Hard To Love

Reviewed: 2018-06-29
Genre: General
FCCs: none
Review: Parker wastes no time establishing her power as a vocalist and bandleader. Her blend of blues and roots includes plenty of Memphis-Muscle Shoals spirited soul, and with just a hint of country in her voice. Parker is taking no prisoners. Buoyed by a killer-tight band, with an amazing, versatile guitarist, Hard To Love contains tales of trouble, misplaced devotion, and broken vows and shattered hearts.
If You Like: Janis Joplin, Neko Case, Aretha Franklin
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Memphis (4:07) – bass/drums start> midtempo song on broken love> heavy guitar solo> song> quick fade
2/ Envy (3:39) – guitar/vocals start slow & quickly slides to uptempo song> spacey guitar solo> quick fade
*3/ Home (6:27) – vocal starts> slow song> beautiful guitar solo> midtempo song swells in volume & intensity> crescendo & slow fade
4/ Dizzy (2:43) – drums start> uptempo rocking song> rocking guitar solo> quick stop
5/ Jigsaw Heart (5:08) – organ starts> slow song builds in volume & intensity> wailing vocals> guitar solo> slow fade
**6/ Who What Where When Why (4:04) – drums/bass start> uptempo song on lack of love> funky guitar solo> quick stop
7/ Bluer Than You (3:06) – piano starts> midtempo song> piano solo> midtempo song> quick stop on vocal
*8/ Ray (3:23) – drums start> uptempo song about real love> rocking guitar solo> uptempo song> fade
9/ Evil Hearted (4:00) – organ starts> slow blues on apologizing> mellow guitar solo> slow song> slow fade on vocal
*10/ Take My heart And Run (4:16) – uptempo guitar starts> uptempo country blues song> gorgeous slide guitar solo> quick stop on vocal
*11/ Your Mama (3:48) – uptempo honky-tonk piano starts> uptempo song about jealousy> guitar solo> song> quick fade
12/ What Happened to Me (3:18) – rocking Chuck Berry-like guitar starts> uptempo song> guitar solo> piano solo> uptempo song> quick stop
13/ Hard To Love (3:20) – piano starts> slow song about love> pretty piano solo> slow song> fade on vocal