Since the inception of pandemic projects, local DIY/alternative-garage-rock artist Andrew Pinson, under his musical persona Piglett, has been composing and producing a series of floating singles that inevitably coalesce into a new Piglett EP every year or so. Piglett’s musical amalgamation draws from the tapestry of the iconic ’80s and ’90s alternative garage rock bands—Soundtrack of Our Lives, Built to Spill, The Jayhawks, Pixies . . . maybe some Smashing Pumpkins, Modest Mouse and Marcy Playground sprinkled in there.
In its simplicity, Piglett’s “I Want What’s Left of You” opens his latest release, June, with a wall of sound that emanates from the G-major strum of an acoustic guitar, blending with the hum of a pipe organ and the gentle thrash-tapped eighth notes on an electric guitar’s low string. Piglett then embarks on a monotonous journey with the lament I waaant what’s leeffft of yooou, creating a folk-garage groove, complete with the essential modern-folk kick drum crescendo (think Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes), before the track takes an unexpected turn as the beat of a Roland CR-78 analog drum machine (think Life Aquatic soundtrack) hijacks the tune.
June continues to embrace this swirling, perplexing mentality, oscillating between highs and lows.
While not explicitly rooted in ’60s psych-pop, “The Conversation in the Air” is undoubtedly rooted in the ’90s alternative bands who were themselves rooted in it. Here, Piglett finds himself lost in the midst of a conversation, mirroring the confusion from earlier tracks.
The following track, “Double Dare,” exudes an emo-as-hell vibe as Piglett explores the concept of daring oneself to move forward in a relationship. The lyrical confusion continues, as Piglett directs the narrative inwards, engaging in a contemplative dialogue layered with folk guitar strumming and pop-infused handclaps (that drum machine is versatile, man).
Piglett offers a sweet release from this sentimental daydream in the appropriately titled “I Hate When You Talk Like That,” shedding the drum machine for a more raw, intimate boo-hoo-scape of a song, singing I wanna see you somehow / What you think and feel right now / Send it over my way / I could read it read it back today/ I wanna see you again . . .
In the mirror/ My reflection/ I wanna be in your way/ Hear all the evil things you say/ But I hate when you talk like that—Ah! It’s not a torturous relationship with his significant other—it’s with himself. There’s a neat organ/synth hum duetting with the acoustic guitar for the song’s bridge that syncs up with that realization, a fine magic trick.
Discover Piglett’s June, along with other material from Pinson, at piglett.bandcamp.com.
If you’re experiencing a mental health emergency and need someone to talk to, writing is awesome, but there are also mental health hotlines available (dial 211 or text “TN” to 741741); there are churches, family and friends, too. Don’t be scared.
