Pillow Queens – ‘Name Your Sorrow’ album review: a complex web of musical excellence
THE SKINNY: In the poem ‘Atlantis’, Irish writer Eavan Boland searches for a specific word “to convey that what is gone is gone forever and never found” through poetry. Alongside borrowing a name for the title of the album, Name Your Sorrow navigates the complexities of language and its restriction when it comes to capturing emotional feelings.
Although Name Your Sorrow can be enjoyed at surface level, it is within the various stretches of imagination that it truly shines. Pillow Queens perform at a significant time in both Irish and queer culture, and such musings become immortalised in the quills of their wider musical tapestry. Any band can claim to be more authentic and richer than ever, but here it presents itself, its holistic execution a testament to their complex web of musical excellence.
Before, Pillow Queens may have felt less of a fully-formed outfit, bouncing ideas off audiences to see which direction felt the most natural. This time, the lack of teasing worked out well, as Name Your Sorrow feels like the band’s official ‘we have arrived’ moment. The record may oscillate between various states of mind, but it’s truly Pillow Queens at their best: unapologetic and turned up to the max.
Throughout the album, every aspect of their brilliance shines through without feeling too overbearing. The melodies and harmonies – something they have always excelled at – serve each intricate narrative, beckoning you into their world with the promise of greater enlightenment. Relating is an easy feat, and soon enough, wading through the quicksand of your demons feels more akin to floating lightly across the subtle waves of your own consciousness.
For fans of: Viewing vulnerability as a superpower.
A concluding comment from a psychologist: “If music is therapy, then this is it.”
Name Your Sorrow track-by-track:
Release Date: April 19th | Producer: Collin Pastore | Label: Royal Mountain Records
‘February 8th’: Rarely does new music have the ability to stop you in your tracks, offer to put your life under the spotlight, and spit you out before you’ve even been able to wonder what the hell just happened. ‘February 8th’ is a spellbinding navigating of realisation and clarity, with vocals and musical arrangements that match its hangover-esque atmosphere. [4/5]
‘Suffer’: The push and pull between sharp and soft is evident on ‘Suffer’ as the band pinballs between darker, more sinister elements of musical creativity and more light-hearted pieces. The breakdown of guitars in the middle of the track helps to maintain its edgy grit, while the chorus succeeds in cutting deep. [4/5]
‘Like A Lesson’: Amid the various musical elements that hit you all at once, it can be easy to forget how skilled Pillow Queens are at lyricism. ‘Like A Lesson’ is proof that this is one of their strongest traits, putting them above most other modern alternative bands when it comes to storytelling finesse. [4/5]
‘Blew Up The World’: Feeling alone in your own darkness is something Pillow Queens know a lot about. As the band addresses various elements of loneliness and despair that we know all too well, like not being able to confide in your mother about your struggles, one thing becomes clear: sometimes, existing in your own sorrows can be comforting. [4/5]
‘Friend Of Mine’: Sometimes, repetition can be stale, but ‘Friend Of Mine’ proves that Pillow Queens can be inspiring even during songs that appear more of a slow burn than others. Perhaps that is the essence of the entire piece: to slow down. [3.5/5]
‘The Bar’s Closed’: Nothing that Pillow Queens ever does feels like a rushed attempt at striking gold. It’s already there, lurking in their own intuition as each accompanying element sets the path alight. As ‘The Bar’s Closed’ plays, you can almost imagine a trail of fire showing you the way, building up to something revealing. “Give up the ghost once more” might seem a bleak line, but there’s an inherent optimistic energy that remains until the last notes. [4/5]
‘Gone’: Being someone else’s problem never sounded so liberating until Pillow Queens came along. ‘Gone’ shows off the band’s ability to craft endearing melodies, but it also shows off their lyrical prowess. The harmony in the song’s second half makes it easy to imagine it being blasted in stadiums. [4/5]
‘So Kind’: This song may seem like a weaker inclusion on the album, but it’s only because Pillow Queens have already set their bar so high. ‘So Kind’ doesn’t quite reach the same standards as the other pieces, but it still makes for an intriguing listening experience. [3/5]
‘Heavy Pour’: All of the songs on this record feel akin to navigating a storm to reach reconciliation. ‘Heavy Pour’ is the peak of that downfall, revealing all of the quintessential layers of Pillow Queens that make them a stand-out act. [3.5/5]
‘One Night’: It wouldn’t be a Pillow Queens record if experimentalism didn’t creep in. ‘One Night’ is an explosion of everything that makes the band great: from the lead vocals to the build-up of guitar parts, this song takes you there and then brings you back safely. [4/5]
‘Love II’: As always, this piece presents the rawness at the crux of Pillow Queens’ vocals. No matter what they sing about, both of the voices hold a heady realness that speaks of their own personal pain. However, there’s empowerment in there as well, the kind that showcases strength and resilience despite the traumas of their past. [4/5]
‘Notes On Worth’: “I could feel my body beating, hated it all my life / I don’t wanna go home alone this weekend, I think I’m worth the time.” On ‘Notes On Worth’, Pillow Queens manage to somehow fixate on both difficulties with intimacy and self-worth, and the positivity that comes with hopefulness. “I think I’m worth the time” is the perfect sentiment to end Name Your Sorrow, providing a glimpse into the band’s bright future: processing pain is a natural part of life, but the things you learn along the way are more important. [4.5/5]
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