Will Parker

One of the reasons Pixar has made billions of dollars off of all us unsuspecting parents/nerds is its ability to produce movies which bridge the gap between the color, wonder, and the adventure of childhood with the knowing cynicism of our "responsible years”—and all the incidental humor that goes along with that. Thus is the genius of Will Parker and his record “High Five Yourself.” On first listen of the album, listeners will initially make worthy comparisons to other songwriting greats from off the beaten path. Fans of The Magnetic Fields will endear themselves to the unique subjects broached by "High Five Yourself," Jonathan Richman devotees will appreciate Will's rich and joyous swagger, and members of Daniel Johnston’s universal cult following will hear eerie similarities to Johnston's innocent and wonderful dream songs. Originally coming to San Antonio for a theatre education at Trinity University, Will established a cottage-industry music career playing songs, according to him, “for kids ages 1 to 100.” Birthday parties, school functions, and Bar-mitzvahs are the kinds of events which provide a home for Will’s encouraging and energetic love of the self-aware characters that inhabit his songs. With the same semi-sardonic vocal timbre as Tom Green--a charming blend of mischief and mania—Parker’s “High Five Yourself" gives voice to the monsters we might ordinarily fear or dismiss, showing them to be creatures just like us who are trying to make their way through life. A Caveman named "Ug," a misunderstood shark named "Sheila," an alien named "Al," and Will's brave declaration that he is a dragon are featured on the album in addition to a host of other demos and recordings on his Bandcamp page. Much like the better, more tender moments of Sesame Street, these songs reveal a softer, sweeter side of our inner-weirdos and it is easy to see why kids and adults alike can dig these tunes. The themes of tolerance of difference, friendship, and the value of super-saccharine breakfast food is communicated by way of a delightful lo-fi recording style with accompaniment from friends and fans alike. Indeed, Will has crafted these tunes to be "sing-alongable" adding to the inherent fun and ecumenical nature of the songs on "High Five Yourself." Will Parker and his associated projects (The Somewhat Splendid Individuals and St. Augustine’s Day) represent the best and most interesting of what Texas Indie music has to offer; so like most good things in life, you should experience this music with a friend (or a few). --Hollis Webb, Hollis Music Music for kids ages 1-100 --- http://willparkermusic.com