Parker Millsap is a very interesting US artist, who is blending different genres to his very signature sound. On 9th April 2021, he is releasing his fifth studio album. I was really curious about Be Here Instead.
Parker Millsap – About The Artist
Parker Milsap was born in Oklahoma on 26th February 1993 and grew up in the 6,000 people town Purcell in that state, South of Oklahoma City. He is a singer-songwriter, who is mixing influences of country, blues and rock to a very characteristic style of music. He is active as a musician since the age of 19, when he debuted with his album Palisade. While this album did not lead to noticeable commercial impact, he lead the US Americana charts with his next two ones, a self-titled album in 2014 and The Very Last Day in 2016. The latter album was also nominated as the Americana Album of the Year.
Parker Millsap – Be Here Instead – Track by Track
The twelve song album lasts 39 minutes.
1. Rolling
The album starts with Rolling, in which organ sounds and squeaky guitar riffs are the key melodic elements. They are even more present than Parker Millsap’s vocals in my point of view. I am rather mixed about this one – but I have to say that its about my least favorite track of the album overall.
2. The Real Thing
I can’t stand a poor connection
Can’t hold your hand through the screen
I don’t want your reflection
I just want the real thing
The second track, which is also the first single release in running order, is a song I can much better relate to. Millsap’s vocals are more present and the guitar melody lines are very clear to the listener as well. Love to listen to this one.
3. Vulnerable
Vulnerable is one of my favorite songs. The range of background sounds from swirling to melodic is fascinating. The vocal side of the track is also rather melodic, but also very gentle and… vulnerable. Nice one.
4. It Was You
Who held me when I was aching?
Who dried the tears I bled?
Who was it when I was shaking
That sat by the bed
Their hand on my head?
Snipping finger-alike rhythm and rather straight piano sound are the instrumental elements, before the lyrics are supported by a much wider arrangement of songs. This leads to a very powerful song with a quite powerful touch.
5. In Between
Very different sound in the fifth sound: Parker Millsap is going for the acoustic guitar and puts a very intimate ballad on the album. The song feels a lot like folk music to me and is a really nice listen.
6. Dammit
The permanent guitar riffs and the partially screaming vocals by Parker Millsap give Damnit a rocking touch. The song feels very angry and is definitely a nice contrast to the songs on the album so far.
7. Empty
Empty is a rather slow track with piano backgrounds and decent rhythm. It thus feels a bit like a synth pop ballad with a touch of blues to me. Sounds weird? I cannot argue against that thought.
I’ll say it simply
I have been draining
I am empty
But now it’s raining
Undoubtedly, though, the atmosphere suits to the story of the song.
8. Now Here
Parker Millsap is writing very emotional and direct lyrics. This leads to a very unobstructed atmopshere between the artist and the listener. Now Here is the perfect example to that. It feels like a story, like a movie with good backing sounds and a good soundtrack. Enjoy it.
9. In Your Eyes
The song is again dominated by Millsap’s voice, which is this time supported by some female background voices. In Your Eyes song has a certain rock touch again, but stays in the comfort song of the album. Depending on your perspective, this may be postive – you know what you get – or negative – the variation is limited.
10. Passing Through
In the introduction, I stated that Parker Millsap’s music is also having a country and blues influence. The bemused Passing Through is a nice example for that. I especially like his vocal performance on this song.
11. Always
The second last song of the album is the very melodic Always, which is driven by an uplifting melody. One of my favorite tracks of the album, which almost feels a classic recording from good old music times.
12. Being Alive
Being Alive is again having these compact, returning guitar riffs as the key melodic element.
If you’re hearing you are feeling
If you’re fearing you’re not healing
Tell me what more
Can you ask for?
You have arrived
Tell me what more
Are you here for
Than being alive?
Nice finisher.
Parker Millsap – Be Here Instead – Spotify
This is the Parker Millsap album on Spotify:
Parker Millsap – Be Here Instead – My View
Be Here Instead is one of these albums which are extremely hard to rate for me. There is no doubt about the musical quality, but the Parker Millsap sound is just a very special one. Either you like this signature way of doing music – or it is likely hard for you to listen to a full album. Personally, I am very glad that the album has some slightly different sounds in the finale of songs. Otherwise, it would have been hard for me to follow as well.
Superb 2021 Travel Reviews
Here are all my travel reviews released in 2021, which got a rating better than 4.5:

The Berlin Tränenpalast (“Palace of Tears”)

Flying Norlandair from Akureyri (AEY) (not) to Grimsey (GRY)

High Tea at At.mosphere Burj Khalifa Dubai

Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto

Iceland Road F347 (Kerlingarfjallavegur) and Hveradalir

Scala Museum Milan

HC Ambri-Piotta at Gotthard-Arena (Gottardo Arena)

Aurora Reykjavik

Schlossbergbahn Graz

Car Rental Review – Hertz Helsinki Airport (HEL)

ME Hotel Dubai

Car Rental Review – Blue Car Keflavik Airport (KEF) – Dacia Duster 4WD

Doge’s Palace Venice

Expo 2020 in Dubai – My General Overview

Hilton Berlin

Hotel Alpina Wellness & Spa (Kössen)

Leonardo Hotel Düsseldorf Airport (Ratingen)

Flying With Lübeck Air

Auto & Traktor Museum Bodensee (Lake Constance)

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)

Museum Luciano Pavarotti House

Myvatn – Natural Thermal Pool in Northern Iceland

Hampton by Hilton Warsaw City Centre

Auschwitz Concentration Camp

Car Rental Review – Hertz Salzburg Airport (SZG) – Mercedes GLE 350d

Schleusenpark Waltrop-Henrichenburg – History of Naval Locks

Saga Lounge Kefklavik (KEF)

Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum

Sharjah Aquarium

One Hour Spree Cruise in Berlin with BWSG

Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport

German Oil Museum Wietze

Sky Lagoon Reykjavic / Kopavogur

Hyatt Regency Cologne

European Hansa Museum Lübeck

Hotel Nord (Guardamiglio, Lombardy)

Lübeck Airport (LBC)

Mercure Hotel Hannover City

Dutch Freedom Museum (Groesbeek)

IntercityHotel Hamburg Main Station

The Myth of Germania – A Berlin Underground Exhibition

Moxy Cologne Bonn Airport

InterContinental Dubai Festival City – One Bedroom Suite

German Rail Lounge / DB Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)

MyWellness Cologne – Renting a Private Spa Experience

The View At The Palm (Dubai)

Novotel Suites Hannover City

IntercityHotel Saarbruecken

(Licence Free) Boat Rental at Seashore Boats (Santa Ponsa, Mallorca)

Pullman Sharjah

Crumlin Road Gaol Belfast

National Monument Camp Vught

Naturwildpark Granat (Haltern am See, Germany)

ESO Supernova Munich – Garching

Bergisches Museum for Mining, Craft & Trade Bensberg

Emsflower – A Gardening Giant & Adventure Park

Flying the PAD Aviation Embraer Phenom 300

Stiegl-Brauwelt Salzburg – A Brewery Museum

Resistance Museum Amsterdam

German Customs Museum Hamburg

Etihad Museum Dubai

Lufthansa Business Lounge Berlin/Brandenburg (BER) during Covid-19

German Movie Museum Frankfurt

Lyon Air Museum Santa Ana

Singapore Zoo

Henry B. Plant Museum Tampa

Schloss Burg – a Gem in Bergisches Land

Riding the Dubai Ferry

Jurong Bird Park (Singapore)

Salzburg Panorama Museum

Markus Wasmeier Open Air Museum

Heineken Experience Amsterdam

Dubai Garden Glow

Royal Delft Museum

Conrad Hotel London St. James

taku Dining Box in Cologne – Gourmet Food at Home

Obersalzberg Documentation Center

Siku & Audi-Museum Höing (Stadtlohn, Germany)

The Dutch Museumkaart – One Year of Culture and History (almost) for free in the Netherlands

Aviodrome Lelystad (Netherlands)

Santa Catalina (Royal Hideaway Hotel) Las Palmas, Grand Canary
2021 Top Pick! Media Reviews
Here are all my 2021 released Media Reviews, which lead to a Top Pick! rating:

Spell Songs – Spell Songs II: Let The Light In

Johannes Scheurich – Mehr Davon

Al Lewis – Moving On Moving Past EP

Emma Longard – Quieter Pt. 2 EP

Incredible Pack – Time For Decisions

Hämatom – Die Liebe ist Tot

Lordi – Lordiversity (Full Box Review)

Lordi – Humanimals (from: Lordiversity)

Roxette – Joyride (30th Anniversary Edition)

Nick Walker – It’s All South From Here EP

Lucinda Williams – Have Yourself A Rockin’ Little Christmas (Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 5)

Wade Bowen – Where Phones Don’t Work EP

Alex Diehl – Die Songs, die ich nie schreiben wollte EP

Gov’t Mule – Heavy Load Blues

Michael Patrick Kelly – B.O.A.T.S

Dieter Hallervorden – 80 plus

Greyhound George Band – Get Up And Walk!

AHI – Prospect

Michael Heppes – Achtung Leben

Running Wild – Blood on Blood

Emily Scott Robinson – American Siren

Skinny Lister – A Matter of Life and Love

Dave Hause – Blood Harmony

Elton John – The Lockdown Sessions

Alcatrazz – V

Ryan Hurd – Pelago

MEDLZ – (das) Läuft bei uns Vol. 2

Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground Fire

Toby Keith – Peso In My Pocket

Santiano – Wenn die Kälte Kommt

Roland Kaiser – Weihnachtszeit

The Record Company – Play Loud

Naraka – In Tenebris

Paule – Wunderschön unperfekt

Break Point – The Story of the “Indian Express”

Logan Mize – Welcome To Prairieville

Billy Strings – Renewal

Nox Holloway – If Only The World Didn’t Spin So Much EP

Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name

Wolfgang Petry – Auf das Leben

Adrian Sutherland – When The Magic Hits

Saint City Orchestra – Unified

Charley Crockett – Music City USA

Peter Maffay – So Weit

Billy Idol – The Roadside EP

Rage – Resurrection Day

The Vaccines – Back In Love City

Samantha Fish – Faster

Riddy Arman – Riddy Arman

Ashland Craft – Travelin’ Kind

Echo Bloom – Wake

Danko Jones – Power Trio

Freakstorm – Storm Inside My Heart

Beatrice Egli – Alles Was Du Brauchst

Ray Wilson – The Weight Of Man

Kool & The Gang – Perfect Union

James McMurtry – The Horses And The Hounds

Annie Chops – Level Up

Jayne Denham – Wanted

The Killers – Pressure Machine

Clare Dunn – In This Kind Of Light EP

Perlregen – Drei

Chris Young – Famous Friends

Laci Kaye Booth – Laci Kaye Booth

Jim Lauderdale – Hope

Grizfolk – Grizfolk

Ryan Kinder – Room To Dream

Clay Walker – Texas To Tennessee

Los Lobos – Native Sons

Jolina Carl – Mexican Overdrive

Ida Mae – Click Click Domino

Sarah Straub – Tacheles EP

Gary Kemp – INSOLO

Eliza Shaddad – The Woman You Want

Helge Schneider – Die Reaktion – The Last Jazz Vol. II

Lauren Jenkins – Miles On Me, Part 1 EP

The Wallflowers – Exit Wounds

LANCO – Honky-Tonk Hippies EP

Riley Green – Behind The Bar EP

Kat Eaton – Talk To Me

Gary Allan – Ruthless

Meghan Patrick – Heart On My Glass

Buckcherry – Hellbound

Razz – Might Delete Later EP

Jim “Kimo” West – Ka Honua Maluhia (Peaceful World)

Helloween – Helloween

pez – All Lowercase EP

Karlie Apriori – Seelenpassagier EP

Kylie Morgan – Love, Kylie EP

Joe Bonamassa – Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real – A Few Stars Apart

Anchors & Hearts – Guns Against Liberty

Black River Delta – Shakin’

SILVER LAKE by Esa Holopainen – SILVER LAKE by Esa Holopainen

Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia

Pop Evil – Versatile

Blake Shelton – Body Laguage

Noah Levi – Indigo EP

Allison Russell – Outside Child

Kicker Dibs – Vagabund

Jesse Keith Whitley – Breakin’ Ground

Dillon Carmichael – Hot Beer EP

Levara – Levara

The Steel Woods – All Of Your Stones

Emma Moore – the table EP

Emma Longard – Quieter Pt. 1 EP

Sing meinen Song – Das Tauschkonzert Vol. 8

Durch & Durch – Nice Aber Nutzlos

Wincent Weiss – Vielleicht Irgendwann

Thomas Rhett – Country Again: Side A

Priscilla Block – Priscilla Block EP

Klee – Trotzalledem

Robert John Hope – Plasticine Heart

Elvie Shane – County Roads EP

Fury in the Slaughterhouse – now

Diane Weigmann – Die Wahrheit liegt irgendwo dazwischen

Eric Church – Soul

Eric Church – &

Eric Church – Heart

Brett Kissel – What Is Life?

Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Dance Songs For The Hard Times

Jon Randall – Neon Texas EP

Canaan Smith – High Country Sound

The Fratellis – Half Drunk Under A Full Moon

Tyler Braden – What Do They Know EP

Adrian Smith & Richie Kotzen – Smith / Kotzen

The Dust Coda – Mojo Skyline

Silent Winter – Empire of Sins

Billy Lockett – Reflections EP

Ego Kill Talent – The Dance Between Extremes

Thunder – All The Right Noises

Blutengel – Fountain of Destiny

Chez Kane – Chez Kane

Bad Temper Joe – One Can Wreck It All

Pete Murray – The Night EP

Dreamshade – A Pale Blue Dot

Kaylee Bell – The Red EP (EP)

Hayden Joseph – Different

Nino de Angelo – Gesegnet und Verflucht

Willie Nelson – That’s Life

Alice Cooper – Detroit Stories

Cassadra Jenkins – An Overview On Phenomenal Nature EP

Carly Pearce – 29 EP

Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’

Tobacco Rd Band – Worth Fighting For

Sonor Teutonicus – Morgenrot

Korpiklaani – Jylhä

Aaron Lee Tasjan – Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!

Jake Hoot – Love Out Of Time EP

Jimmy Weber – Black & Blue Heart

Willie Jones – Right Now

Bow Anderson – New Wave EP

Chelsea Berman – Can You Just Not EP

The Dead Daisies – Holy Ground

Petric – Flashbacks

John Diva & The Rockets Of Love – American Amadeus

Aaron Watson – American Soul
