The Band Perry

I am now a firm believer of The Band Perry.

I wasn't at first but they grew on me. I knew it would happen... eventually. Kimberly Perry has a great voice... Reid and Neil are great musicians...  but I hate to say it, their debut album did very little for me... and it still kinda doesn't it. They released The Band Perry in 2010, and the album produced 5 hit singles: Hip To My Heart, If I Die Young, You Lie, All Your Life, and Postcard From Paris. Now, I'm not saying it's a bad album, because it isn't. It's filled with great harmonies, decent songs, and good songwriting... it's just... well, rather bland. The 5 singles mentioned above are some of the best songs off of the 11-track album. However, I still think Double Heart takes the cake... it's a mixture of rock 'n' roll and country sass. It's a good first album, but it just didn't grab me. I mean, I've never had any of the songs off their first album get stuck in my head. Well, maybe two, "Double Heart" and "You Lie"... but they weren't stuck in my head for very long. I knew they had potential and I knew they had the potential of growing on me... they just needed that one song. That one song that you can't get out of your head. That one song that you find yourself tapping your foot to (even when it isn't playing). That one song that you find yourself dancing or singing to (even if when it isn't playing). The one you bob your head to. That one song that drives you crazy (in a good way).

  Well... here is that one song: 

"DONE."

This song currently owns my life. And it's owned my life since mid-March... or whenever SiriusXM's "The Highway" started playing it. My obsession with this song has gotten worse, to the point where I cannot hide my love for it. This is the song that is stuck in my head. This is that song that I find myself tapping my foot to (even when it isn't playing.) This is the song that I find myself dancing/singing to (even when it isn't playing.) And I think everyone can relate to this song in some way or another. I also can no longer hide my love for Reid Perry. He's the bass player. Yeah, yeah, I know, another bass player obsession. I can't help it... it's purely a coincidence, I swear. He's been dubbed as being the band's "rock 'n' roller"... so, yeah. He is absolutely gorgeous. But that's not what's important here...

What's important, is that their new album, Pioneer is absolutely fabulous!!!

(Siblings: Neil, Kimberly, and Reid Perry)

Pioneer came out last week, April 2nd... and I can't stop listening to it.

Their debut album was their 'here we are' album... but this album is clearly their 'WE ARE HERE!" album. And that message definitely shows. This album is filled with great hooks, fabulous harmonies, better songwriting... and just better songs overall. This album shows more of a musical confidence, as well as band confidence. This album shows another side of The Band Perry. It's edgier, sassy, and has more of a pop/rock vibe... but still retains their country sound. This album is more musically diverse as opposed to their debut album... it combines the elements of pop, rock, country, and folk (the folk influence can be found on the title track, "Pioneer").

This album is filled with amazing/memorable songs that will get stuck in your head, and will stay in there for a while. Guaranteed. This is a solid album, from start to finish. Better Dig Two (the album's first single, released in late Oct '12) is what slowly reeled me in... and raised an eyebrow. Then "DONE." was released as a single (March '13) and that pretty much did if for me. I am hooked. Mhm.

I'm a believer.

ALSO (which is an important 'also') they've said that they listened to a lot of Queen while writing the song "Forever Mine Nevermind". Freddie Mercury and Brian May were a huge influence on that song. (Actually, a few of the songs have a bit of a Queen-vibe in them). Done. Sold. Yeah, that makes me love this album/band even more. Freddie Mercury will forever be a boss... and you cannot go wrong with Queen. You can never go wrong with Queen.

So if you like country music... or pop country... or even pop music, listen to this album. And if you love it, buy it. If you've never heard of The Band Perry, go straight to this album. This is the album.

Peace, Love, & Music,

~ Lizzy Lepp