Rebellious Son

Former Raleigh frontman Bryon Parker displays his keen sense of melancholic melody on this release. Joined by Jesse Nesbitt of the sadly defunct Anti-Glacier Movement, Parker has crafted an intriguing set of seven songs, grounded in both the indie-rock tradition of slightly off-kilter sound dynamics and the aesthetics of folk rock. What sets these songs apart from those of many of their peers is not just Parker's clever and evocative lyrics, but also his willingness to stray from expected melodies within the arc of every song. A refreshing embrace of odd sounds, such as the otherworldly synths in "How to Survive," and straightahead rock frameworks, as in the Kyle Field cover "The Shredder," make this a consistently satisfying listen in the vein of early Sebadoh.