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Parlor Greens don’t so much return as they roll back in, wheels sparking, engine humming, with Emeralds—a sophomore set that sharpens the trio’s greasy soul-jazz instincts into something heavier, deeper, and more lived-in. Where In Green We Dream announced their arrival, Emeralds confirms their purpose.
The opener and lead single “Eat Your Greens” wastes no time, kicking down the door with a Charles Earland-inspired four-on-the-floor pulse. Tim Carman’s drums lock in with militant ease while Jimmy James’ guitar and Adam Scone’s organ barrel forward like a runaway freight train—funk as motion, not mood. It’s lean, forceful, and impossible to resist.
Elsewhere, the trio stretches without loosening the grip. “Red Dog” leans hard into early R&B grit, James’ crunchy guitar carving space for dual solos that burn rather than boast. “Lion’s Mane” reveals a more refined side, tipping its hat to Scone’s mentor, Dr. Lonnie Smith, with harmonic sophistication sneaking in under the grease. And when Carman gets the spotlight on the gospel-tinged “Letter To Brother Ben,” he reminds you why shuffle is an art form, not a trick. Oh, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fine and adventurous cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”. This reimaged version is as vital as ever and downright funky.
But Emeralds carries weight beyond the grooves. Recorded amid personal loss and upheaval, the album’s emotional center arrives quietly on “Queen Of My Heart,” a tender closer written by James for his late mother. It lands not as sentiment, but as grace.
If you liked the band’s 2024 debut, ‘In Green We Dream’, you’ll love Emeralds. Emerald is what happens when three seasoned players stop proving themselves and start trusting the room. Heavy-hearted, soulful, and deeply human—this is Parlor Greens in full bloom.
Emerald’s is out on March 27, 2026, and available in multiple formats, including colored vinyl.
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