David Franklin Courtright
Brutal Tenderness
(TODO)
4.5/5
While David Franklin Courtright now resides in Los Angeles, the singer/songwriter, originally from Atlanta, draws inspiration from his roots—music such as Appalachian folk, classic rock, and southern hip-hop. His debut album Brutal Tenderness is an emotional journey about a queer boy forced to hide his true self who is grappling with finding a balance between joy and sadness.
Brutal Tenderness really pulls at the heartstrings; the lyrics paint a detailed picture of the narrator navigating the world, and the soft melodies invoke strong emotions like melancholy, while also inspiring hope at the same time.
Courtright’s voice is a perfect fit for the vibe of this album: soft yet powerful, you can really hear the sincerity behind his words. His lyrics are thought provoking and poetic, so much so that listening to his album brought me to tears more than once.
The story he tells is so descriptive, it feels almost as though the listener is transported into the mind of that queer boy, seeing the world through his eyes. I’ve never heard anything encompassing sadness, joy, love, and acceptance; it’s truly an incredible work.
The choice of instruments, like the piano and various strings, go nicely with the vocals and intensify the music’s passion while not distracting from the lyrics. The instrumental segments serve as transitions and are set at lovely intervals, inspiring even more thoughts and reflection. The instrumentals and backing vocals form an almost trance-like vibe, and flow together seamlessly.
Brutal Tenderness is a powerful and emotional album, featuring inspiring and hopeful lyrics, self-reflection, acceptance, and inner healing. It details the repression of one’s true self, and the journey and transition into self-love.
Courtright is off to an amazing start, and I hope to hear more of his music in the future.