Anders Parker Embraces Philosophy and Orchestration on ‘The Man Who Fell From Earth’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

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Anders Parker has more than earned the respect of the Americana, folk, and alt-country communities with his various musical endeavors. His work in Varnaline, with the Woody Guthrie tribute New Multitudes – alongside Jim James, Jay Farrar and Will Johnson – and in Gob Iron also with Farrar, have become cult favorites over the years. On his own as a solo artist Parker is equally worthy of revered status, as he proves once again with his new album The Man Who Fell From Earth.

To make the album, Parker took a bare bones approach, using a string trio, pedal steel, acoustic guitar and his voice. The result is a collection of songs that feel delicate and intimate, yet also carry darker undertones. “As The Stars Fell Down On Me” showcases Parker’s vocal range and emotional power with its sweeping orchestrations with a hopeful message. It’s also worth noting that he uses the word bamboozled in a song, which is no small feat. “Going Up North” is a stripped down blues number, whereas “I Don’t Do That Anymore” is slow and reflective. “Skin On Skin” features gorgeous harmonies and urgent, powerful instrumentals. The album’s title track also happens to be one of the strongest, with cosmic twang and interstellar musings. The theme of space continues with the haunting “I Got My Spoonful”, a catchy song with some of Parker’s most fascinating storytelling. “Endless Blues” showcases soft vocals and harmonies as Parker singers in an almost power pop vein. “Sweet Baby Sweetest Thing” is a dark love letter to some unnamed muse. The album comes to a triumphant conclusion with the whispery “No Regrets No Turning ‘Round”. Like the album’s title and much of the material on it, there are reoccurring motifs of space, time, and observations on why we make some of our tougher decisions as humans. All of these things seem to serve as a source of continued study for Parker who, throughout the album, comes off as much as a philosopher as he does a songwriter.

The Man Who Fell To Earth is a simple and quiet album with a subtle beauty that comes into focus by the very end…and you definitely want to listen until the very end. Parker inserts proper portions of blues and gothic folk into every song, and the result is lyrics and music that truly stick with you long after listening. It’s never easy to tell if you’re getting Anders Parker the storyteller or Anders Parker the confessionary in these songs as the line between reality and fiction is at times blurry, but the main takeaway is that what you are getting is a genuine songwriter who means what he says.

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