Rusty Reid’s “The Meaning of Life” from his remixed album “Head to Heart” is a walk across genres, bringing together indie-folk, pop, country, and rock into one conversing narrative that is riveting with the philosophical question of what life is.
The song starts with a soft, acoustic guitar riff that sends a pensive mood into the atmosphere, much like the ruminative nature of the lyrics. The voice of Reid himself is long in experience and full of emotion as he takes the listener on a journey through a soundscape refreshingly new. His vocal delivery is reminiscent of great troubadours; as it develops, so does the rendition, swelling to include layers of electric guitar and subtle keyboard harmonies that create a replete soundscape enveloping the listener. The rhythm section, a bass line under Isaac Wriston with drums by Hubert Payne, helps to anchor down a solid frame of reference, one that lets the song move with natural ease.
It’s this play of the instruments that allows Reid to create a sound so detailed but accessible, in a way that justifies getting lost in its notes.
“The Meaning of Life” is a meditation on the pursuit of happiness, a theme that Reid approaches with sincerity. Lines like “Happiness can be so elusive, but only if we’re hard to please” resonate with a truth that is incredibly important. Reid’s way of distilling such a vast concept into relatable imagery shows his skill as a songwriter.
The chorus becomes the mantra, or even an aphorism for action on its own: “Just pursue happiness.” It even goes to the extent of explicitly encouraging the journey over the destination. The bridge hammers home this message with Reid’s question, “How did we become so good at losing our way?” The inward reflection is offset by the sense of hope in the song and the urging to awaken to the beauty in life.
The song is instrumentally a masterclass in restraint and subtlety, with Ronan Dempsey’s acoustic and electric adding texture and depth and Reid’s electric guitar lines giving the song a chordal counterpoint that lifts it emotionally. With space within the arrangement, every element breathes, making it sound expansive yet intimate.
“The Meaning of Life” is an outstanding track, rustling up the best of Rusty Reid’s ways to fuse musical genres and philosophical themes into a coherent and compelling narrative. The song is a call for introspection about life, at the same time trying to console and inspire listeners. It’s the epic of his artistry in every note and deserves to be heard by anyone starving for music that can speak directly to the heart and soul. When I first heard “The Meaning of Life,” I was drawn to the deep lyrics and beautiful melodies. It is one of those special songs that manages to hit right at your innermost core, inspiring you on the first listen. And still, every time I come back to it, I find new layers of meaning and emotion. If you haven’t given Rusty Reid’s magnum opus a listen yet, do yourself a favor and stream it now; get wrapped in its genius and warmth.