“Piggy” – Peter McPoland
★★★☆☆
Top Picks: “Digital Silence,” “Were You There?” “Turn Off The Noise“
Similar Artists: Del Water Gap, Wallows, Djo
Peter McPoland, a young singer-songwriter from Texas, released his debut album Piggy just last Friday. Mcpoland, whose claim to fame was a sweet love ballad entitled “Romeo & Juliet,” took a total shift in production with his latest release. As per the musician himself, this album “feels a lot more like [him]. Just not the [him] that’s made the stuff [we’ve] heard.”
McPoland first began releasing music in 2018, but it wasn’t until March of 2021—when he released an acoustic version of “Romeo & Juliet“—that he really began to gain a following. I vividly remember a close friend of mine sharing both the song and his profile with me, and captioning the message, “My future husband.” While the sentiment was a joke, his soft guitar, crooning vocals, and lyrics speaking of love truly warmed the heart of every listener.
From that moment on, McPoland cemented himself in my typical artist rotation. The release of his lead single “Digital Silence” (see my in-depth review here) continued to bring the singer attention. The song went viral and racked up millions of listens on TikTok. This release first made the singer’s shift in production clear. The track’s intense backing synths, guitar riffs, and aggressive vocals highlighted the singer’s new sound. In an Instagram post, he claimed, “This sounds angry because I’m angry,” which couldn’t be more true. Between the instrumentals, lyrics filled with intense political commentary, and deep self-reflection about mental health, this album is a true release of pent-up feelings.
McPoland stated, “The album was meant to be listened to as an album.” The lyrical motifs found throughout the project illustrate this notion perfectly. It seems every song references either political commentary—particularly toxic masculinity—or mental health. The album’s opening track “Mold” throws us headfirst into both of these lyrical themes. The track speaks to the feeling of mental deterioration. It highlights the feeling of “mold” spreading in the face of declining mental health. The song also subtly points to toxic masculinity with the line “Scream and cry, take it like a man.”
In a similar manner, “Dog” is seemingly a large metaphor. The track uses imagery of the “Damn fucking dog” to personify the societal pressures of toxic masculinity. McPoland writes of quieting down, not speaking, and keeping father figures happy. “Were You There” continues the illustration of the father-son relationship. The lyrics note that the son is a “son of a coward” that “wanted him dead,” and that the father should die for the sin of those thoughts.
The other running motif—mental health struggles—is first brought up in “Mold,” but this imagery reappears in nearly every subsequent song. “Make It Stop” illustrates a very graphic depiction of wanting to give up. Similarly, “I Need You” begs for a lover to hold the speaker together.
As a quick aside, McPoland noted in an Instagram announcement that he likes “when the songs [in an album] all contrast and compliment each other.” Not only do the songs on this album illustrate the arc of a singular story, but they share similar production efforts. McPoland produced the album almost entirely on his own, and it’s obvious that he had a singular sound in mind. It’s also interesting to note that McPoland believes this album contrasts previous songs in his discography. It certainly made me wonder if the lyric “What I said, I didn’t mean / Don’t slow down for me” in “Blue” was a reference to his last release Slow Down.
The album takes comes to a hopeful close with the last few tracks. “Turn Off The Noise” speaks to the realization that something is wrong, and the struggle to find help. The album truly ends with “I Want You.” The final track illustrates getting dressed and finally going out—a hopeful message. It ends with that repetition of “I need you. I miss you. I love you” found originally in “I Need You.”
At its very core, Piggy is a story. It speaks to the reality of toxic societal pressure, the resulting mental health struggles, and the triumph over these struggles. McPoland stated, “It’s an album lover’s album, and an album hater’s worst nightmare.” He couldn’t be more right. The strong imagery and sentiments strung throughout the album turn it into a highly cohesive project. It is, without a doubt, a major shift in McPoland’s sound, and it’s likely a turning point in his career. Yet, I can’t help but feel excited to hear what he comes up with next. His passion for his music is obvious in this project. McPoland clearly loves what he’s created, and he can only go up from here.
Peter McPoland on tour soon. Get tickets here.