“Time is a healer and life must go on” echo from the voice of an artist who’s experienced more then he’d care to admit from life. After spending more then a decade performing across the states and around Europe, Jeremy Parsons releases an ode to life. An early life in the dancehalls of San Antonio, Texas fueled his desire to write and play music for everyone around the lone star. But the road of an artist had not come without its hardships and calamities. Rather than succumb to them, Parsons escaped his afflictions through the same outlet he fell in love with. Things To Come is a true life story that is as bittersweet as it is captivating through a natural twang and Americana roots.
For every artist to have created a persona or character in their career, Parsons had instead remained himself. In his honesty the songwriter creates a genuine feel to the album by leaving himself exposed and vulnerable through every track. After spending time among the top artists on roots radio, Parsons unleashed a new definitive sound after its official drop on January 8th. The haunting chorus of “Tragedy” adds to his layer of a harsh reality that hits close to home. With evocative lyrics and a wrenching melody make this track’s production yearning for tears. The ability for Parsons to create imagery through his voice raises him to be one of the most unique storytellers.
But while being genuine about his life and the reality of a star, Parsons’ uplifts others through a simple message. In the album’s self-titled track, “Things To Come”, a Bob Dylan-like waltz is broken into a sincere take on the road ahead. The most candid track on the album brings the humor and tragedy of memories that many others have shared in their own time. However, Parsons engaging chorus and message of moving on from the past for an optimistic future makes it the most compelling single.
Roots artists have always used an uncanny talent to connect with an audience in a way that no other performer could. Parsons ranks this ability up there with the best of them. His insightfulness and soul penetrating lyrics only pierce the veil of the cleverness behind the music. “Good Ole Days” expresses that core understanding when you’ve reached an age where you’ve experienced so much but have more to see. The nostalgia and homesick days of being young again leave the bittersweet moment of knowing there’s more to look back on as you age. A well-worn intimacy knocks on every generation through Parsons songwriting being agile and intelligent. Being young but old creates a heavy middle ground as an outsider who can’t be labelled to either generation gap. A feeling Parsons understands all too well. Which he uses to connects every person with “everybody’s different but the feelin’ is still the same.” A motto that reminds Parsons that he still hasn’t reached his “good ole days”.
Even after coming to terms with what he’s done and reaching a point in his life where all is well, Parsons still begs one question. “Do you ever wanna be something other than you are?” From start to finish he’s regaled his own life while also giving out some of the most valuable lessons on living it. The closer brings back to life how doubt and regret can still creep up in the back of someone’s mind. Leaving them with envy for a different life. Parsons still does the job by passing along that everything is alright and to be thankful for what you have. By finishing these tropes, Parsons leaves behind hope and ambition for the people. Accompanied by nothing less more than a couple guitars and a drum kit, as he was in the entire album, Parsons leaves “everything perfect as it is.”
Written by Trenton Luber