Jeremy
Parsons - Things I Need To Say
Jeremy
Parsons’ exponential growth as a performer is apparent on his latest release Things I Need to Say in both the
durability of its individual arrangements and lyrical excellence. Many of the
songs on this thirteen song collection tackle weighty themes, but there’s
nothing unfamiliar and Parsons delivers songs about life and hope with both a
distinctive presence and turn of phrase. The songs are beneficiaries of top
notch production touches and highlight Parsons’ occasional desire to upend
listener’s expectations. He’s accompanied by a first class crew of supporting
musicians on Things I Need to Say who
clearly share his ethos of serving the song at the expense of individual glory.
The Texas born singer/songwriter has made significant strides with this outing
and it likely ranks as his most satisfying artistic achievement yet.
Things I Need
to Say is one of those albums, any genre, where each of the individual pieces
are exceptional, but fit together in a wider mosaic of sound and meaning that
shows off an artist’s full range of talents. Certain characteristic stand out
from song to song. The opener “Makin’ It Up as I Go”, “Life”, “Burn This House
Down”, and “Lisa’s Lost” move along for listeners with such profound
inevitability that you soon understand Parsons has mastered the form and, from
this point on, is refining its elements and expanding its reach. “Burn This
House Down” and “Lisa’s Lost” are particular highlights, the former adeptly
bringing the traditional Americana song of heartache into 2018 and the latter
arguably the finest storytelling on the release, but the opener and second song
“Life” make for an excellent contrast thanks to the nuanced resignation of
“Makin’ It Up As I Go” and the second track’s moody elegance.
The songs
“Hope” and “Purpose” incorporate more of a rock influence, particularly the
latter, and a big part in making that element of the album work is the
inclusion of organ playing riffing away in the mix. Its contributions are
enormously important to these two songs, but the volleys traded by harmonica
and electric guitar in “Purpose”, coupled with its aggressive drumming, make it
one of Things I Need to Say’s most
memorable works. Another nod to traditional country balladry comes with the
calm and brooding saunter of “After All These Years”. There’s some reproach in
these lyrics, but there’s a dollop of forgiveness to, primarily coming from one
of Parsons’ more moving singing performances. The release culminates, in a way,
with the title song and he flashes his musical imagination for a final shining
moment thanks to the shrewd stroke of including unusual instrumentation, albeit
common to the genre, with this song and the sort of staggered, yet seamless,
way the song develops for listeners. It’s the resonant final punctuation mark
on Jeremy Parsons’ latest message to the music world and there’s little
question in my mind that Things I Need to
Say is his greatest achievement yet.
Joshua Beach
No comments:
Post a Comment