Review: Joyann Parker – Life Lines
Joyann Parker – Life Lines
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Hopeless Romantic Records
Release: 2026
Text: Tom Wouters
‘Life Lines’ is the fourth album of singer-songwriter Joyann Parker, who continues to blend soul, blues and roots music, although ‘Life Lines’ sometimes shows a movement toward AOR and a slightly more commercial sound, as is proved in the first three songs.
But from Laundromat Girl on Parker’s soulful voice reigns over the songs written by herself and long-time companion guitarist and producer Mark Lamoine. In Okay To Stay the pace slows down a bit, which makes Parker’s voice even more prominent. Let You Go To Love You and the Four Tops-like Just About Enough are pure soul, as is You Can Say That Again.
Parker (classically trained pianist) features on piano in the soul blues (When You Get To) Milwaukee and she shows her versatility in the three closing songs, that represent the country department of the album. In Starting Line, Think Of Me and Got Love Parker’s voice strongly remind of country singer par excellence Patsy Cline.
With ‘Life Lines’ Joyann Parker once more proves to be one of the most soulful singers around.
Tracks:
01. End of the Line
02. The Devil You Know
03. Seasons
04. Laundromat Girl
05. Okay to Stay
06. Let You Go to Love You
07. Just About Enough
08. You Can Say That Again
09. (When You Get To) Milwaukee
10. Starting Line
11. Think of Me
12. Got Love
Website: https://joyannparker.com/home