Pernice Brothers
Who will you believe?
New West
April 10, 2024
Web Exclusive
Joe Pernice is a busy man. After his revival Pernice Brothers nickname with excellent of 2019 Spread the FeelingPernice has become a pandemic superhero with frequent house concerts broadcast to fans online alongside the release of his solo album Richard and a Barry Manilow (!) cover album It could be magicboth released under his own name in 2020. After signing to Nashville-based New West last year and reissuing his 1998 Pernice Brothers debut (originally on Sub Pop), Overcome with Happiness, in a deluxe box set to celebrate its 25th anniversary, returns with a brand new Pernice Brothers studio album, his first in the New West. And like almost all of his records, it's amazing.
Stylistically, fans will be reminded of many 2001-2005 highlights from the three-album run that contains The world won't end, Yours, mine and oursand Discover a favorite of yours (all with critical guitarist Peyton Pinkerton, who returns here). They were three of the best indie-pop albums of that decade and this century with their patented mix of Elvis Costello-esque lyrics, New Order-esque passion and late-'60s orchestral pop flourishes that bring to mind the better work by The Zombies and Left Banke.
There's a duet with Neko Case on the beautiful “I Don't Need That Anymore” while his wife Laura Stein cooks soft backing vocals on the haunting “Ordinary Goldmine.” “A Man of Means” reminds this reviewer even of The Who covering the Everly Brothers' “Man with Money,” while “Hey, Guitar” is “Sometimes I Remember” or “Throw Me to the Lions” of this album, pure bliss for fans of Pernice's 80's New Wave style tracks.
The album's emotional centerpiece, however, is its stunning closer, “The Purple Rain,” a heartfelt tribute to Pernice's late friend David Berman of Silver Jews, Purple Mountains, etc. year. And with more vinyl reissues of his back catalog and hopefully more new music to come (given his pace, it's a safe bet), to say this is a great time to be a Joe Pernice fan is a huge understatement. (www.pernicebrothers.com)
Author Rating: 8/10
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