Insidious kinda singer/ songwriter fella, Joe Pernice. Take his last two PERNICE BROTHERS records, "The World Won't End" and the recent "Yours, Mine & Ours" - both perfectly pleasant on first listen; lovely harmonies and skilful musicianship all present and correct, but liable to wash over you if you're not careful.
But then you file them away, feeling a little underwhelmed, only to try them again a while later. Still, you feel they're a bit samey, but they've got something....Hmm,how about taking them out to play in the car? Yeah, that'll be pleasant. Couple of weeks later, nearly all the songs have got their hooks in you and you don't bother replacing them on the car stereo. Then you bring them back in and start choosing classic tracks from them for that great comilation tape you're about to make for your mate.
Typically, new single "The Weakest Shade Of Blue" works just that way.Initially, you think it's just OK as you acknowledge a slightly harder, rocky feel, with far less of the rather spurious Alt.Country tag that still dogs the Pernices, and instead waves their flag of allegiance to Teenage Fanclub with those crystalline harmonies deliciously intact. But then winsome Joe starts chatting us up effortlessly with his off-the-cuff romantic meanderings (e.g: "I'm as lonely as the Irish sea and as willing as the sand") and by the time time the gloriously twangly, perfectly formed guitar solo kicks in, you're wavering badly.
|
Try it a few times and you're smitten. And the moral of this tale? He's an insidious bastard is Joe Pernice, and he'll make your heart melt no matter what. Ultimately, resistance is useless.
|
