Persevere
Persevere is the fourth studio album by Scottish folk rock duo The Proclaimers, released in 2001 on their own label "Persevere Records", as a comeback album after seven years of low profile. The album's first single featured "There's a Touch", "A Land Fit for Zeros" and "They Really Do" (not included in the album). Recording. The album was recorded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States at Mastermix Studios, their only studio album to be recorded outside of the United Kingdom. Recorded with a studio band featuring drummer Pete Thomas of Elvis Costello's Attractions and Allman Brothers' Chuck  Leavell on keyboards, the album was produced by Chris Kimsey. Release. Released on 22 May 2001, "Persevere" saw distribution on CD through their own Persevere Records in the United Kingdom, and in the United States and Canada through Nettwerk Records. Content and style. Musical style. Mary Huhn of "New York Post" described "Persevere" stylistically as "roots-rock pop", and to feature "harmonies only brothers can create". Lyrics and themes. The song "Scotland's Story" drew parallels between historical migrations to Scotland and arrivals of more recent immigrants, while "One Too Many" and "Act of Remembrance" paid tribute to the Reids ' deceased father. Critical reception. "Persevere" received some mixed reviews. "AllMusic"'s Jon Azpiri remarked that although the album was "not likely to achieve the kind of success of their previous work", that it had "enough interesting material [...] to prevent [the band] from being placed in the "Where Are They Now?" file", and praised "There's a Touch" and "Land fit for Zeros" for having "the same goofy charm" as the group's biggest hit, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". In 2001, Bill Holdship of "Rolling Stone" stated that "the new album is quite good, combining folk, soul, country  and pop with the Fifties-styled melodic sensibilities of the brothers Reid", observing that the song "One Too Many" would "make The Eagles green with envy". In "Riverfront Times", Steve Pick was praising of the record, commenting that the band "have equaled the musical triumphs of "Sunshine on Leith"" and deliver "a series of snapshots that reveal the actual experience of life during middle age, when love is more complicated than it seems". Danish music publication "Gaffa" commented that "Persevere" saw the band on "fine form". Entailing "Everybody's A Victim" and "Scotland's Story" to be "excellent songs" and  How Many Times to be a "little pop gem", reviewer Peter Widmer opined that "Persevere" was "a fine album" which "should be heard". Canadian media magazine "Exclaim!" lauded "Persevere" "a remarkable comeback album", full of "fresh, catchy, sentimental and charming" songs. Touring. "Persevere"'s release was celebrated in July 2001 by a day-long concert tour of pubs and bars in Greater Vancouver, Canada, sponsored by Shaftebury Brewing. The promotional tour for "Persevere" included an arena tour of the United States in August 2001 supporting the Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies, and a concert for season ticket holders of soccer  team Vancouver Whitecaps on 1 May 2002. Track listing. All songs written by Craig and Charlie Reid.