​Forest Sun (from the album No Finish Line

​Forest Sun (from the album No Finish Line

​Forest Sun (from the album No Finish Line available as a self-release) (by Brian Rock)
Eloquent Folk poet, Forest Sun, finds himself in a mellow mood on his 13th album, No Finish Line. Forsaking the subtle Rock and Soul influences that appear in his earlier work, Forest Sun focuses on Folk rhythms with infusions of Bluegrass and American Songbook Jazz to create an easy flowing Sunday brunch soundtrack. 
“Music Is My Medicine” is a tonic for troubled minds and a balm for the ubiquitous malaise of our modern times. Baby grand piano notes accompany Forest Sun as he sings ‘don’t know who to be, don’t know what to do, don’t know why I feel so far from you’. Confronting the confusion and alienation that so many seem to be coping with, he identifies the symptoms of 21st century modern living. Pausing for a moment, he then offers a cure, singing ‘when I can’t change the shape I’m in, music is my medicine’. Subtle Hammond organ strains add a reverent tone as he waxes philosophic, adding ‘I thought it was enough just for me to love you. Now I know I haven’t learned to love the whole world too’. Realizing at some level that we are all connected; Forest Sun wonders how to love everyone, even those we disagree with, even those who seem incapable of loving us. It’s a tall task to be sure. But while he waits on enlightenment, he takes solace in the power of music. Despite life’s setbacks and befuddlements, we can always return to a favorite song to find peace. The gentle rolling rhythm, and Forest Sun’s placid vocals convey that peace perfectly.
Turning sentimental, he shines his light on affairs of the heart. “Precious Days” is a gentle Folk ballad that celebrates enjoying each moment. But even in moments of bliss, he cautions not to abandon yourself to passion. He sings ‘you can’t say your heart belongs to me. Your heart belongs to whatever sets you free’. Recalling the poetry of Kahlil Gibran: ‘Let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you’, Forest Sun urges us to find the space within intimacy, so we may continue to grow rather than be consumed by another. He offers more traditional takes on love on the Bluegrass stylings of “Take Along Our Love”, the sparse Folk of “Because You’re Mine”, the Piedmont Blues tones of, “I Know What You Mean”, and the elegant Jazz of, “Apples and Oranges”. You’ll find no Hallmark cliches in these ballads. Somehow he manages to find fresh ways to express the most expressed topic in musical history. Turning more introspective, Forest Sun reflects on the cyclical nature of life. In “Never Been” he considers the milestones of life, musing ‘life keeps singing no matter what we say. There’s no beginning and there is no end’. What seems like a first to us, may really be just another link in an endless cycle of lives. Continuing the theme on the No Finish Line title track he addresses the fatigue of endless striving. Offering his remedy, he suggests ‘don’t think about it anymore. Who knows what lies in store for us. Don’t worry, take our time. No race, no finish line’. He reminds us that when you stop worrying about tomorrow, you can better appreciate today. Forest Sun suggests that life goes on forever. Whether through reincarnation or the passing of our genes to our children, he leaves the answer for the listener to decide. Either way, he offers a touching word of advice on the melodic “You’ll Have to Find Your Own Way Now”. Like a parent addressing a child who’s leaving home to start life on their own, he offers insights like ‘ambition is not courage. It’s fear turned inside out’. But after offering hie pearls of wisdom, he confesses ‘I’m an April fool all year long… I’ve been raking leaves in windstorms’. Conceding that the greatest wisdom is the awareness of our own ignorance, he recommends humility, faith, and compassion. He offers that same advice on a larger scale in a tough-love letter to the nation on “America, I Love You”, Warning against excess consumerism and addiction to negative network news, he sings ‘we’re all here waiting for the sky to fall. America, I love you. I’ll meet you at the mall’. Summing up an assessment that seems to be shared by both sides of the political aisle, Forest Sun continues ‘I know everyone’s a critic. I don’t mean to be a jerk. I ain’t saying you ain’t perfect – just need a little work. But somebody somewhere has to start. America, I love you. But sometimes you break my heart’. In matters of love, life, and even politics, Forest Sun appeals to our better angels with poetic insight and gently flowing Folk melodies. (by Brian Rock)
Listen and buy the music of Forest Sun from AMAZON
Head over to Forest Sun website for more information