If youâve enjoyed recent albums such as the soundtrack to the movie âOnceâ (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova), âThe River In Reverseâ (Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint) or the work of Sufjan Stevens or The Lilac Time, this collection is for you.

12 MP3 Songs in this album (47:37) !
Related styles: ROCK: Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, ROCK: Folk Rock

People who are interested in Jackson Browne should consider this download.


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If youâve enjoyed recent albums such as the soundtrack to the movie âOnceâ (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova), âThe River In Reverseâ (Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint) or the work of Sufjan Stevens or The Lilac Time, this collection is for you. These are songs that reveal themselves upon repeated listening. - Sean Timmons, Artistic Director, Appel Farm Festival

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On August 29, 2008, Joseph Parsons will release his 7th studio CD, âHeavens Aboveâ. Made in the inspired musical cities of Philadelphia and Paris, Parsons has delivered his most ambitious work to date.

Followers of Parsons' recorded music will notice some changes this time around as the collection hues closer to the intensity and honesty of his live shows. After a year of emotional chaos: burying his father & leaving his American homeland to live in Europe, Joseph realized that these specific songs needed to be recorded. âMost of these are newer songs I thought would never see the light of day,â says Parsons. âThese are songs that in the past I would have been afraid to record for some reason or another. Songs that leave me feeling very exposed.â

Parsons reflected on his previous work and felt it was time to make an unambiguous artistic statement. âFor years, I have messed around, production & song - wise, as a way to avoid the simple truth that my songs may not be as mainstream or as widely accepted as I and some people around me had hoped. And finally, I am comfortable with that. These new songs are from the heart and at this time in my life, that's what matters most.â

It is a fearless record.

Parsons goes on to say, âI had gone as far as I could go in terms of producing my own records. After âThe Vagabond Talesâ (2005 Blue Rose Records) and âThe Fleury Sessionsâ (2006 Blue Rose Records), I realized I could not produce this new record alone and needed some additional production talent to gain some emotional distance from the songs. I wanted to make a deeper, more honest record so I brought Devin Greenwood (Norah Jones, Amos Lee) in to help me âtranslateâ the songs. Heâs an old friend and I trusted him from the first take. And that's exactly what I needed to feelâ. Returning to mix and master the record is Grammy Award winner Phil Nicolo (John Lennon, The Hooters, G-Love.)

Parsons explores his personal challenges and, in so doing, takes his character studies to a whole new level on âHeavens Aboveâ. One of the standout tracks, the REM influenced title track 'Heavens Above', follows a roughneck during hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, back into the city to find his family and reflects the chaos he found. âDume Roomâ is from a Zuma Beach biker bar that tells the story of a Southern Californian 'troll' (a vagabond with a mysterious aura). âAnyoneâ is a reflection on losing someone who you grew to rely on as totem or moral guidepost, and how it affects your ability to be the person you are or to become.

Starting September 2008, the âJoseph Parsons Bandâ will tour Germany, The Netherlands, Austria with a few dates in the USA.
Joseph Parsonsâ music is available in Europe on Blue Rose Records, as well as world wide on iTunes. Additionally, Parsons is a founding member of the collective bands â4 Way Streetâ (Sanctuary Records) and âHardpanâ (Blue Rose Records) and currently splits his time between Europe & Philadelphia.

For more information, please visit www.josephparsons.com