A wonderful classic slice of pop rock with an emotional trans core.
In a week where I’m struggling to write reviews, I decided to take a look around in the user-filtered rym charts just so I could refresh my routine with something new. And then I came to discover this self-titled debut album by Sally Pilgrim, given that I haven’t been listening to newer music besides the one that I really have to review, I just decided to give this a shot.
And just after the opening track, I was already hooked in! The overall sound harks back to those older eras of rock, filled with raw recordings and impressive performances. It also has an emotional core to it, a very personal one too. Yes, it might be a bit of a retro pastiche, but it’s an effective take on that sound, pair it with a modern lyrical queer flair that does pack some punch.
In under 9 tracks, the sound flows steadily all throughout, where it starts off ruckus and rapid, but as the album progresses, it starts to get mellower but still keeps that energy that is presented in the start, only different when paired with the lyricism. There are such distinct musical blueprints all throughout this album that a lot of the tracks offer something different that is still raw and refined. She does capture that old era sound of rock, where the drums have an organic impact, the guitars have their shining edge to them, and Sally’s vocals have this show-stopping feel to them that it completely works under the pumping, shiny pop-rock and heartland rock sound that this album consistently balances out with its instrumentation. Some examples that do this well are ‘Lunch of Losers’, ‘Listen’, ‘Pyrite Fiction’ and ‘Love Me’ with their anthemic, energetic grooves and melodies, as well as the mellower cuts like ‘Sally Pilgrim’ and ‘Last One Out’ that are a bit more lowkey but still provides enough melodic variance to its core.
But then she does something interesting with the content, where the first half tackles more on Sally showing her longing and belongingness with people that she interacts with, and the second half focusing more on her vulnerable side, opening up her trans identity and detailing certain struggles that she has faced. And that trans text adds to the overall narrative to the album, a desire of being loved as she points out that she didn’t change, only re-arranged, and that there is a part of her within everyone, implying a sense of universal mutuality that no matter who you are. And that all extend to the final track, where it feels like a moment of solace as she details returning to her town filled with uncomfortable memories for one last time, her mother’s smile that feel uncertain, her regret of not being vulnerable when her grandmother passed away, and all of those complicated emotions seem to still as the birdcalls fill the track. Just a very powerful song to end the album.
I will admit, some melodies and hooks didn’t go as well like ‘Foreigner’, ‘Don’t You Worry, Now’ even if the latter does have a sweet solo moment in the end. And ‘Where We Began’ felt like the weakest track for me, just feeling a bit lacking compared to the other songs in this album.
But in short, what a terrific album this was. Quite retro indeed, but pair it with compositions and performances that are just so strong, and lyrics that are pretty contemporary and also have an emotional core to her trans identity and experiences. It’s an album that I do love, even if it’s gonna be a bit tough for me to revisit given the emotional core of the album. But for Sally Pilgrim herself, I’m glad she put it out, and hope it personally made her feel quite better.
Favorite Tracks: Last One Out, Listen, Sally Pilgrim, Love Me, Pyrite Fiction, Lunch of Losers
Least Favorite Track: Where We Began