It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Forrest VanTuyl (also known as An American Forrest) — and “The County” gives us a clue as to where he’s been: out in the back country, also called “The County.”
VanTuyl helped write some songs on his wife Margo Cilker‘s most recent albums, but to my knowledge this is his first solo release in a few years. When he’s not on the road, VanTuyl is on the trail in the back country of the Pacific Northwest. “The County” recounts some of those experiences out in a place that seems to be out of time, where you still need to rely on yourself, your animal, and the few people surrounding you. “The County” plods along at the pace of the narrator’s pack pony, unfolding as gently as the trail.
I was fortunate enough to see him sing this live in Elko. The descriptive nature is so thorough and the feelings of being on the land are profound.
We’ve been pen pals for a long time but I hope to see him in NYC some day!