Anthology Review – Jeremy Parsons – "Things To Come up"

Reviews

Artwork: Pj Schenkel

This is one of those records that doesn't become written if non for the keen insight the best songwriters posses; how they're able to articulate the world of emotions and moments in a way that we all feel, but can't ever seem to find the right words to express for ourselves. It takes deep introspection, a bit of toil, and the natural talent all the best songwriters take that leaves all usa laymen marveling.

The latest record from Jeremy Parsons called Things To Come is a far cry from his 2010 debut when he was standing on the cover in a cowboy hat and Western coat, and starting the set off with a song called "The Night Hank Williams Died." Xi years afterwards, and the hair of Jeremy Parsons is now past his shoulders, and the hat is stashed in the cupboard. The sound is decidedly more gimmicky, and any twang is more tempered. But the songs are still there and country at center, and perhaps more than honestly rendered as he's found his own voice every bit opposed to trying so hard to emulate his state heroes.

From San Antonio, Texas, the artistic renderings of Things To Come feel very much in the vein of Texas state and Red Dirt—a fiddling scrap more sensible in style and approach, while forging an intermural relationship between country and stone. The writing reminds you in parts of John Baumann or perchance even Evan Felker, and the music and mood have the laid back and restful mental attitude of Flatland Cavalry. With ambience steel guitar and dobro, and at times a host of percussive addendums to compliment quality melodies, this is an anthology to lose yourself in.

Still full of the hopes and dreams of a young human being, only blest with the insight and wisdom of putting a few years backside you, songs similar "Things To Come up" and "Skillful Ole Days" from this record speak to life in your late 20'south to your mid 30's—wistful and reflective, still all the same with the breadth to forge new paths and brand grand life decisions.

Merely it's the writing of "Masquerade," and later "Looking Back" where Jeremy Parsons really impresses by fearlessly delving into places many of u.s.a. are besides leery to go: the lies we tell ourselves, the people we become for others, and the distance nosotros put between or true nature every bit the twists and turns of life obfuscate and misfile us from our original purpose. It all calls for a sabbatical, an honest assessment, and if need exist, a recalibration earlier fourth dimension slips abroad and you're likewise entrenched in your trajectory to enact a course correction. This is what Things To Come is ultimately about.

Mostly mid-tempo, with no real blazing instrumental solos or dramatic style shifts between songs, the record instead relies more on mood-inducing ambient movements looking to envelop you lot as opposed to but entertain. But if y'all're unwilling or unable to observe yourself submerged in the messages and music like Jeremy Parson'southward instructs both actually and metaphorically in the vocal "Sit and Spin," the album might come across as a little mundane, with not enough dynamics to earn your rapt attention.

Notwithstanding others will relate intimately to the words, and detect Jeremy's insights and sentiments curiously similar to their ain, and the music smartly equanimous. Whether the forks in the road you face are hypothetical or real, are about what town to live in, who to be with, what job to have, or perhaps other major life decisions like choosing sobriety such every bit Jeremy Parsons did while writing this record, it'south these transitions that end upwardly defining who you lot are, and deserve the deep pondering and keen reflection Jeremy Parsons gives them in Things To Come.

viii/10

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Jeremy Parsons, Review, Things To Come