It’s hard to describe how good it is to have Kimberly Perry back in country music. Having been such huge fans of The Band Perry since Hip To My Heart, we really have missed them.

Whilst we haven’t yet got new music from The Band Perry themselves, we are just as excited for Kimberly as a solo artist.

Bloom is Kimberly Perry’s new release and can be heard here. The five track EP includes a re-imagined version of If I Die Young which is titled If I Die Young Part 2. It’s more of an extension of the original.

Kimberly Perry was the sole songwriter on their most famous hit If I Die Young and it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful songs in country music history! An emotive ballad that touches on the naivety of youth, Part 2 sees Kimberly as the woman she is now who is more grown up and seeing things, seeing life differently! The tune has samples of the original song and is a bit more upbeat and less dramatic. Even Perry herself says similar in the lyrics

“It was so dramatic
Beautiful but tragic
Throwing my emotions in a poem ’bout a casket..”

With gorgeous instrumentation including the violin, the song brings a pure country sounding song that you can really feel in your bones. OG fans of The Band Perry will likely agree that If I Die Young was a song that meant so much and you could really feel every note and word. I can’t even describe it but it’s just one of those songs that gives you goosebumps every time you hear it! See the making of part 2 here

The Perry’s have always been vocal about their love and gratitude for their mother and it’s lovely to have a verse dedicated to her.

Perry co-wrote the song with Jimmy Robbins and Nicolle Galyon.

The second track, Burn The House Down, also follows with the original stylings of TBP with a more funky Red Hot Chili Peppers style edge from the guitar riff. Perry’s voice has always suited a rock sound as well as country. This song is of self-discovery and starting a clean slate. Written with Jimmy Robbins and Sasha Sloan, this song well represents its lyrics sonically with the melody sounding powerful and firey much like Perry’s vocals.

Perry let’s go of the past in Cry At Your Funeral. Written with Jesse Frasure, the song is an instant ear grabber with a catchy chorus. Somewhat of a power anthem, the song is a feel-good up beat tune!

Ghosts was the very first song Perry co-penned with Nicolle Galyon and Jimmy Robbins. Inspired by a greeting card she came across – which displayed 2 skeletons and the phrase “til death do us part is for quitters” – the song is her eternal vow to her husband, as she testifies that her love for him will carry on past their time on earth. A stunning pop/gothic-country song, this track brings me back to early TBP. The chorus is really addictive and alluring and rather ghostly as the song title would suggest!

Smoke ‘Em Too is a fun, sweet-sounding, rhythmic tune with clever contradictory lyrics. It’s a “best of both worlds” kind of song co-written with Parker Welling and Casey Brown.

I wanna be rich
I wanna be famous
But I don’t want anyone to know what my name is
I want red roses
But I don’t want the thorns
I’m gonna hang a halo here on top of my horns

I don’t wanna make up my mind
Why can’t I be both at the same time

All the songs are very strong and could all easily find a place on country radio, at least I would like to think so!

Kimberly Perry is such an important part of the country music genre as The Band Perry were always the heart of modern country music! They still are of course and Kimberly even more so! The real deal, Perry is an inspiration. Her hiatus only made her stronger as have her experiences and her ability to bring those experiences into beautiful storytelling songs is admirable.

Bloom is brave, honest, raw, edgy and beautifully inspirational! We feel she has had more creative freedom in this project and it is everything we had craved from Kimberly and more! She hasn’t disappointed!

We look forward to Bloom part 2 and all the baby news!