Album Review

In Green We Dream

By Parlor Greens

by Joe Vickrey

Soul supergroup Parlor Greens set the bar high with their colorful debut album. In Green We Dream is the perfect listen for die-hard soul fans and first-timers to the genre alike.

The first time I heard “Rudy’s Intervention” by The Sugarman 3, I felt like I was transported to another dimension. I was 15, walking towards downtown Walnut Creek, California to eat at Genova’s Deli when it came on my iPod and hit me like a train. The funkiest melody I’ve ever heard over the tightest pocket. How could this music have existed without me knowing about it?
 
I was revisited by the feeling as I stumbled onto Parlor Greens. A thumbnail for a suggested video featuring a worn down 1960s Silvertone guitar had me intrigued. The live performance of Parlor Greens’ tune “West Memphis” sucked me in. Organist Adam Scone of The Sugarman 3, guitarist Jimmy James from Delvin Lamarr Organ Trio, and GA-20 drummer Tim Carman formed a power trio and quietly released In Green We Dream. Once again, I had to ask, “How could this record exist without me knowing?!” The trio was tight, and I had to pause my doomscrolling to dive into their record.

From song to song, In Green We Dream showcases the group’s knack for crafting memorable melody-driven instrumentals. 

The uptown waltz of “Sugar Maple” felt like ecstasy. The swinging clatter behind the drum kit perfectly matched the organ’s melodies and the gentle clang of the Sears catalog guitar. It returned the sense of childlike wonder I felt as I initially dove into The Sugarman 3. Suddenly it was autumn in the Bay Area, and I could feel the leaves crunching under my feet as “Sugar Maple” crescendoed before fading into the album’s charming and kicked back title track.
 
 
Adam Scone’s ability to play basslines on the organ with incredible dynamics adds such a dimension to the group. It takes the trio into quartet territory. “Parlor Strut” and “The Ripper” especially benefit from this added layer of waking basslines. “Parlor Strut” almost becomes a Deep Purple track as it momentarily leans into psychedelic vibes. 

While this is a feel-good record, I can give no guarantee that “Flowers for Sharon” won’t make you cry.

The song is dedicated to the late-great legend Sharon Jones. The wistful mood and weeping organ lines took me to church in this touching tribute to the Queen of Soul.

The album ends with a short, funky-soul reimagining of George Harrison’s stolen hit, “My Sweet Lord.” It almost sounds like a Booker T and the MG’s cover in the best way possible. It’s a fun and lighthearted outro that had me looping back around to start the album again. 

Whether you’re just wanting to dip your toes into something new or you’re a fellow deep-dive soul nerd, Parlor Greens make for an excellent listen.

The trio celebrates a wide range of music in a brief 34 minute run. The group’s chemistry is palpable and each arrangement has them bouncing off of each other’s energy. It’s rare to hear a group play this tightly together with such a loose feel, and it’s even rarer to hear that in a debut album. May the best still lie ahead for Parlor Greens, and here’s to the dawn of the Green Age of Soul.
 
Be sure to follow Parlor Greens on Instagram.