at a glance...

Hometown: New York
Year Formed: 1993 (-1998)

Members:
Anders Parker -vocals, guitar, glockenspiel, synths, mellotron
John Parker -bass
Jud Ehrbar -drums, vocals, percussion, organ

Bands In The Family:
Space Needle, Reservoir

Notes:
Varnaline began as a side project for Anders Parker of atmospheric alt-rockers Space Needle. First album Man of Sin, was little more than a collection of Parker's demos, still in 4-track format, but it created enough interest to lead to the addition of brother John Parker and fellow Space Needle and Reservoir main man Jud Ehrbar on bass and drums repsectively, for the recording of Sweet Life.

After treading the Neil Young-ish waters of "Gulf of Mexico," singer Anders Parker sheds the fragile vocal treatments of that song for the transcendent roots-rock stomp of "Northern Lights," which sounds like The Band trying to flood an empty stadium with sound. These two early reference points are telling -- Sweet Life reads like a catalog of the best of American roots, country and rock, from The Band to Uncle Tupelo.

The beefy bass and drums of Varnaline founder Anders Parker's brother John and fellow Space Needler Jud Ehrbar, anchor these songs perfectly, and varied arrangements rarely disturb the back-porch-lemonade-and-afternoon-thunderstorms mood. The addition of a distorted trombone lends "Saviours" a drowsy Cajun swing, while chiming, layered guitars on "Underneath the Mountain" recall "Fables"-era R.E.M. Elegant cello and violin on the closing title track perfectly ease the album to bed.

The lingering impression is of a songwriter and band so at ease with this musical Americana, you'd think their only other projects were pumping gas and chewing tobacco. That Anders Parker and Ehrbar are involved with the atmospheric, electronics-friendly Space Needle suggests that these are the Renaissance men of American rock. Keep an ear open for whatever they turn their hands to next.