The Band Perry

The eponymous debut from the Band Perry reveals a downhome songcraft forged in red dirt. Led by the searing voice of eldest sister Kimberly Perry, these songs draw their energy from rock music even as they are shaped by country sensibilities. Where other country acts sound conservative and complacent, “Double Heart,” “Miss You Being Gone” and “You Lie” exhibit a rarely seen urgency. Even when the band is rolling steady, Kimberly’s voice can send a shockwave down the center of a song. The band’s bold stance is underscored by the credits — the Perrys had a hand in writing all but two of these songs, and a handful are credited solely to the siblings. While this self-sufficient creativity is a rarity in Nashville, the depth of their songs is even more surprisingly. The prizewinner is “If I Die Young,” credited solely to Kimberly Perry. At 26, she is already singing about death from the perspective of a much older soul: “Never known the lovin' of a man / But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand / There’s a boy here in town says he’ll love me forever / Who would have thought forever could be severed by / The sharp knife of a short life, well / I’ve had just enough time.”