Spending time early in adulthood to find oneself has become a bit cliche. Frequently it’s code for delaying acceptance of responsibility and purpose. For Tulsa musician Parker Ferrell, though, it cemented his perspective on the importance of love and compassion while remaining rooted in the daily requirements of the present. Those values inspired the songs he began writing while spending over a decade as a musician supporting other musicians. He’s now brought those together in his debut album, Love Runs Through.
The title track is a straightforward acoustic folk song, with some violin highlights. It’s all about what makes a house a home. There’s a similar style to Lauren Kimberly, with some nice finger picking, in a love song to Ferrell’s wife. His kids get a shout-out in To Deserve You with a touch of red dirt thrown in for some terroir. Close friends over the years get a jazzy treatment in To All the Friends I’ve Known. Ferrell also throws in some life lessons from historical events in Malala (You’re the Happiest Girl in the World) and The Wright Flyer. Malala has a world beat sound that would have been right at home on Graceland, while Flyer uses the addition of strings to lend a feeling of being airborne.
There’s frequently a temptation to show off in a debut album–to prove the talent is there. No doubt helped by producer Jared Tyler, Parker Ferrell reined in whatever desires he had in that vein. The resulting restraint let a warmth and gratefulness for what life has given him shine through. That appreciation makes Love Runs Through a gem of a record and worthy of spending time with the whole thing, not just a song or two.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.