Tom Lynch

Prolific New York songwriter Anders Parker released another solo record on Tuesday, a self-titled, introspective collection of pop-folk songs that are as comforting and modest as anything else he's done. It's his third solo record so far, and it joins the large catalogue that holds five albums with band Varnaline, two with Space Needle, two previous solo outings and a joint record with Jay Farrar under the name Gob Iron (the two are currently touring together). The soft wintry feel of the new album as a whole makes it memorable--a Sunday afternoon soundtrack, the morning after, as the snow settles.

"I know I have [changed]," Parker says of his songwriting over the years. "It's just hard to pinpoint. I've learned a lot since I started writing songs. I learned more about the process of songwriting. As time goes on you have to change to explore and try different things, learn different instruments."

The process for writing and recording the new record was different than what Parker is used to. "I used an entire band," he says, "and the same people for every song. We played [and recorded] everything live--capturing it live, when it works, it's a great thing."

He says he enjoyed the newfound method. "It was great," he says. "In retrospect, I think scheduling-wise I would've made more days with the band and done more songs. For a while, I was just envisioning an acoustic record, but I liked the group of people. They were just amazing and it was a lot of fun."

While he says there wasn't a specific theme he was trying to capture with the record, he did have some sort of plan. "To me, the overall theme was just making a songwriter's record," he says. "I wanted it to be pretty concise record, that was kind of first and foremost."

While most songs lean towards the bittersweet--lost loves, lost friends--one track, "False Positive," takes on the current political climate in America. "I think it's part of all music throughout history," he says of songwriting focused on politics. "Songs are about what's going on...where you come from, what you see, what's going on in the world around you. Whether it's a Woody Guthrie song or a rap song, it's addressing what's going on in the world."

Anders Parker plays with Jay Farrar November 5 at the Park West, 322 West Armitage, (773)929-5959, at 7:30pm. $16.50.

(2006-10-31)

Also by Tom Lynch

Tip of the Week
Chicago's next South Side entry into the world's hip-hop arena, Psalm One has already gotten a serious amount of attention, including making URB Magazine's Next 100 list
(2006-10-24)

Tip of the Week
Kipnis is back with "The Female Thing: Dirt, Sex, Envy, Vulnerability," a deliriously smart and sharply funny dissection of female identity, the failure of man and the battle between feminism and femininity
(2006-10-24)

Crowned Kings
For nearly a decade, Califone has sounded like no other band you've ever heard
(2006-10-17)

Tip of the Week
After a year of heavy buzz, local boys The Changes finally release their debut full-length, "Today Is Tonight," on Drama Club Records
(2006-10-17)

Tip of the Week
(2006-10-17)

Soundcheck
(2006-10-10)

Hold Your Head Up
(2006-10-10)

Tip of the Week
(2006-10-10)

Tip of the Week
(2006-10-10)

Soundcheck
(2006-10-03)

Passionate Painter
(2006-10-03)

Tip of the Week
(2006-10-03)

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment