Brian Seymour’s new collection American Courage marks the veteran songwriter’s first album in a decade. Like many recent albums, American Courage grew out of the experience of surviving the COVID-19 pandemic and Seymour’s observations about its effects on himself and those around him. It likewise has the social consciousness that’s defined Seymour’s work since his debut more than two decades ago. The passage of time hasn’t dulled Seymour’s instincts for meaningful messages and the humanity lingering in the heart of his art beats as strongly as ever. The album’s ten songs never view the world through rose-colored glasses but are nonetheless life-affirming compositions guaranteed to resonate with listeners of every persuasion.
He starts things off with “Always Leaving”. Beginning the album with a largely acoustic number forces listeners to focus on Seymour’s lyrical talents and his voice. It isn’t a bad thing. “Always Leaving” comes across as a deeply personal track and peppering the arrangement with light organ supplies it with a splash of additional color. Vivid drumming punctuates the steady press of the second track “Dandelion” and Seymour’s gravelly voice layers its lyrics with emotional ramifications that the lyrics cannot. Make no mistake, however, that his writing remains as sharp as before. The personal continues dominating his songwriting perspective while still striking an universal note.
“American Courage” comes early in the track listing and signals Seymour’s confidence in his material. It’s well-placed. It’s a ballad on a grand scale with piano underpinning the arrangement and strings rising to the surface as the performance progresses. “American Courage” elicits one of Seymour’s most affecting vocals, as well, but the track is far from a rah-rah yay America tune. It’s grounded in reality while still putting forth hope for the nation and its future.
Seymour returns to a neo-folk style with “Like a Vine” but augments it with some of the same orchestration that we hear in the title track. The presence of strings gives the performance an art-pop feel lacking in other American Courage songs and pairs well with Seymour’s voice. The well-worn maturity and fullness of perspective defining “Slowing Down” makes it one of the album’s highlights. His lyrical acumen shines bright during this song and the plain-spoken poetry of his words will affect all but the most hardened and cynical listeners. It’s a deceptively simple tune ripped from Seymour’s heart.
Keyboards, piano, and light percussion are the guiding instruments powering “Man of My Dreams”. It’s Seymour’s voice and lyrics, however, that once again carry the day. His ability to look inward and reveal personal truths that resonate with a wide swath of his audience is one of the distinguishing factors of his performance here and elsewhere. “What Love Is” ends the album on a redemptive and united note. He makes excellent use of backing vocals at critical points in the song and the light musical touch is an astute decision for the album’s final curtain. Ten years in the making, Brian Seymour’s American Courage has an abundance of timeless elements that make it one of the year’s best releases.
Garth Thomas