Marigold by Pinegrove
Review by Kendall Polidori
If anyone attended a Pinegrove show this past Fall, the anticipation for the band’s most recent release, “Marigold,” was agonizing––especially because the group teased a number of songs for the live performances. When the full album released Jan. 17 I listened through it in its entirety, in chronological order, just staring up at the ceiling and taking each word that Evan Stephens Hall poetically rings out.
While it’s no secret that Pinegrove’s lyrics are that of pure art––strategically crafted lines that flow off the tongue as if it were part of a literature book––”Marigold” rang true in its heavy use of words.
The album itself is the first body of work that the band has written since Hall was accused of sexual coercion in 2017, and at the looks of the songs individually, the band seems to be right back on track with a set of work that indicates the idea of openness, growth and understanding oneself.
With songs on the album like “Endless,” Hall addresses the struggle with having to deal with the realities of day-to-day life, where the hole that one may be stuck in feels as though it can’t be escaped from––but when it is finally over, the support of those around you is all that is needed to be picked up again.
“When this is over, hold me forever,” hums Hall repeatedly toward the end of the song.
Similarly, “No Drugs” confirms the notion of starting anew. Simply said, “no drugs and alcohol today,” many can assume this points at addressing the allegations against him. While it isn’t a particularly “boppy” song, it is refreshing to hear. It is always a good thing to have someone, especially who is a beloved musician, to acknowledge their faults and move forward.
Although the allegations against Hall were and still are hard for fans to digest, it’s impossible to deny that, with over a year of progressive self-work and determination to come back stronger than before, Pinegrove is still the same band we all know and love––in fact, with the new year, they are introducing a new version of themselves that cannot be ignored.
Aside from lyrics, the band’s sound is what it has always been, but matured. Since the beginning, Pinegrove has seemed to be the go-to band for when things in life aren’t going right, or simply when you’re feeling down. But, with “Marigold,” there’s a little pep in your step as you’re walking down the street––it holds a more uplifting vibe that resonates with the turn of a new page, or even a new book entirely.
As expected, the song that most directly reflects the image of the band is the song “Marigold.” While strange that there are no lyrics––unusual for a Pinegrove song––there is no other song that brings the image of Pinegrove to one’s mind. It is the last song on the album, so perfectly placed, and is six straight minutes of pure reflection on the album, what it means to you, why it means what it does and how it applies to your life. That’s right, just like Pinegrove always does, they made an album that can somehow relate to very specific details and moments in your own life.
“Marigold” is the ideal soundtrack for the start of Spring––a fresh beginning that makes you feel as though you can breathe again, no matter what you are currently trudging through in your life. The album and each curated song allows the listener to be vulnerable and pick themselves up to prepare for better days, which is exactly what the band has done over the past year. But as it happens with all other artists, with growth comes change––and this album is definitely a slight adjustment to what the band was doing before.
With the looks of the album, it is clear that the future of Pinegrove has the steam to continue to go up. You can listen the “Marigold” in its entirety on all streaming platforms and keep an eye out for various release events until the end of the month.