The sweetly melodic sounds made by the Pernice Brothers reflect their principle songwriter Joe Pernice's love of lush, orchestral pop. Formed after the 1997 breakup of Pernice's alt-country group the Scud Mountain Boys, his new project did an about-face from the spare but well-crafted '70s country sound of their final album, Massachusetts, There were almost no traces of country to be found on the Pernice Brother's 1998 debut Overcome by Happiness. Instead, influences like Brian Wilson, the Left Banke, and Todd Rundgren seemed to be the main inspiration. The Pernice Brothers du...