Forrest McDonald - Songs From My Soul (2025)

Not a familiar name like Leo Kottke, Eric Clapton, or Roy Buchanan (though on “Misery & Blues,” Forrest comes close to Roy). McDonald has creds. As a guitarist who picked through a 6-decade career, the music is crafted skillfully with themes about love, hope, hard times, faith & rooted in blues, blues-rock, Americana, & a dash of folk.

There are 15 Songs From My Soul recorded in Atlanta. Vocally, he projects a strong baritone & provides some good finger-picking with swinging melodies, provocative tunes, a touch of flamenco, the basic 12-bar blues & some standard fare. It’s primarily an acoustic set by Forrest McDonald (guitars/harmonica/producer).

Originally from Austin, & now in Richmond, VA, it’s been 5 years since his last LP. The seasoned artist has laid out a compelling, varied & entertaining LP. Opening with rich acoustic notes, Forrest vocally sounds like he drank from the same well as the late Long John Baldry, & Mutzie (“The Light of Your Shadow”). A grizzled, raw & effective fusion of bluesy tone is dispensed with “On Your Life’s Road.”

“Blue Mood” is fairly standard stuff, but it’s still an interesting piece, the way Forrest lays it out bluesy & stuffed with acoustic Robert Johnson stylizations. The best cut is “Blue Morning Sun,” — more in Forrest’s comfort zone, though pushes it to his limitations.

“I Can’t Stop the Love” floats close to vaudeville blues ala Leon Redbone. It comes across with a dash of seriousness rather than novelty. “Take My Hand” is also a standard ballad with a splash of lackadaisical charm. The acoustic guitar & its tonality are good.

“Make Love Not War” is wordy, preachy & dated in spirit. For selective tastes. Some songs are a challenge melody-wise. But that’s when a listener needs to concentrate on the groove & the storytelling value — awkward as some are. “The Next Time” blends far better. As for the blues, Forrest packs too many lyrics into some tunes.

The CD is an ambitiously designed 8-panel package. But, nothing suggests the blues, blues-rock, or Americana. The art on this CD is, well, it has Harry Potter-type fantasy images. Not the blues. But that could be forgiven; many songs redeem the artwork. Forrest McDonald is a genuine veteran guitarist/singer-songwriter. His career resume is impressive. He played the solo on Bob Seger’s classic “Old Time Rock & Roll.”