It's hard to believe that three years have passed since The Band Perry's debut in 2010. It's not surprising though, the lead single "Hip to my Heart" was a Country-only hit and they didn't acquire mainstream success until "If I Die Young" flew up the charts in 2011. "All Your Life" came in late 2011 and "Postcard from Paris" kept us occupied in 2012. So, come 2013, with "Better Dig Two" released as the lead single, something become instantly clear: The Band Perry prove that you can pull off the same trick twice. They gracefully avoid the sophomore slump by creating a record that's a little more cohesive, fresher, and more enthralling than their debut. They achieve this by giving sole custody of the mic to lead singer Kimberly Perry. It makes sense: she's the heart, soul, voice, and hook of the band anyway. But that doesn't mean she can't let her other brothers/band-mates shine in their own right in "Back to Me Without You". Their camaraderie is still very apparent as they manage to balance the guitars, drums, and vocal parts so that no one element over-bears more than necessary. Just like their debut, "Pioneer" is filled with assured and subtle material that has flares of attitude and sweet sentimentality. It shifts between these two sides constantly, as it starts off with "Better Dig Two", leads into the equally as compelling "Done.", and then the gears shift and the first ballad "Don'e Let Me Be Lonely" is introduced. This is definitely a step in the right direction, but with all of the changing in moods also comes a sort of whip-lash, making it unable to fully appreciate one song before another one starts playing. Some tracks you can glide over easily, like the title track and "I Saw a Light", the music is strucutrally sound, but lacks hooks. However, this makes it easier to love "Chainsaw", a fiddle shredding number that has all of the pieces of another cross-over hit. Whenever The Band Perry sticks to the fun times and vibrancy, they strike the biggest chord. Their dogged seriousness, however, becomes a bit too much after repeated listens. Still, "Pioneer" holds its own even when it drags, and it remains a humble listen. Although, one should hope they continue to grow as artists, as they deliver some great songs here, but still feel like they could've been even more powerful and even more driven than they already are. For right now, after three years of waiting, "Pioneer" is an accomplished successor to their breakthrough at the start of the decade.
Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Better Dig Two 2. Done. 3. Don’t let me be lonely
4. Pioneer 5. Forever mine nevermind 6. Night gone wasted
7. I saw a light 8. Mother like Mine 9. Chainsaw
10. I’m a keeper 11. Back to me without you 12. End of time
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