In November 2024, North Carolina singer/songwriter/guitarist Reese McHenry died at far too young an age. Her posthumous album, aptly titled Forever, arrives with the weight of a farewell but refuses to remain somber for long. What begins as a subdued Americana record, quickly degenerates into an intense rock show. Opener Mississippi Blue is a gentle alt-country ballad, in which only a restrained, gritty edge to the vocals reveals that this is just a fraction of the available power. This comes to full fruition in track 2, the ragged, full-throttle anthem I Do What I Want, which snarls with defiance. The ten songs that follow lie somewhere between this subdued and exuberant side, but are always pressing and heartfelt. Together, it’s a fitting final statement: raw, funny, bruised, and yes, actually fiercely alive.

Forever is out now digitally and on vinyl through Suah Sounds. It’s a collection of Reese McHenry’s final recordings, along with some never-before-heard odds and ends from the last decade. The LP comes with a digital download featuring nearly 40 extra tracks of demos and previously unreleased music.

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