Song of the Day: Pinegrove - Aphasia

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “Aphasia” by Pinegrove from their 2016 album, Cardinal, on Run for Cover Records.

Pinegrove - Aphasia (MP3)

Aphasia is an impairment of language, affecting the comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write. But in Pinegrove's beautifully sentimental track "Aphasia" all impairment has been let loose, finally revealing the speaker's true intentions and feelings of love. The song starts simply, with just Evan Stephens Halls' vocals and guitar but builds and bursts along with the narrator's confidence and happiness over finally getting the words out until we reach the end and the song breaks down again when it appears as though the feelings expressed were not reciprocated by it's intended. "Aphasia" is wonderfully constructed and one that deserves repeated listens to truly appreciate the beauty and intensity of the song, which can also be said about Cardinal as a whole. Like the rest of Pinegrove's debut LP, it delicately straddles the line between punk, country, and emo, making Cardinal a strong contender for many year-end best-of lists.

Pinegrove is currently on an international tour, with no current Seattle dates. Keep up with them on Facebook and Twitter to see if they'll be in your town soon. For now, here's a fun tour video for "New Friends", another song from Cardinal: