The Innocence Mission

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Lancaster PA, United States

The Innocence Mission are a folk band featuring the beautiful, mesmerizing vocals of Karen Peris, and the guitar backing of her husband, Don Peris.

Their signature style is dreamy slow songs, with beautiful melodies.

The original band, including Mike Bitts (bass), and Steve Brown (drums), was formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the early 80s when the members met during a Catholic school production of Godspell. Although all members of the band have contributed musically, Karen Peris does most of the group’s writing.

Their eponymous debut album, released in 1989 (A&M Records), was produced by Larry Klein, then-husband of Joni Mitchell, and recorded in the couple’s basement recording studio. The album peaked on the Billboard charts at #167 in 1990, and the album’s second track, “Black Sheep Wall”, released as a single in 1989, peaked at #22 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks. The album’s fifth track, “Clear to You”, was used on the soundtrack of the pilot episode of Beverly Hills 90210. Klein also produced their 1991 follow up, Umbrella.

Their third and final A&M album, Glow, released in 1995 (A&M Records), Was produced by Dennis Herring, who had previously produced two records for Camper Van Beethoven. This album is a departure from Klein’s heavier production style. Whereas the first two releases may have brought to mind The Sundays and The Cocteau Twins with their moody keyboards, Herring’s lighter touch gave more emphasis to the group’s guitar work and to Karen’s vocals and lyrics.

Tagged as:

folk, indie, female vocalists, acoustic, mellow
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Top Tracks

1	Bright as Yellow full track	276
2	The Lakes of Canada	196
3	Tomorrow On The Runway full track	168
4	When Mac Was Swimming full track	162
5	Beautiful Change full track	127
6	I Never Knew You From The Sun full track	126
7	Colors of the World	106
8	Happy Birthday	104
9	One For Sorrow, Two For Joy full track	103
10	No Storms Come full track	100
11	Brotherhood of Man	97
12	Martha Avenue Love Song full track	95
13	Follow Me full track	88
14	Love That Boy	85
15	Sweep Down Early full track	84

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Llew_Silverhand wrote:
11 days ago

Very special band!

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StardustMontage wrote:
20 days ago

1000 Miles is so beautiful.

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armsmich wrote:
last month

wonderful band.

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poor-de-chirico wrote:
August 2009

Hey guys, I made a group... Join if you'd like - http://www.last.fm/group/the+innocence+mission

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LoganLynn wrote:
August 2009

Hey guys! If you If you love The Innocence Mission check out the new video for "Write It On My Left Arm" from the upcoming "From Pillar To Post". http://www.last.fm/music/Logan+Lynn/+videos/33874815 Don't forget to stop by and say hi!

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ShortStack wrote:
August 2009

Love The Innocence Mission, so so much.

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poor-de-chirico wrote:
July 2009

Umbrella is under-known.

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ReubenWalton wrote:
July 2009

So excited for their new record...I've been checking their website frequently. No leaks as of yet. :(

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riigo wrote:
July 2009

i'll see to that

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forcemajeure wrote:
July 2009

I believe the more stripped down IM gets the better their music becomes.

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Northward wrote:
June 2009

"i've listened to a lot of beautiful music in my life, but this band has beauty in a whole different dimension, beyond the way the music sounds. " Couldn't have said it better.

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media_gourmet80 wrote:
June 2009

I’ve been critical of some music IM has put out on its earlier albums, but only because I genuinely feel an enduring kinship with this band and have experienced the depth of it’s qualities. Though I’ve been aggressive (and maybe unfair) in a few reviews, this band is my current favorite of all time. After listening to thousands of songs, I realize what a rare and special experience it is when music moves you in indescribable and unexpected ways. This is why IM is such a brilliant group. The members of IM have dedicated themselves to the competitive enterprise of extracting emotions from their listeners, and they are as skilled at their craft as surgeons are at theirs. The first time I listened to I Never Knew You from the Sun, I cried like a child. IM’s best music is infused with unmatched song writing ability and decorated with each member’s unique musical talents. More than anything else, I hope IM continues on its musical path and humors those who would like to listen along the way.

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Jacob_Grimm wrote:
June 2009

Revising my previous shout - I'd call it "lack of willingness to explore other musical avenues" more than I'd attribute it to genre pigeonholing.

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mickeyglitter wrote:
June 2009

Their first album hurtles me back to my college days like I'm on a bullet train in Japan.

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Little000 wrote:
May 2009

i've listened to a lot of beautiful music in my life, but this band has beauty in a whole different dimension, beyond the way the music sounds.

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farewellohio wrote:
May 2009

christian indie.... :/ thats probably why.

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JatinS wrote:
May 2009

i've discovered this band a few days ago, they are incredible! I don't understand why there are less tan 85 000 listeners

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ReubenWalton wrote:
May 2009

I love the song "Pioneering" so much.

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weone wrote:
April 2009

Love

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jcous wrote:
April 2009

glow never gets old - perfect album to go to sleep to, in a good way

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