Magpie

the take

Criminally underrated piece of their discography in my opinion. It highlights all of the things that are uniquely Peach Pit and encapsulates their signature sound in 45 minutes of music. Hazy yet sugary while still keeping the grunge-y feel they’re known for, this album is a conglomeration of their other works as the group steps confidently into themselves. Soft, dreamy vocals glide over shimmering, punchy guitar riffs that make it so memorable. One of my favorites is Yasmina, a love song that starts in a comfortable triple time groove with an exciting switch to a driving double time beat at the chorus. A raw, overdriven guitar solo takes it back to triple meter to end the song. Simple devices like meter changes and thematic material make this album stand out to me. Am I Your Girl takes a thematic melody heard before in Every Little Thing at a slower pace that conveys the uncertainty faced by the narrator in their relationship. The use of these devices ties things together nicely across the many subgenres that make up the album. As a departure from their norm, Did You Love Somebody is an acoustic-centered, heartfelt reflection on the beginning stages of a new relationship. The vocal harmonies are lush and sweet; I found it captivating to the ear on my first listen. Overall, it’s a really good album. I think it gets overshadowed by their more viral hits from the past. I would say Magpie is of equal, if not greater, quality compared to some of their previous stuff. Definitely recommend listening.