Album Review: Pioneer by The Band Perry

Give Kimberly Perry all the credit she's really trying. Problem is I'm just not sure she's trying with the right material. The only song that really captures Perry at what feels like her most natural is the one song she wrote "Mother Like Mine." Six of the other songs were written by the band The Henningsens. They are another family band that centers around a female vocalist. Problem is that doesn't mean they know how to write for Perry. In many ways the album feels like the bands production team gave them a bunch of songs and said do what you can with these, we'll toss it out there and hope something sticks.

This approach puts a lot of pressure on Kimberly Perry as she's having to sing many different styles and come from many different personalties. She's trying hard but it comes across like someone on American Idol being handed a song and given a week to work up a performance of it.

I don't know much about these guys and I hope they have good success, but they just don't seem that comfortable with who their record label is making them be. Maybe they'll find enough success that they can get some control and maybe it will turn out this is who they are.

I didn't say anything about the brothers and maybe that's not fair. Truth is they are just stand in characters behind Kimberly at this point. Perhaps one of them will turn out to be a great arranger and he can start controlling their sound a bit more and build something that works for his sister. As it is right now the brothers are just there and Kimberly could be teamed up with anyone.

Following the Rhapsody rating method I give it 1 out of 5 stars for Just OK.



By the way here is a video from The Henningsens. If they make it big not sure who will write songs for The Band Perry.