Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Robert LaRoche’s “Forevermore” boasts ten tracks reflecting on the vagaries of love, but don’t mistake structuring the collection around that emotion as a sign of pop fluff. LaRoche’s lyrical and musical content is more than a cut above disposable and continues developing the gifts apparent in his work with power pop titans The Sighs. He introduces surprising instrumentation throughout these tracks; glockenspiel, marimba, pump organ, David Perales’ violin, and Brian Standefer’s cello all make important contributions to these performances. The autobiographical nature of Forevermore’s ten songs never means that the average listener cannot connect with LaRoche’s experiences. He has a genuine knack for making the personal universal that shines through at multiple points during this collection.
Any adult who’s known the ups and downs of love will relate to the album’s first song “Steal Your Heart”. One of the consistent qualities of Forevermore’s ten songs is how they often balance a multitude of emotions within a condensed work. Devotion and foreboding exist side by side during the course of this track and LaRoche’s experienced instincts as a vocalist juggle those conflicting points of view with impressive skill.
“Burn That Kingdom Down” is even more impressive. This is one of the album’s most impassioned numbers anchored by a complete band performance, arguably the album’s best lyrics, and an eye-popping guitar solo courtesy of guest musician Zonder Kennedy. Another guest, violinist David Perales, leaves a mark on the title song. “Forevermore” zeroes in on LaRoche at his most poetic, but it never descends into overwrought flowery histrionics. He leaves enough to the listener’s imagination, as well, that they’re able to connect with the track in whatever manner best suits them.
“She Knows” has a near-march like tempo and straightforward drumming that spices up the cut with brief fills along the way. Acoustic guitar is at the center of the song, a recurring element throughout Forevermore, and the muscular jangle of the playing contributes to the steadfast pulse that gives this song life. The production infuses even secondary cuts like this with a vibrant sound that helps it surge out of your speakers. “Hard Rain” begins with a classic count-in and LaRoche launches listeners into a dream-like, even slightly hallucinatory, waltz that stands out as one of the album’s best tracks, hands down. He applies tasteful post-production effects to his vocals that elevate the tune even more.
LaRoche’s reflections on relationships and love take yet another turn with the penultimate cut “Traitorous Heart”. It has an angry, heartbroken lyric, but LaRoche shrewdly never plays it in an obvious way. His lighter touch with the material makes it sound even more underhanded, somehow, as if he’s holding back. This creates unexpected tension that many listeners will relish. It highlights the fact that Robert LaRoche’s Forevermore is an album with multiple sides rather than an one-dimensional affair and the musical accompaniment reinforces that. It’s one of the finest releases yet from this songwriter and a choice selection for anyone who loves mature and entertaining songwriting.
Loren Sperry
