Album of the Week: Pinegrove | 11:11

“I have a Pinegrove tattoo” Kristen Stewart remarked. “I love those guys, that’s my favorite band.”

Just because a celebrity likes a band, or even loves a band enough to get their tattoo, is no reason to buy a record.

Pinegrove formed in Montclair, New Jersey in 2010. Just because a band is from your home state, and a town you used to live in, is no reason to buy a record.

But if my math is correct, 1 strong Kristen Stewart endorsement + home state / home town band = buy this record.

I found Pinegrove late, bumping into their Marigold LP (2020) by accident on the radio, and it was love at first listen. This affair led to a full on attack of their back catalog, which consists of three more LPs dating back to 2012’s Meridian. And I wondered, out loud, how the hell did I miss Pinegrove?

I love everything about the music of Pinegrove and wouldn’t change one damn thing about it. 11:11 is their latest LP, released on Rough Trade last month, and it continues the band’s tradition of thoughtful genre-bending music that reminds me of bits and pieces of other favorite bands while still sounding most like Pinegrove.

I love these guys.