REVIEW: Robert Bidney “Thank Goodness”

Robert Bidney – Thank Goodness

Folk singer songwriter Robert Bidney recently released an album Thank Goodness. It was produced, engineered and mixed by Fernando Perdomo (Marshall Crenshaw, Jakob Dylan), and mastered by Zach Ziskin.  This album considers the concept of “thank goodness” in multiple ways – in the first sense of the phrase, in pure thankfulness.  But the concept of “goodness” is also treated quite specially, as in, thankfully we still do have goodness, good people doing good deeds, in the world. We thank them. Robert addresses folks who are down and out, folks who are the blessed helpers in a crisis, and at times reflects on the idea that there should be more of these good people around.

Not everyone can churn out an album every year, nor should that be the standard. Quality organic development of songs takes as long as it takes.  And as Robert says of this project:  “It took several years, through the pandemic until now, to finish this, my third album. Featured are eight songs that I hope will help heal the world, inspired by the changes and challenges we’ve experienced.”

“Thank Goodness for the Giving People” starts out with cinematic piano, as the song picks up to sketch out times people gave to each other freely, from the heart, and with no strings attached: “all those hearts and souls.”  A man who cooks food in the back of his truck to give to hungry folks is the protagonist in this tale of human decency.

“We Can Do Better” gets to the real point, with lonesome harmonica and Robert speaks the truth: “it’s been over 50 years since we first set on the moon … we have come so far, now look at who we are.” “Homeless” features Robert singing of the evolution of homes, starting with roofs.  And “I’ve never been homeless…. before there was silence, before I could make noise, before I could do what I wanted, before I had a choice… I’ve never been homeless, before. ” The violin is rich in this one.

“Is This World A Better Place” asks that and other thought-provoking questions: “Do you spend your days creating ways of sharing happiness? Do you give enough when times are tough to others who have less?”  In this one the die is cast for the album’s intent and probing: how can we be good, better, kind, more supportive?”  Later in the album, “Are You Gonna Tell Your Children?” asks “are you gonna tell your children that the world’s okay … do you ever wonder what you’re gonna do when your kids find out the truth?”  Robert strikes a chord with this one, it’s a painfully difficult question.

Robert asks lots of difficult questions on his folk album Thank Goodness.  As he’s shining a spotlight on those who do acts of kindness, he’s asking all of us how much more we can do.  Nicely done, and thought provoking.  Find more information here on his website: https://robertbidney.com/

Musicians on the album are Robert Bidney on lead and background vocals and harmonica; Fernando Perdomo on background vocals, drums, bass, guitars, keyboards and percussion; Kaitlin Wolfberg on strings and orchestration; and Durga McBoom on background vocals. All songs on the album were written by Robert Bidney.