CAN a band ever truly recover from being culturally cancelled?
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That's a question US indie alt-country band Pinegrove will be hoping to answer with an affirmative on album No.4 Marigold.
It's been more than two years since the New Jersey band's seemingly assured ascent to the top echelon of US indie was derailed by an allegation of "sexual coercion" against frontman and songwriter Evan Stephens Hall by a former girlfriend.
At the victim's request, Pinegrove took a break from touring for a year, which led to the cancellation of their debut Australian tour in 2018, and they delayed the release of their third album Skylight.
Pinegrove formed in 2010 and after a series of self-released records, found national acclaim with their second full-length album Cardinal, which meshed emo sensitivity with the twang of alt-country.
Understandably their brand of confessional indie attracted a largely woke fan base, many who disowned Pinegrove following Hall's alleged transgression.
To Hall's credit he never shied away from the allegation and has since stated the band is "not interested in a listenership that doesn't care about that [sexual equality for women]."
During Pinegrove's break Hall underwent therapy and that period of self-reflection permeates Marigold, his first batch of songs written since the allegation.
Some songs like The Alarmist sound self-serving when he sings, "My heart is out in the garbage/ I am being an alarmist/ Cause for as far as I see/ It's terrible territory/ And there's no one to reassure me."
However, overall the tone of Marigold is optimistic. The opening track Dotted Line starts slowly before swelling into a shining chorus of alt-country, where Hall harmonies that, "I'm thinking it'll all work out."
No Drugs is driven by sweet folk guitar as Hall explores a more positive mindset, while Moment sees Pinegrove channel Band Of Horses in their most explosive track.
Marigold lacks the immediacy of Cardinal, but there's enough depth to tantalise. Whether it'll heal all the fractures, only time will tell.