In January 2010, Pearson recorded an album of acoustic ballads at Klangbild Studios in
Berlin. During album recording sessions, he also did a session with Berlin-based pianist and composer
Dustin O'Halloran (two songs from this session were later released in support of
Record Store Day 2011) and later that year took part in
Yann Tiersen's project Dust Lane Inc. In November 2010,
Mute Records announced the signing of Josh T. Pearson and release of his debut solo album
Last of the Country Gentlemen in March 2011. Pearson spent most of 2011–12 promoting the album and touring extensively in its support, playing many solo shows including
South by Southwest Music Conference in
Austin and sold-out nights at
Union Chapel, Islington and
Barbican Centre in
London, festivals including
Primavera Sound Festival,
Latitude Festival,
Green Man Festival and
End of the Road Festival, while also sharing stage with likes of
Fleet Foxes and
Joanna Newsom. He made his TV debut on the
BBC Two show,
Later... with Jools Holland, in April 2011.
Last of the Country Gentlemen was named
Rough Trade's "Album of the Year 2011" and nominated in two categories, Best Album and "Breakthrough Act, at the 2011
Mojo Awards and shortlisted for the 2011 Uncut Music Award.
Uncut placed the album at number 5, while
Mojo ranked it number 7,
Rolling Stone number 33 and
Q number 42 in their "Top 50 Albums of 2011". In December 2013
Uncut included
Last of the Country Gentlemen in their pick of the top 50 Greatest Singer/Songwriter Albums of All Time list. In October 2011, Pearson took part in "A Room for London – Sounds from a Room" art project, in which leading artists of all disciplines used a one-bedroom
Joseph Conrad's book
Heart of Darkness influenced architectural installation, in the form of a riverboat perched on a rooftop of
Queen Elizabeth Hall at
Southbank Centre in
London as a workspace. During his two-day residency, Pearson recorded 10 gospel songs followed by a live webcast. Pearson played and appeared in the 2002 French experimental film by
Philippe Grandrieux entitled,
La Vie nouvelle. Pearson's song "Country Dumb" appears in the 2012
Martin McDonagh-directed motion picture
Seven Psychopaths and "Woman, When I've Raised Hell" in the 2013
Ridley Scott thriller film written by
Cormac McCarthy,
The Counselor. In April 2018, Pearson released his second solo studio album
The Straight Hits!, again on Mute Records.
Mark Lanegan called Pearson "a one of a kind artist", while
Guy Garvey of
Elbow called him "the greatest male vocalist of our time". ==Discography==