The Band Perry enjoyed a breakthrough in the US with their debut self-titled album in 2010. The album gave the trio of siblings two US Country number one hits – If I Die Young and All Your Life – and went on to sell over 1.5 million copies. Here in the UK the album peaked at number 46, which for a new country act isn’t a bad achievement at all. As we know country gets a rough ride in the UK as it isn’t embedded in the mainstream like it is in the US. Now The Band Perry are releasing their second album Pioneer which has already topped the US Country chart and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200.
Pioneer sees progression for The Band Perry with a feistier edge than their debut record. Current UK and US single Done, which the band performed on the recent American Idol final, sees vocalist Kimberly telling a man in no uncertain terms that their relationship is over. You feel the conviction in her voice as she sings, ‘you’re the one bridge I’d like to burn, scatter the ashes, smash the urn, I’m through with you.’ There’s nothing better than a bit of feisty country and there’s a couple more songs with a similar feel on the record. Opening track Better Dig Two tells the story of a woman who would rather die than survive the man she loves. It’s a dark tale with a rockier edge than we’ve heard from the band before.
Elsewhere on the record, The Band Perry mixes up their sound giving listeners a bit of variety. Don’t Let Me Be Lonely is a gentle country ballad, I Saw a Light showcases Kimberly’s vocals on its soaring chorus, and the heartfelt Mother Like Mine muses about how the world would be better if everyone had their mother as their own. Over the course of the record the band gets the balance of tempos just right offering enough to keep their fans happy.
Our favourite moments on the record are the uptempo ones. Chainsaw tells the story of young love gone wrong as Kimberly sings of cutting down a tree where she once carved her initials with the man she loved. Night Gone Wasted voices the joy of letting off steam with a good night out and leaving your cares behind.
Pioneer is a solid offering from The Band Perry. It builds on the sound they showcased during their debut and sees them progress into rockier territory whilst retaining their country edge. Kimberly’s vocals sound more confident this time round and she discovers the grittier side of her abilities. This collection of songs will delight fans old and new of the band and further increase their commercial success. Who knows they may even better the success of their first album here in the UK.
