By Geoffrey Rowlands
A number of American artists are far more popular in Britain than in their homeland. The Pierces are perhaps the prime example. Their recently released fifth studio album, Creation, has become the second UK top 10 hit for sisters Catherine and Allison Pierce. Yet the girls do not even have a US record deal.
“That isn’t so important in the digital age,” said Catherine, 37. “Anyone who wants our records can always get them on digital downloads. Our UK label, Polydor, also has a distribution deal in America.”
Lack of label support from Sony Music blighted The Pierces during their early years. “A friend submitted a tape of us in concert while we were at Auburn University,” explained 39-year-old Allison. “This led to our first record deal and we released our self-titled debut album in 2000.
“For whatever reason though, the label didn’t promote us. Our album got lost in the shuffle. It wasn’t too long afterwards that we were back doing day jobs and just writing and performing in our spare time.”
A deal with Universal eventually enabled the girls to release a second album, Light of the Moon, in August, 2004. Although it was well received by critics, the record was a commercial failure. “I think the album was loved by most people who got to hear it,” Catherine reflected. “Unfortunately, we again didn’t get much label or radio support.”
“To be fair, I guess our musical style of indie folk wasn’t exactly considered radio friendly back in those days,” Allison added. “We’ve benefitted now from the popularity of artists such as Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers. These, and other folk acts, have had massive hit albums and singles. We’ve also adapted our style to folk rock so more radio stations are willing to play our songs.”
The duo changed record label again before releasing their 2007 album, Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge. Although still commercially unsuccessful, critical acclaim was matched by the use of tracks on television and in the film, ExTerminators. The Pierces also appeared in two episodes of Gossip Girl performing two songs from the album.
“We thought that album might be our last chance,” Catherine admitted. “The sales were okay if unspectacular but it was all the other attention which made us think our career might finally be about to take off.”
With the might of Polydor behind them, their 2011 album, You & I, proved to be Catherine and Allison’s breakthrough. Television appearances, UK concert tours and an acclaimed performance at the Glastonbury Music Festival led to the album peaking at number four in Britain and earning the girls a gold disc. The Pierces are now enjoying similar success with Creation.
But it was not a smooth transition between albums. Plans were made for the record to be released last year but their initial submission was rejected by Polydor. “Things began well enough but we realised the songs just didn’t have the energy or emotion that we wanted,” Catherine stated.
“The producer was fine, we got on great together, but it simply didn’t work out. We finally decided to ask my fiance (Christian ‘Leggy’ Langdon, the duo’s guitarist and musical director) to produce the album.”
“He was reluctant at first,” Allison remarked. “Catherine and I are always arguing about our music so Leggy was worried that any problems in the creative process might adversely affect his relationship with Catherine.”
“We did sometimes discuss songs over dinner,” Catherine admitted. “But we’d been together long enough to know how to keep our working and personal lives separate.”
Catherine and Allison’s creative differences have threatened to break up the duo on numerous occasions. “We know how to push each other’s buttons,” Allison laughed. “We write alone so the other person has to understand and appreciate our individual effort for it to eventually become a Pierces song. This can sometimes prove difficult and we often drive each other crazy. But we’re still together and we know the only objective is to make each song as good as it can be.”
IN BRIEF
Tweedy
Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy has just released what was intended to be his debut solo album. But Sukierae became a family project featuring the drumming of Jeff’s 18-year-old son Spencer. Jeff describes the work as “a solo album performed by a duo” and the LP is credited not simply to Jeff but to Tweedy. “I expected it to be a true solo record,” Jeff explained.
“I planned to write the songs, sing and play every instrument. But Spencer has been with me from the beginning when we made the first demos. He not only played drums but helped the songs to take shape. It was only right that his work should be acknowledged by the artist credit being Tweedy rather than Jeff Tweedy.”
Eight tracks from Sukierae have been previwed over the past few weeks on the Wilcoworld website. These have now been gathered together and can be heard at (no www.) soundcloud.com/dbpmrecords.
Amy Winehouse
A life-size bronze statue of deceased singer Amy Winehouse was unveiled in London on what would have been her 31st birthday. Created by sculptor Scott Eaton, the statue is located in Camden’s Stable Market. It captures Amy in a typical hand on hip pose and features her trademark beehive hairstyle but not the tattoos which covered her arms.
Her fans understandably welcomed the statue. But critics suggest Amy’s small body of work coupled with the alcohol and drug abuse which led to her death from alcohol poisoning make her unworthy of such commemoration. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Amy’s father, Mitch Winehouse, dashed the hopes of fans who might have expected more posthumous albums following the success of 2011’s Lioness: The Hidden Treasures.
“Amy did about 15 different versions of the songs on Back to Black but we don’t intend to release any of these. We don’t want to rip people off. There is no more new music.”
U2
Not everyone likes U2. Certainly not the thousands of people who complained to Apple about the band’s latest album, Songs of Innocence, simply appearing in their music library.
U2’s marketing strategy was to effectively impose the record on every iTunes user. While fans were delighted to find the LP on their Apple devices, others protested at the violation of their equipment being hacked with an album they didn’t want. The complaints were so heated that Apple have since released a tool to delete U2’s album from all devices using iTunes. Even this has failed to appease the more vociferous complainants. Despite Songs of Innocence being given away for free, postings on YouTube have been muted by legal enforcement. While this may seem ridiculous, the reason lies in a physical release of the album, containing four additional tracks, which is scheduled for October 13.
Perfume Genius
Seattle-based singer/songwriter Perfume Genius, real name Mike Hadreas, has just released his third album, Too Bright. The two singles, Grid and Queen, drew positive reviews. These tracks, plus the other nine songs, are now available to hear at (no www.) soundcloud.com/perfumegenius/sets/too-bright-full-album-stream.The previous Perfume Genius albums are posted in full on YouTube. Learning is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mqbl2oaKa8&list=PLC3B9059C7E102D0B. “Put Your Back N 2 It” can be heard at www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_qJdq1rGvc&list=PLDBDEF8ED2DA2D43B.