On April 2, country music trio, The Band Perry, released its sophomore album entitled “Pioneer.”
Band members and siblings, Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry rose to fame with their 2010 debut, self-titled album. They shot to super stardom with hit singles such as “If I Die Young.”
Three years later, the trio has succeeded in avoiding the fate that some artists fall victim to. They have released a sophomore album that is in every way as dynamic as attention-grabbing as their first, if not more so.
Led by Kimberly’s powerful vocals, “Pioneer” is a diverse compilation of emotional ballads, celebratory country-pop crossovers, and gritty, purely country anthems. There is something to excite the musical palette of any listener, whether a die-hard country groupie or a newcomer to the genre.
The title track is a refreshingly honest and presumably autobiographical story of knowing what one’s dream is but not knowing how exactly to get there. Assisted by delicate harmonies and folk-like undertone, “Pioneer” is highly relatable to young audiences who might not know where life will take them.
Similarly, “Mother Like Mine” is beautiful in its own right. Just as bluegrass singer, Alison Krauss sweetly honored her family by singing “Simple Love,” The Band Perry makes a calm and complimentary tribute to a strong mother whose mere presences has the power to make the world a better place. “Mother Like Mine” is unpolluted by messy instrumentation and allows Kimberly’s delicate lyrics to shine through.
At other times, the album strays from this softer tone, and both turns up the volume and quickens the beat.
The chart-topping single, “Better Dig Two” does just this.
Here, the band fiercely sings of a heart broken by “loving one man just a little too much.” The song borders on rock, but always returns to its banjo-driven root.
After this comes the next single, “Done.” Unlike “Before He Cheats,” Carrie Underwood’s violent ballad of revenge toward an unfaithful boyfriend, “Done,” describes the narrator’s resolution of being finished with a relationship and confidently and maturely walking away instead of carving up the man’s car with her keys.
There are more other, more positive and energetic tunes on the album, such as “Night Gone Wasted,” a swinging country song that celebrates the band’s youthful energy.
There is also “I’m a Keeper,” an addictive and empowering story of confidence and dreams of the future.
It’s catchy chorus hooks the listener, who cannot help but dance and sing along to the extremely well written lyrics.
There is not one song on “Pioneer” that fails to impress. It will surely sell millions of copies on iTunes.
Even though its professionally recorded songs on “Pioneer” are stellar, The Band Perry must perform an even better live version of them. The varied, complex, and energetic instrumentation combined with the harmonious and powerful lyrics will surely keep any crowd on its feet.
For more information, visit http://www.thebandperrycentral.com/.
