11:11, Pinegrove

Raspy riffs, environmental angst, and near-death experiences: Pinegrove expresses what it means to live in the midst of current events

By: Quinn McClurg

Like the title, Pinegrove’s newest album "11:11" is reminiscent of a wish and almost palindromic in nature.

At the beginnings and ends of the album, the listener is greeted with the same scenes: loss, regret, wildfires, climate change, and angst. But through the middle track “Respirate” and the latter-half songs of “So What” and “Swimming,” this seemingly bleak ending is made subtly different. These songs emphasize self control, the importance of persistence, and the desire to live, all in contrast with loss, catastrophe, and difficulty. So, even though the end is the same, the lyrics add an air of emotional intelligence: the only way out is through. To achieve the healing and growth and peace that we and our planet desire, we must keep going. 

These sentiments prove to be applicable to and a result of the experiences of continuing to live through current events such as the pandemic and climate change, the controversy that the band has experienced in recent years, and even the experience of the passage of time.

Although the album itself reads as a more tired and mature older sibling of previous albums (most notably their 2016 landmark album “Cardinal”), "11:11"moves along with the same crashing and raspy cadence that Pinegrove fans have come to expect and love. The midwest-emo riffs and clever wordplay all blur and lurch together smoothly, making “11:11”a familiar and cohesive album definitely worth a couple angst-fueled listens, certain to please newcomers, environmental activists, and Pinegrove fans alike.