Another Way to Go

In the lead-up to Another Way to Go, Radney Foster’s ex-wife moved to France with their young son, a change that Foster later admitted had a cataclysmic effect on his songwriting. “If I'm going to write something, I'm going to write it from a heartfelt perspective,” he said in 2002. “Not that I didn't before, but it got really re-emphasized in a really strong way. And it made me think that going, ‘Gosh, that's a cool hook, maybe I should write a song,’ is not as important as asking, ‘What am I trying to say here?’” Another Way to Go speaks to that directness and truthful urgency. At the same time, there's a lot of pain and regret here, especially on “Disappointing You,” but because Foster deals with darkness in such a forthright manner, his songs of love are that much more affecting. “Love Has Something to Say About It” and “Scary Old World” depict a commitment that means more because it's been earned, while “Everyday Angel” gives thanks for three overlooked heroes who impacted Foster’s life. Ultimately, his gratitude makes an impact because, like his pain, it's been dredged from a pool of truth.