Pioneer
For a such a well-groomed bunch of kids, Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry are remarkably death-obsessed: In the wake of their 2010 country smash “If I Die Young,” the lead single from their second LP is “Better Dig Two,” a catchy banjo-cum-power chord murder-suicide fantasy. The goth-iness would seem a perfect match for Rick Rubin, uncredited “song doctor” on this perky, rocked-up country-pop set. But the brood is most convincing on giddier kiss-offs like “Chainsaw” (rhymes with “such a shame y’all”) and the Brad Paisley co-write “Forever Mine Nevermind,” with guitar sass befitting a Queen album. And while the mom shout out “Mother Like Mine” is mad corny, you know these siblings mean every word.