Anders Parker

Singer-songwriter Anders Parker has always found non-flashy ways to explore mellow pop sounds and rustic twang alike. On the first half of his new two-disc album, Skyscraper Crow, it's frankly no surprise at all that Parker needs only his voice and acoustic guitar to craft a set of purposeful, melodic tracks that would sit equally well with a fan of Richard Buckner, Mark Kozelek, or Son Volt. The album's second disc tries to do the same thing with just a laptop and an attached MIDI keyboard. It's odd at first to hear him singing over synth, samples, and programmed beats, but he's wisely taken care to avoid novel electronic clutter and keep the songs mostly focused on his vocal melodies.

Updated 11/10/2009