Parlor Greens: Emeralds [Album Review]

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Parlor Greens – Emeralds


The Fire Note Rating: 4.5

Emeralds

Parlor Greens — 2026

ReleasedApril 11
LabelColemine Records
Produced By Parlor Greens & Leroi Conroy
Runtime~37 min / 11 tracks

Album Review
Parlor Greens • Emeralds • Soul Jazz Groove

“A locked-in trio sharpening their sound, where every groove lands exactly where it should.”

Album Overview

Parlor Greens are a supergroup with a difference: their all-star lineup actually works as a real band. Featuring Adam Scone (Scone Cash Players, The Sugarman 3) on organ, Jimmy “Scratch” James (True Loves, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio) on guitar, and Tim Carman (GA-20, Canyon Lights) on drums, the band’s individual strengths slot together in a way that feels completely natural. With one previous album under their belt (2024’s In Green We Dream), the trio are back with Emeralds, a strong 11-track set that solidifies their status as one of Colemine’s top acts (which is quite a feat considering some of the other bands on the roster!).

Musical Style

Parlor Greens employ the classic organ trio lineup of guitar, organ, and drums, resulting in a lean, tight sound that’s heavy on the soul, funk, and jazz elements. They’re equally adept at high-energy rave-ups, soulful ballads, and everything in between, using that versatility to keep the listener on their toes.

Evolution of Sound

The band found their groove on In Green We Dream right out of the gate, so Emeralds doesn’t depart too far from that already established path. Everything feels just a bit tighter, a little more in the pocket this time around, no doubt the result of playing together in a live setting more frequently in the wake of the first album’s success.

Artists with Similar Fire

Parlor Greens’ organ-heavy sound calls to mind the classic organ trios of the 50s and 60s led by the likes of Jimmy Smith and Brother Jack McDuff, as well as more modern combos like the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio. While those acts may be the primary influences, James’ guitar work and Carman’s driving rhythms also recall The Meters’ brand of gritty instrumental funk.

Pivotal Tracks

Opening track “Eat Your Greens” kicks things off with a bang, with Scone’s organ and James’s guitar trading licks back and forth while Carman’s insistent beat glues it all together. Quieter moments, such as “Drop Top” and the closing track “Queen of My Heart,” slow down the pace in between the more frequent upbeat numbers. “Lion’s Mane” starts off somewhat subdued before building up the tension, leading to a bluesy, fiery guitar solo. “Francisco Smack,” meanwhile, almost sounds like an upbeat, organ-heavy soul rewrite of “Eleanor Rigby.” One of the biggest highlights is the deceptively understated title track, which finds the band firing on all cylinders by the end. Then there’s the reimagining of Dolly Parton’s classic “Jolene,” a track that brings out the original’s inherent funkiness and features some of the album’s best musical interplay.

Lyrical Strength

While the album is almost entirely instrumental, there is a touching tribute to Jimmy “Scratch” James’s late mother on “Queen of My Heart,” where the pair can be heard in affectionate conversation towards the end of the track.

Final Groove

Emeralds doesn’t have the immediate impact that In Green We Dream did, but the songs rapidly grow on you with subsequent listens. The band’s playing is tighter than ever, but they aren’t trying to impress instead they are focused on finding the right groove for each track that plays to each member’s strengths. The debut was exciting because it documented the band finding their sound while Emeralds finds them honing that sound while giving it space to grow in new directions. In other words, they’ve moved beyond supergroup status to become a truly super group.

The Fire Note Rating: 4.5

The Fire Note Spin
4.5 out of 5

Simon Workman has loved rock n' roll ever since his dad made him Beatles and Beach Boys mix tapes as a kid. These days his musical interests have a wide range, though he still has a strong connection to the music of the 60s and 70s. He lives in Dayton and teaches English at Sinclair Community College.

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