| Author | Message | ||
     kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 877 Registered: 05-2005 |
I've always thought that anybody who likes the GO-Bs would surely like the Pernice Brothers. Kindred spirits and all that. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they have a new album out next week, surprised because in this day and age with countless music mags and the internet normally these things are flagged up well in advance, but this new record was news to me. A quick scour on the 'net finds a few articles claiming that this is the "best they have done since Overcome By Happiness", "real return to form" that kind of thing, so fingers crossed. Have already ordered it from their UK label One Little Indian. For fans of The Scud Mountain Boys, they have done a makeover of GrudgeF*ck to close the album. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 246 Registered: 01-2005 |
Let's hope it's a return to form. I didn't care for the last one, Discover A Lovelier You. It would help if they got back the couple of members they lost between Yours, Mine & Ours and Discover A Lovelier You. They sounded too thin live when I saw them last year. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 874 Registered: 03-2006 |
Amen. I'm with ya on that one, Michael...they have really lost the plot since OBH and World Won't End, two unbeatable records... | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 250 Registered: 01-2005 |
Yeah, it would be nice. I even walked out before the PB concert ended. That same month Teenage Fanclub cancelled at the last moment, and bunch of us were waiting at the venue for them to show up, which they never did. Austin, who posts once in a while, was another who was waiting. One quarter posted on the way to 1000. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 892 Registered: 05-2005 |
Played it three times now so will make an early assessment. Initial impressions are this is a very "gentle album". A quick glance at the sleevenotes explains why, "orchestra arranged by Michael Demming", Demming is co producer. The sound, while still being guitar dominated is fleshed out by trumpet, trombone and flugelhorn. The band play instruments such as "mini bike wheels","wiry electric stab guitar", "gargling electric guitar", "wiry meth electric guitar", and "guitar swell". Nice to see that Joes brother Bob makes a comeback and plays on about half the tracks, disappointingly (for me anyway!) Laura Stein has not made a comeback although she does the sleeve artwork. I guess if you are a Pernice fan you wont be disappointed, the songwriting quality is still high and the orchestra and brass adds another dimension to a band who had basically retreated to guit,bass,drums on the last few albums. Probably another critical success, but this band is too good to make it big if you know what I mean, which brings me back to the GO-Bs comparison I made at the top of this page. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 880 Registered: 03-2006 |
Once again, your "friend" really came through for you, eh Kev? I can't wait to hear it - you're making it sound really good, given my tastes. (Are you secretly doing promotion for them? That's how you got the disc!) My single favorite record by them is "Overcome By Happiness", which featured strings in a big way, so if this, in any way, hearkens back to that, I'll be a happy boy. Joe Pernice is actually married to Laura Stein, so I guess he'll tend to involve her in some way, however minimal. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 893 Registered: 05-2005 |
LK, no, my friend was not required this time. I would like to give a big shout to One Little Indian records here. I ordered the CD direct from them and it came the next day- hows that for service!! Yes they're married and Laura was unfortunatly pregnant and did not manage to play the gig by them I saw a couple of years ago. Joe's one lucky so and so, talented songwriter, novelist, and married to Laura. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 894 Registered: 05-2005 |
perfection  http://www.rockinboston.com/images/pernicegig3s.jpg found this clip on youtube for a new Pernice song called Somerville. Its track 2 on the album, presume it must be the single. I would say after only a few plays of the album this is not an obvious single. Its also possibly the worst promo video I have ever seen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eKDr4Mfw3o&mode=related&search= | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 618 Registered: 03-2005 |
Pretty bland song. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 883 Registered: 03-2006 |
Thanks, Kev. Me likee. As for the video, it reminds me a little of the Replacements' "Bastards of Young", for its singlemindedness of purpose and its dogged commitment... Joe is a lucky so and so, but he wins the Lyle Lovett Award, given to the singers who look the least like their voices would suggest. Looks like I'll be hitting the wreckah sto' this coming Tuesday.... | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 898 Registered: 05-2005 |
Padraig, just read your review of The World Wont End by The Pernice Brothers. You seemed to suggest that Overcome by Happiness was the superior record, although I understand this was written when TWWE was still a new release. I love them both but for me TWWE just edges it, althought thats like saying I prefer Jimmy Johnstone over Henrik Larsson. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 900 Registered: 05-2005 |
LK, I would take a lot of cash to that wrekah sto' on Tuesday. By my reckoning you should be leaving with the new Beck, Hold Steady, Decemberists and Pernice Brothers minimum. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 901 Registered: 05-2005 |
I said in another thread that Cruelty to Animals from this new album was great, and it is. But Zero Refills tops it, I have played it about 6 times tonight, it might be Joe's best ever song imo | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 890 Registered: 03-2006 |
You gotta be workin' PR for the Pernices, Kev. Of course, your rapturous praise of them has me virtually salivating over it... My good music and drug buddy, Amy, is supposed to be getting it, along with the extra disc of demos and has promised to copy it for me... And, since I already have a promo copy of Crane Wife, I'm left with the Hold Steady and Beck, which you have also sold me on, I'll save a shekel or two, which never hurts... It really would be a lot cheaper to be a crack addict, but not nearly as much fun... | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 637 Registered: 05-2005 |
Kevin, I have not played Overcome... in a very long time. I must dig it out. I certainly used to consider it their classic. I'm intrigued to hear the new version of Grudge Fuck. The original is one of the most brilliantly hateful songs around - up there with Dylan and Costello for that kind of thing. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 912 Registered: 05-2005 |
Padraig, meant to post this earlier but forgot and listening to Grudge Fuck just now reminded me. This version is the full kitchen sink, pounding piano, strings and the cheesiest 70s style guitar solo in the middle. Towards the end the backing vocalists kick in big style. Very grandiose and yet somehow it works. I know I may still be living in the glow of this new record but I have to say again that Zero Refills is the stand out for me. It just seems to sum up everything magical about The Pernice Brothers in just under 5 minutes. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 919 Registered: 03-2006 |
Listened to this yesterday, and had a disturbing revelation: the melody for "Automaton" is more or less completely lifted from Barbra Streisand's "Woman In Love"! Joe can't have consciously done that, could he have? It's pretty blatant...I hope she don't notice - I sense she could afford a lot better lawyers than him... Also, I think I like the original Grudge Fuck better - something about the swelling strings, big guitar solo, seems way overblown for the theme of the song. It just doesn't work for me. Otherwise, I think it's a really good album - good enough that I may actually acquire a "storebought" copy. Particularly if my local Tower reduces it enough as part of their liquidation sale.... |