LANDON PARKER - Taught Me The Rest - Bad Ass Records

Layering his foundational path with buzzworthy singles, “Goodbye You,” “Back At The Bar,” “Your Baby Girl,” and breakout tune, “Good Beer Drinkin’,” Landon Parker has elevated his status with expert precision over the past two years, earning him the coveted distinction as an artist to watch.

Having spent time building a solid grassroot following this year as one of the independent acts selected to support Tim McGraw’s Standing Room Only Tour, he now delivers a strong fan favorite that’s been a staple of his live sets for some time, “Taught Me The Rest.”

Dripping with feel good nostalgia throughout the flow of its breezy melody, Landon matches the naturalness of his heartfelt drawl against a lyric that not only sees him looking back on the life lessons learned, but aptly encouraging to take chances outside of comfort zones in what is essentially a snapshot of the notion that “you only live once.”

Utilizing each verse, he checklists ideals of slowing life down through the advice that his old man gave him of the beach being the place to go and get lost but to always remember to take a memory lasting picture of, that money doesn’t equal happiness or levels of respect that you give someone which came straight to him from his mama, and to embrace that same high school courage that landed you your backseat, first kiss.

However, while each character-building turn he highlights in those verses certainly plays a pivotal role in who he’s become today, although the chorus continues to touch on those ultra-relatable moments that become the teachable ones, it’s ultimately designed to shine the bright spotlight on the biggest lesson learned…how to love unconditionally.

“Speeding taught me how to slow down (hey hey)

Leaving taught me I need family around (hey hey)

Yeah, you can bet time taught me to take chances

Took a chance with you and I was blessed

Cause you taught me how to love

And love taught me the rest”

Hitting into deeper aspects of learning through forgiveness and loss, Parker exudes the importance of faith-filled trust throughout “Taught Me The Rest,” philosophically begging the question then if the hook itself is actually referring to the emotion of love itself or the common terminology of “love” being linked to God and the impact of His life lessons bestowed onto us.

(Review Written By: Jeffrey Kurtis)