Today, the internationally acclaimed Irish performer, Pierce Turner, releases his 15th album entitled Terrible Good via StorySound Records. The record was created with legendary guitarist Gerry Leonard (David Bowie, Suzanne Vega, Rufus Wainwright). Both Irish expats who’ve made home in New York City, the two set out to create an Irish rock album with a New York attitude. The album features performances from Tony Shanahan on bass (Patti Smith), and Yuval Lion on drums (David Byrne).
“This is really my first real electric guitar album, it's an album with a New York edge,” explains Turner. “Gerry Leonard and I have honed our adult tastes in these rent subsidized, red brick railroad apartments. We’ve carried amps from CBGB’s to Max’s Kansas City and the Mudd Club, cheered on Television and the Ramones while we found footing for our Irish feet in New York’s fashion and filth. We have become New Yorkers without really knowing it,” he continues. “Now all those influences have melded together under one roof, and you are holding the results. It has been terrible good for us to finally work together.”
An Irish-American musician in the truest, and most literal, sense, Pierce Turner lives half the year in his hometown of Wexford, Ireland, and the other half in his longtime adopted hometown of New York City. Both places are reflected in his songs, which frequently move between these two different worlds. Since he began his solo career in the 80’s, he’s worked on a broad range of projects including writing for opera, scoring movies, and composing a contemporary Mass. His genre-bending songwriting has led Turner to collaborate with legendary producer John Simon (The Band, Leonard Cohen, Cass Elliot) on 1991’s Now Is Heaven and composer Philip Glass on projects such as 1986’s It’s Only a Long Way Across and “Yogi with a Broken Heart.”
Turner wrote the songs for Terrible Good over a four-year period, in a process complicated by living and working in two different countries and during a pandemic. Electric guitars are central to Terrible Good, arising from his collaboration with guitarist/producer Gerry Leonard (David Bowie, Rufus Wainwright, Suzanne Vega). Turner has previously shared four singles from the album; the soulful “Where It Should Be,” the optimistic “Set A Few Things Up,” the philosophical “Love Of Angels” and the raucous eulogy “Tommy and Timmy.” Glide Magazine premiered the latter saying “Pierce Turner’s songs are like a soundtrack to a pub rock documentary – mixing the pent up singing of Joe Strummer atop the supercharged guitar sounds. It’s no surprise that Turner splits his time between Ireland and NYC, as his contagious old school rock statement is as much hustle and bustle as it is explosively passionate.”
In a dual-celebration of his new album and St. Patrick’s Day, Pierce will perform at the famed Joe’s Pub in New York City on March 17 with an all-star band. Tickets are available here.
Terrible Good tracklist:
1. Where It Should Be
2. Set a Few Things Up
3. Love Never Fails
4. Love Of Angels
5. Stephen
6. Rocket Man
7. Don’t Get Too Fallen
8. Australia
9. More
10. Tommy and Timmy
