Self Preservation

Self Preservation

Just as cycles of personal renewal present a running theme on Tori Forsyth’s fourth album, the self-described “grunge country” artist works through several distinctive modes here. There’s the more classically country material, like the jaunty “Notice the Roses” and “Greener Pastures.” Then there are the ballads, including the opener—and striking vocal showcase for the moody Australian songwriter—“I’m Not God.” Most striking of all is a string of darker, more rocking entries. Forsyth delights in pointed lyrics and shadowy distortion on the rockabilly-esque slow burn “Guns and Little Girls,” before delving deeper into foreboding messaging on “Today I Woke Up and Chose Violence” and the rough-riding “Satan in a Sunday Hat.” True to Forsyth’s bifold genre descriptor, the latter tunes take as much inspiration from elemental alt-rock as they do from rascally country storytelling. Whatever her approach, Forsyth makes sure to emphasize resilience and catharsis on this album. “You don’t need those arseholes,” she sings on “Dear Me,” before asking herself more than once: “What kind of woman do you want to be?”