The earliest rock stars were allowed plenty of freedom. Sure, all the retro TV shows and the documentaries must be right about that. Still, the same music stars, the moment that they put their name on any recorded work, also signed a kind of gentleman’s agreement. They weren’t going to mention being married, the war, or dying, unless it was to include it in some song about freedom and cars wrecked on the highway.
As it turns out, that reduces the human experience to only a handful of song-worthy topics. Yes, everyone likes to hear tunes about how great Summer is bound to be. There’s not one person who doesn’t want to be reminded of falling in love. But the idea that this is all that awaits every listener is bound to eventually make them nervous. What is it that typical pop songs are hiding?
Bravely, but not morbidly, singer-songwriter Brock Davis dares to show his audience the possible ending of things, not merely the shiny stars. “Nothing Lasts Forever” is a collection of heartfelt songs inspired by someone being moved by the hand of fate on the edge of a precipice. Many of the tunes, indeed, feel as if they were written just after departing the edge.
Listen to the opening track, “All of You.” No doubt that this is a song about love and acceptance of another person. But, as you dig deeper, you’re likely to realise that this is also a message about accepting the transient nature of life itself.
But, thankfully, this ain’t no bummer, no record meant to make you weep and question your life choices. If anything, this is a celebration of what we do have. “My Beautiful Bride” is an earnest vow, while the slide-guitar lead “I’ll Be Your Alibi” tells the story of love as an antidote against the tumult of the outside world.
Getting a new lease on life, for Davis, doesn’t mean ignoring the day-to-day hardships that so many of us are forced to live with. The songwriter is daring when he talks of tough choices on “I’m Glad You Left Me,” love for one’s parents on “Daddy’s Girl,” or financial insecurity on the radio-friendly “One Paycheck Away.”
Where does this leave us? Celebrating life and acknowledging the daily pains because, simply, there’s no other sane way to go about things. Brock Davis knows that time is short and a precious commodity. But on “Make Your Own Change,” the song that ties the 14-song collection together, he contemplates the need to start over, improve, and find some kind of redemption before it’s too late.
