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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | flalaw@aol.com |
| Subject | Re: Pernice Brothers |
| Date | Wed, 10 Aug 2005 15:23:39 -0400 |
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I'd start with their 2001 release (my favorite album of that year),
"The World Won't End". Their closest to to pure power pop. I was
hooked about 30 seconds into "Working Girls", the leadoff track, and it
only got better from there.
If The World Won't End is #1, Overcome by Happiness (the Pernice Bros'
first from 1998) is #1A. Not one bad track as well, a bit more subdued.
I've found the last two enjoyable (Yours, Mine and Ours from 2003 and
this year's Discover a Lovelier You), but not as much so as the first
two. Pernice shifted from a more Beatles/Beach Boys/Big
Star/Hollies/Zombies-influenced sound on the first two to a more
Smiths/Cure-influenced sound on the last two. Both are very good,
though.
And once you've immersed yourself in these, there are two more
must-buys: Joe Pernice's solo "Big Tobacco", and another self-titled
release under the moniker "Chapadquiddick Skyline". There are many
gems on these two as well.
And after those two, it's time to discover the Scud Mountain Boys. The
most accessible is "Massachussetts", which has the immortal Pernice
track "Grudgef***", and is of a piece with the solo Pernice stuff. The
previous two Scud releases are available in one collection called "The
Early Year", and are a more lo-fi affair, but also have their moments,
including as someone pointed out, the Webb covers (plus a cover of
ONJ's "Please Mister Please").
And then you'l want the rarities and b-sides, and the live CD/DVD
(Nobody's Listening/Nobody's Watching) that came out last year.
But just start off with The World Won't End. You won't regret it.
Steve F
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