To say Joe Pernice has had a varied career would be understatement of the year – he’s fronted at least three bands, released at least 18 albums (the latest is the excellent “Who Will You Believe”), has written books and some poetry, written film screenplays and has even made some animation videos. He was born in Boston and has five siblings and from an early age showed prowess as a writer. Having studied English at University he was encouraged to do a creative writing course and played guitar as a hobby before joining a punk band.
After performing with the band, Pernice would unwind by playing old 70’s soft rock and country songs and these efforts developed into him forming his first band – the wonderful Scud Mountain Boys. This was a very well-received alt-country band, and they released two hard-to-find albums by the mid-nineties, before they recorded their magnificent third release “Massachusetts”. This album first properly demonstrated the startlingly bleak tone of much of Pernice’s writing then and to come. This album is about wasted lives – characters who have wasted everything and whose only way of surviving is dulling their senses with booze and drugs. His humour is so black it’s almost confusing – but his music and this album is beautiful.
There’s a lovely story that the table that Pernice and his band played at, strumming these soft rock tunes, in band member Bruce Tull’s kitchen, was brought to one of their early concerts and the band played sitting down, which was enthusiastically welcomed by the audience. In 1998, Joe started his band The Pernice Brothers with their superb debut “Overcome By Happiness“. The songwriting, musicianship and sound really did start making waves and Pernice began to be taken seriously.
The following year though, he decided to release an album with a new moniker Chappaquidick Skyline, gaining comparisons to the Beach Boys, Big Star, Nick Drake and the Zombies, quite the range. The band were his fellow bandmates from his new outfit, with a selection of other friends, and at the time, Pernice was quoted as suggesting the songs on this album were a lot like a 10-year-old kid he knew on his school hockey team, who one day had a major breakdown. He ranted and screamed, broke glass and never returned to the team or his school and Pernice found out later he became a ‘hot-shot physicist’.
From their debut in 1998, the Pernice Brothers released a number of simply stunning albums, with his distinctive lyrics and knack for writing killer tunes appearing on all these releases. Here’s a personal selection of the finest moments from Joe Pernice’s fascinating and richly rewarding career.
Number 10: Chappaquiddick Skyline – ‘Breakneck Speed’ from “Chappaquiddick Skyline”(2000),
In 1999, Pernice released this album of wonderful alt-country gems – but it did get a little harsh criticism around release, for it’s relentless bleakness. We know what we’re in for when the opening line on the first track is “I hate my life”. But within this negativity there’s some great songwriting, as demonstrated by this gently lilting acoustic tune, sounding remarkably like Wilco at their best. He’s joined by bandmates Thom Monahan, Peyton Pinkerton, Laura Stein, and Mike Belitsky, as well as countless friends who stopped by to help out. It was recorded at home on 8-track with Monahan manning the knobs.
Number 9: Pernice Brothers ‘She Heightened Everything’ from “The World Won’t End”(2001)
This album saw Pernice’s gloominess ever present – but it’s counter-balanced with some lovely sounding catchy tunes – infectious melodies and a jubilant sound greatly enhanced by David Tremholm’s restrained string quartet arrangements. This track is just lovely.
Number 8: Pernice Brothers ‘Amazing Glow’ from “Discover A Lovelier You” (2005)
In 2005, Pernice released this album and one can distinctly feel a heavy dose of The Smiths and New Order influencing the sounds here. This is the best song on this album – lightheaded, beautiful with gorgeous harmonies and a heartbreaking feel.
Number 7: Scud Mountain Boys ‘In A Ditch’ from “Massachusetts” (1996)
So this was album number three for Pernice back in 1996 – and after a slightly wobbly start to his songwriting, this album really cemented his talents. This song, “Massachusetts”‘s opening number, begins with the words: “They pulled her from a ditch last night/ Somewhere down on 95/ On the wrong side of the road/ Found a needle and a pipe/ She had hidden by her side.” There’s a twist to come though – the song isn’t really about the dead woman in the wrecked car – it’s about the man who “used to know the face broken on the steering wheel” and who wonders what she might have been like “if she ever found the ability to feel”. Typically Pernician.
Number 6: Pernice Brothers ‘Bechamel’ from “Goodbye Killer” (2010)
There was a four year break for the band before they released “Goodbye Killer” – and a slimmer band were on board for this – a fourpiece. But the quality of the songwriting was as high as ever and although it was only ten songs strong – cracking songs like opener ‘Bechamel’ entranced fans and newcomers alike.
Number 5: Pernice Brothers ‘Something For You’ from “Goodbye Killer” (2010)
The opening guitar on this belter of a song hooks the listener from the get-go and this album’s superb melodies and arrangements really shine. There’s such confidence on show in this album and Pernice sounds as though he’s got a lot to prove over these ten songs. This track is a belter.
Number 4: Chappaquiddick Skyline ‘Hundred Dollar Pocket’ from “Chappaquiddick Skyline” (2000)
This album has Pernice gloomily ruminating about life, love and inevitably relationships, with his usual lyrical poignancy and the album oozes lovely acoustic guitars, rootsy arrangements and a gentle lulling feeling throughout. This track exemplifies this superbly.
Number 3: Pernice Brothers ‘Flaming Wreck’ from “The World Won’t End” (2001)
“The World Won’t End” was the Pernice Brothers second album and is another collection of Pernice’s individualistic take on romance – it’s equal parts joyous and utterly morose. But again the tunes are so good you can’t help smiling listening to it – whatever the lyrics.
Number 2: Scud Mountain Boys ‘Holy Ghost’ from “Massachusetts” (1996)
Listening to this album again, you can’t help but wonder at its musical magnificence. Sparse acoustic instrumentation abound on this early album from Pernice. Distinctive doom and gloom nestles within superb tunes and ‘Holy Ghost’ is one of Pernice’s best.
Number 1: Pernice Brothers ‘7.30’ from “The World Won’t End” (2001)
This song hits you hard from the opening seconds with a solid, tough drum beat and a guitar melody to die for. On release one critic opined, “it’s Teenage Fanclub living in a beach house in California reading Sylvia Plath on the side”. Perfectly put.
Bum Leg? Cigarette Sandwich?
Classic albums.