Too many influences that PF can't show off real talents

This album has been written off by many (including the band) as a mistake. They went into the recording studio too fast and it was a rookie mistake basically. "Parables For Wooden Ears" has the influences of the times it was recorded in (early 1990s) with bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden prominent in the sound Powderfinger produce here. It's not all awful, songs like "Save Your Skin" and "Sink Low" are well-written, mellow, mainly acoustic tracks that still sound good today nearly ten years later.

Powderfinger has come a LONG way from this album and even just two years later with their sophomore album "Double Allergic," their unique sound begins to shine through. Today they know how to use their influences in their music. This album is worthy of purchase, but only for people interested in hearing how Powderfinger began and their evolution to the great next three albums in the aforementioned "Double Allergic", "Internationalist" and "Odyssey Number Five". Hopefully 2003's "Vulture Street" will be another to add to the list.