Pernice Brothers - The World Won't End
by Geraint Jones
published: 17 / 12 / 2001
Label:
Southpaw
Format: CD
intro
Having elected to release a pair of solo projects in the meantime, ‘Chappaquiddick Skyline’ and ‘Big Tobacco’ respectively, Joe Pernice has at last seen fit to release the bona fide sequel to the Pern
Having elected to release a pair of solo projects in the meantime, ‘Chappaquiddick Skyline’ and ‘Big Tobacco’ respectively, Joe Pernice has at last seen fit to release the bona fide sequel to the Pernice Brothers exceptional debut ‘Overcome By Happiness’, which was a benchmark in mournful, orchestral pop and one of the best albums released in 1998. Joe Pernice possesses one of the distinctive and emotive voices around. His whispered, almost fractured delivery of his cryptically dark lyrics, deceptively entwined amidst lush strings and hooks that get so deep they almost hurt, deliver a sucker punch that should leave all but the most cynical and resilient reeling from its effect. Joe Pernice honed his impressive talent over several years with the much-missed Scud Mountain Boys, who were relatively early mainstays of the alt. county scene before their demise in 1997. Whilst the Pernice Brothers line-up may have fluctuated a little since their inception, Joe Pernice has consistently assembled a cast of exemplary musicians who are capable of fleshing out his material, none more so than his long-term accomplice Thom Monahan who also co-produced the album. Whilst the lyrics may be relentlessly downbeat, the arrangements are so utterly uplifting in contrast that you may feel a pang of guilt as you sing along with Pernice tales of suicide, death, bitterness and regret. Misery has never sounded better and Pernice proves that you don’t have to be morose to be miserable. Ultimately though Pernice must have a sense of humour. Check out tis choice of knitwear on the inner sleeve, so perhaps he’s just playing with our emotions. Or not. Either way as long as the Pernice Brothers are around it’s easy to believe that the world really won’t end and that Pernice can continue to intoxicate us with his despicably catchy songs for many dark days to come.
Track Listing:-
1 Working girls (Sunlight shines)2 7:30
3 Our time has passed
4 She heightened everything
5 Bryte side
6 Let that show
7 Shaken baby
8 Flaming wreck
9 The ballad of Bjorn Borg
10 Endless supply
11 Cronulla breakdown
reviews |
Live a Little (2006) |
Latest album of high quality pop from the increasingly experimental Pernice Brothers |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart