Review of Live A Little Album by The Pernice Brothers
The Pernice Brothers
Live A Little
Album Review
It is hard to understand what has overcome the perfect songsmithery of Joe Pernice, a writer who has been capable of something that sounds a lot like song perfection on earlier albums like Overcome By Happiness or Discover A Lovelier You. Live A Little trades on weedy rehashed Pernice Brothers knock-offs that blow past like feathery leaves, and then they're gone.
Perhaps Pernice only had the one idea of a way to craft a song that sounds so beautiful it conceals the deliciously lacerating lyrics he sings so sweetly (like Elvis Costello with singing lessons). The best seconds of Live A Little come in the guitar solo in How Can I Compare, which itself suggests someone ran out of ideas early on in the project. The single Somerville has something about it, in a way that the album doesn't - some sense of a reason to be. It and the album's last song are all you need download. Otherwise avoid altogether and buy their first album instead.
Rating 4/10
Mike Rea
