Forfolks is a solo studio album by American guitarist Jeff Parker. It was released on December 10, 2021, through International Anthem Recording Company and Nonesuch Records. It received universal acclaim from critics.
Background Forfolks consists of solo guitar works by Jeff Parker. It features six original songs, as well as his versions of the standard "My Ideal" and Thelonious Monk's "Ugly Beauty". The album was recorded at Parker's home studio in Altadena, California, over two days in June 2021. A music video was released for "Suffolk", directed by Cauleen Smith.
Critical reception
Mariel Fechik of Under the Radar described the album as "a transfixing solo guitar record that finds Parker turning inward, creating a collection of songs that border on musical meditation." Erin Osmon of Uncut commented that "He situates his intuitive, improvised guitar work among a menagerie of textural loops, working alone and thus fully exposed, his playing a gift of intimacy and warmth in a climate very much in need of such things." Jesper Nøddeskov of PopMatters wrote, "Forfolks is Jeff Parker on his own, but it's a selfless statement." He added, "Here the music, like life, thrives in collaboration, and context is everything."
Grayson Haver Currin of Pitchfork stated, "The games he plays with rhythm and repetition feel like a frontier, a suggestion of new spaces to explore for solo guitarists indebted to minimalism, drone, and electronics." He added, "Hearing a long-consummate instrumentalist well into his 50s grapple so clearly with the future of his own idiom is plenty inspiring; the quiet confidence with which Parker proclaims there is something else to say with just six strings and a few effects feels like a revelation, for himself and the form." Andrew Male of Mojo praised "an ability to create entire new sonic worlds from the tiniest of elements." Thom Jurek of AllMusic commented that "Forfolks is as welcoming as it is musically adventurous."
Accolades + Year-end lists for Forfolks Publication List Rank Mojo The 50 Best Albums of 2022 Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2022 The Quietus Quietus Albums of the Year 2021 The Vinyl Factory Our 50 Favourite Albums of 2021
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes.
Jeff Parker – electric guitar Scott McNiece – production, sequencing Graeme Gibson – engineering, mixing David Allen – mastering Jeremiah Chiu – cover design Craig Hansen – insert design Lee Anne Schmitt – photography Matthew Lux – liner notes
Charts + Chart performance for Forfolks Chart (2021) Peakposition
References
Further reading
External links