The Proclaimers: Persevere : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

The return of the Proclaimers may seem like one of the more unlikely rock comebacks. Then again, the Proclaimers were one of the more unlikely pop successes of the Nineties in the first place. Relegated to one-hit-wonder status with their chart topping "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," the Proclaimers are Craig and Charlie Reid, goofy-looking, carrot-topped, bespectacled, identical twins with incredibly thick Scottish brogues. Equally unlikely -- at least to casual observers -- is that the new album is quite good, combining folk, soul, country and pop with the Fifties-styled melodic sensibilities of the brothers Reid. Persevere kicks off with a chord nicked directly from "Pleasant Valley Sunday" before introducing the banjos, swirling organs, and harmonies that dominate the disc. The pop-country touches on "One Too Many" would make the Eagles green with envy, while "How Many Times" -- which would've sounded at home on Sixties AM radio -- is white soul that sounds a lot less white than the Bee Gees. And "Everybody's A Victim" may make you wanna do a jig, if not don a kilt. (BILL HOLDSHIP - May 21, 2001)