Sunny, I Was Wrong
New West, 2026
10/10
This debut album from Joe Pernice (Pernice Brothers, Scud Mountain Boys), sees the troubadour welcoming some impressive names to these 11 authentic songs that were pieced together spontaneously.
The warm spirit of “Peace In Our Home” starts with Pernice’s cozy guitar and smooth voice alongside Mike Belitsky’s gentle drums, and “Deep Into The Dawn” follows with Aimee Mann’s inimitable voice that suits Burke Carroll’s well timed pedal steel and Jim Creeggan’s fluid bass.
Further along, “It Won’t Be Me” features Rodney Crowell’s unmistakable singing amid Mike Evin’s mature keys and Pernice’s cozy guitar playing, while “I’d Rather Look Away” follows with Norman Blake’s pipes, Pete Mancini’s 12 string guitar and Evin’s organ adding much to the lush album highlight.
Arriving close to the end, “Twenty-Thousand Times” enlists Josh Karp’s trumpet and Greg Kramer’s trombone via some strategic jazz influences, and “It Got Away From Me” exits with Jimmy Webb’s piano and Andrew Joslyn’s violin, viola and cello for the distinct intimacy that’s touching and sincere- much like the entire album.
An incredible first solo album, Pernice’s vision is heartfelt, poetic and feels like a real time set that we can all relate to and enjoy for decades to come.
Travels well with: Pernice Brothers- Who Will You Believe; Rodney Crowell- Then Again