Sunlight Tonight
Normaltown, 2018
8/10
Parker Gispert might best be known as the frontman for The Whigs, who enjoyed an impressive career from 2002-2017 that included 5 albums, worldwide touring and several TV appearances. On his own, Gispert abandons the garage rock sounds of his full band work, and dips into calmer areas where bare landscapes are fueled by acoustic guitar, gentle strings and occasionally some brass.
“Through The Canvas” wastes no time drawing us into his reflective, thoughtful version of indie-rock as he hits some pretty high notes alongside acoustic guitar and strings, and “Too Dumb To Love Anyone” follows with both energetic rock as well as orchestral ideas in the creative track.
In the middle, “Volcano” brings a swift pace of groove filled sounds to a charming album highlight, while “Life In The Goldilocks Zone” trims the pace back to ambient balladry as Gispert’s vocal range illustrates much range as psychedelia influences seep in.
At the end, “Is It 9?” brings a fuzzy display of more forceful, lo-fi sounds that’s about as close as he’ll get to similarities of The Whigs, and “Caught In The Moonlight” exits with hazy strings in a dreamy like state of elegant yet playful songwriting.
Gispert spent a year residing on a farm while making this album, and that living situation certainly influenced the tone of the record. An artist who has been a full time musician since his teens, Sunlight Tonight shows us another, more intimate side of his immense skill, and it’s just as exciting as anything The Whigs did.
Travels well with: Lilly Hiatt- Walking Proof; Ronnie Fauss- Last Of The True