Thanks to the rise of albums like the "Garden State" soundtrack and artists like Damien Rice, heartfelt indie singer/songwriters have never been in such high demand. Anders Parker fits well within the "Shins will save your life" paradigm with sunny melodies and bittersweet lyrics. He shouldn't be a hard sell to anyone who likes to have music talk to his or her heart. The subtle touches of country and Radiohead-esque details give his music a fresh vibe that should help him stand out from his peers. More artists like Parker should be played on VH1 and mainstream country radio. It would raise the IQ of our collective culture a few points.

Brad Filicky