You wouldn't expect a white guy from Duluth to follow in the delta blues tradition of the masters like Robert Johnson and Leadbelly but Parr does it with aplomb. Perhaps it is because he, like them, is a self taught musician. The sound he creates on both 6 & 12 string resonator guitars is truly amazing, simultaneously picking sliding high notes and raspy bass tones while singing poetic verses of the common man with his powerful vocals. Together the mix evokes the serene beauty of the boundary water region in his native Minnesota. Looking for a contemporary take on the likes of Dave Van Ronk and Doc Watson with out of this world, psychedelic inspired picking, this is your disk.

RIYL: Robert Johnson, Doc Watson, Dave Van Ronk, Leo Kottke

1 Last of Better Days Ahead - powerful vocals lamenting one's long gone youth over exquisite finger picking (fast, 3:35)***

2 Blues For Whitefish Lake, 1975 - haunting, almost spoken word, reflection on life (slow, 4:00)*

3 Walking Back From Wilmar - fast, syncopated picking with rich harmonics offset by driving vocal style (fast, 4:18)**

4 Anaconda - upbeat toe tapper with a delta blues vibe (fast, 3:47)***

5 Everyday Opus - bleak, poignant story of a man struggling to keep afloat with eloquent minor chords (med, 8:05)

6 On Fading Away - spooky vibe with steady beat broken by blood curdling breaks (med, 5:15)*

7 817 Oakland Ave - captivating celebration of life and spreading joy to others (4:18, fast)***

8 On Listening to Robert Johnson - eery story of hearing blues in the distance while walking a rural dirt road in the dead of night nicely accented with backing bass. (med, 5:58)

9 Bed of Wasps - moving lament on loneliness with desperate vocals over beautifully simple minor chords (slow, 3:52)**

10 Rain - minimalist guitar with bass & fiddle accents (med, 6:07)

11 Decoration Day - instrumental in style of Embryonic Journey by Jorma Kaukonen (slow, 15:54)