved Jewish grandfather, who nonetheless had a very different perspective on Israel than Josh. Is It Me is another bluegrass number chronicling the journey to self-acceptance from a place where “I spent years laughing when I was laughed at.” End Of the Bargain is just Fortenbery’s gravelly, woeful baritone and his acoustic guitar in a realization about the slow disintegration of a relationship. The CD ends with Wanderlust, a commentary about our social media-obsessed society. The lyrical visual of a couple in a gorgeous, historical church focused on nothing but selfies and “worshipping yourself for hours” is sadly too accurate.
The title track is a eulogy to a relationship, but also about learning to let go with integrity. Josh Fortenbery took that lesson to heart as wrote the rest of his new album. There’s a bit of melancholy, some moments of regret and wistfulness, but overall it reflects the positive side of learning. Layer underneath that a first class, twangy country sound and Tidy Memorial is indeed praiseworthy.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.