Joe Pernice announces new album featuring Aimee Mann, others.

20 hours ago7 min read

The air in the indie music world just got a little sweeter, a little more melancholic, and a whole lot more interesting. Joe Pernice, the mastermind behind the beloved, critically-adored Pernice Brothers and a songwriter whose catalog feels like a lovingly curated collection of short stories set to melody, has announced a new solo album, 'Sunny, I Was Wrong,' slated for release on April 3.But the headline here, the real harmonic hook that’s got collectors and fans buzzing, isn’t just the date—it’s the guest list. Pernice has enlisted none other than Aimee Mann, a titan of literate, acerbic, and heartbreakingly beautiful songcraft in her own right, to contribute vocals.This isn't just a new record; it's a summit of two of the most distinct and revered voices in the alternative singer-songwriter sphere, a collaboration that feels both long overdue and perfectly timed. For those who’ve followed Pernice’s journey from the alt-country-tinged beginnings of Scud Mountain Boys through the lush, orchestral pop of the Pernice Brothers and his various solo ventures, this announcement carries the weight of a welcome return.His work has always existed in a space where Raymond Carver’s bleak realism meets the melodic sophistication of Burt Bacharach, where lyrics dissect heartache and existential dread with a surgeon’s precision, yet are delivered in a voice so gentle it feels like a secret. Albums like 'Overcome by Happiness' and 'The World Won't End' are modern classics, their songs—'Crestfallen,' 'Working Girls (Sunlight Shines)'—etched into the souls of a dedicated fanbase that treasures lyrical nuance as much as a perfect chord change.The involvement of Aimee Mann deepens the intrigue exponentially. Mann, since her triumph with the 'Magnolia' soundtrack and a string of flawless solo records, operates in a similar league: a crafter of impeccable, darkly witty pop songs that don’t shy away from complexity.Her voice, cool and crystalline, carries a world-weary wisdom that could be the perfect foil to Pernice’s more vulnerable, reedier tenor. One can imagine their harmonies on a track like the titular 'Sunny, I Was Wrong'—a title so classic Pernice in its wistful admission—creating something truly spectral.The press release hints at other collaborators, which sends the mind racing: will we see the return of other Pernice Brothers alumni? Could there be a cameo from his brother Bob? The production details are still under wraps, but one hopes for the return of that classic, warm, analog sound that defined his best work, all rich pianos, sighing strings, and the subtle crackle of something deeply human. This album arrives in a musical landscape vastly different from the late-90s heyday of this style of guitar-based, intelligent pop.

#Joe Pernice

#Sunny I Was Wrong

#Aimee Mann

#Norman Blake

#Jimmy Webb

#Rodney Crowell

#album announcement

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