Customer Reviews

Goodbye Killer

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For the past 15 years, Joe Pernice has established himself as a songwriter with few equals, and his body of work to this point has been amazingly consistent, whether we're talking about the hushed alt-country of the Scud Mountain Boys, the pristine chamber pop of the PB debut Overcome By Happiness, or last year's solo all-covers "novel soundtrack" It Feels So Good When I Stop. The touchstones have remained in place, whether it's 70's AM Pop, 80's college rock, or 90's indie rock, with first class lyrics that have the same bite as the prose of a master short-story writer.

So, the arrival of a new Pernice Brothers album should be viewed as a cause for celebration (if, by celebration, you mean an evening alone with a mid-priced bottle of wine and some painkillers). Goodbye, Killer kicks off in good measure with the rocking "Bechamel" and "Jacqueline Susann" ("Would that I was the book in her hand/Christ, she's reading Ford Madox Ford and Jacqueline Susann."). "We Love the Stage" is an archly comic tune that recalls Ray Davies at his sardonic best, and sheds some light on why the band has been so indifferent to touring ("It doesn't matter if the crowd is thin/We play to six the way we play to ten."). Mid-tempo tunes like "The Loving Kind," "Newport News" (which boasts the excellent opening line "Sadly, I woke up in Connecticut...") and the title track reflect the overall sound of the record: loose, un-fussed over, without much in the way of strings, horns or keyboard embellishments, and a return to a twangier sound (with some excellent guitarwork, presumably by James Walbourne, also of the latest incarnation of the Pretenders). The plaintive "The End of Faith" brings a lovely close to the proceedings, and is one of this brief album's highlights. However, the main issue is that there are no real knockout punches, like "Prince Valium," "Baby In Two" or "Saddest Quo" provided on records past, and the songs don't linger in one's consciousness, but Goodbye Killer ultimately wins on points. Not their best, and in fact, I suspect this mignt be their weakest yet, but that's simply a consequence of Joe Pernice's skill and consistency--his lesser tunes rival the top-shelf stuff from most other songwriters.

The diversity of songs on this cd is staggering. Every facet of the excellent songwriting and witty lyrical style of Joe Pernice is evident. Right from the opening track on to jamming guitar solos like the one found on Goodbye Killer (who is that song about??), these represent some of the best Pernice Brothers songs in their long and storied career. The cd is a little more upbeat that the last (Live a Little) and the songs should play very well live (should they ever tour).
Fans of mid-period Josh Rouse, early Fountains of Wayne, and the Smiths will all love this cd. One of America's great, unheralded, indie, pop songwriters is back and better than ever. Please support indie labels by buying this cd. You can also check their website: [...] for more information

The Pernice Brother's latest is a real change in direction from the lush, string-laden pop of previous Pernice to a raw, stripped down sound, highlighted by James Walbourne's dazzling guitar heroics. The lyrics, while still depresso, are less fussy, too, as Joe Pernice brings in some of the country flavor of his first band, The Scud Mountain Boys (and if you haven't heard that band's "Massachussetts," you should purchase it immediately -- it's a masterpiece). "Goodbye, Killer" is only 30 minutes, which means every tune has to count. Unfortunately, there are a couple I could do without -- "We Love the Stage" (hokey) and "The Loving Kind" (maudlin)-- but the rest demonstrate why Pernice is simply the best pop songwriter of the past couple of decades. Hopefully it won't be four years until his next album of originals.

7th album since 1998 from this quietly impressive Massachusetts band who play beautiful,
magic pop/rock melodies with a touch of 60's and country influence--led by irresistible vocals
and strong lyrics. Joe Pernice writes the kind of songs that will lodge in your heart, plain and
simple. Former member of Scud Mountain Boys.