Brendan Bonsack - forget me not

Brendan Bonsack

Forget Me Not
self-released; 2013

3.8 out of 5

By Eva Cantillo 

Brendan Bonsack is a poet and musician from down under, Australia. He brings us this compilation of songs that are somewhat folky yet upbeat in a pop-like way. Yet throughout the entire album, what really shines is the lyrics of each song. You can really tell that this individual has somewhat of an effortless appeal in regards to stringing together words. On top of that, Bonsack is also musically inclined, making Forget Me Not an interesting listen all the while.

The first listen from the album tells stories through a blues-inspired lense, yet the music can also be considered contemporary rock as the sound is structured and not as bland as traditional folk music. The first song, “Edible Prayer” is a somewhat dramatic and epic song that spins a poetic metaphor about how ethereal parts of life are very real and can translate into physical means, “All the prayers were edible… all the air was breathable.”

The song “Man in the Moon” reminds me of a song from a musical, it tells a compelling story through a cinematic experience. It describes an intense love; “she burns like a sun, and I have nothing left in return.”  The next track “Fear of Balloons” has a bit of an indie-rock feel with a dark edge. There is harmonization with a female vocalist as each sings unique lyrics that describe an interesting and somewhat bizarre individual.  

Forget Me Not is clearly more than just music, it is poetry that one can relax to and just let the words be sung to them by pressing play. Each song has a unique landscape and situation to it and the music that accompanies it is appealing and well produced.

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