The fire burns bold and bright on Pillow Queens’ “Like a Lesson,” an irresistible eruption of raw passion, desire, insecurity and fear that sees the Irish indie rock band unpacking a familiar, feverish state of unbridled, all-consuming infatuation.
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Stream: “Like a Lesson” – Pillow Queens
You treat me like a lesson; you treat me like a test. I thank my lucky stars you don’t treat me like the rest…
“I don’t want to ruin my life, but I want to go home with you,” Pillow Queens howl at one point on their latest single. It’s a striking, seductive moment of clarity in a sea of intoxicated, love-soaked uncertainty; a strong and unapologetic assertion that captures hopeless romance to a tee. The fire burns bold and bright on “Like a Lesson,” an irresistible eruption of raw passion, desire, insecurity and fear that sees Irish indie rockers Pillow Queens unpacking a familiar, feverish state of unbridled, all-consuming infatuation.
Here’s to all the hopeless romantics; may we all fall hard, fall fast, and relish every thrilling minute of love’s rollercoaster.
I’ve been more than myself now
I tried to talk to God
But he said sort yourself out
Growing up gets good
When you’re clawing your life back
Just focus on yourself
But I don’t really like that
You treat me like a lesson
You treat me like a test
I thank my lucky stars
You don’t treat me like the rest
And I wrapped it around my fingers
Wrapped it around my head
Wrapped it around and round
And now I’m wrapped around your legs
Released March 6 via Royal Mountain Records, “Like a Lesson” is invigorating third single taken off Pillow Queens’ forthcoming third studio album Name Your Sorrow, due out April 19. Following recent releases “Suffer” and “Gone,” the charming and churning “Like a Lesson” finds the four-piece of Pamela Connolly (lead vocals, guitar, bass), Sarah Corcoran (vocals, guitar, bass), Cathy McGuinness (vocals, lead guitar), and Rachel Lyons (vocals, drums) dwelling in an emotionally charged fever dream: Their relentless reverie that aches from end to end as they craft a spellbinding serenade to love’s mysterious, yet inescapable, allure.
The band pack a world of tension and turbulent feeling into this song while packing an equally potent sonic punch.
Connolly’s lyrics vacillate between states of insecurity, uncertainty, desire, fear, longing and yearning, and more; she articulates these emotions through a breathtakingly visceral, impassioned vocal performance that hits that much harder thanks to McGuinness’ rollicking, fiery accompaniment; her searing electric guitar riffs start the song, end the song, and, together with Lyons’ dramatic drumming and Corcoran’s heavy bass work, serve as its locomotive engine: A seemingly endless source of energy.
You said, you said, you said
You’re sorry
You’re not enough to keep me happy
It’s just a cliff
No one can stop me
We’re so predictable
You treat me like a lesson
You treat me like a test
I thank my lucky stars
You don’t treat me like the rest
And I wrapped it around my fingers
Wrapped it around my head
Wrapped it around and round
And now I’m wrapped around your legs
“‘Like a Lesson’ longs for intimacy and a desire for closeness,” Pillow Queens tell Atwood Magazine. “The notion of finding safety and comfort in the presence of love of limerence is emphasised, contrasting with the paralyzing fear of making mistakes or ruining your life or someone else’s. It delves into the feeling of being a lesson for someone, a side character in someone else’s story.”
“Sonically, we were influenced by a range of artists from Blur and REM to Seminsonic, New Radicals, and Squeeze. It began as a song we felt had a strong country music influence and morphed into something that referenced a wide range of our musical tastes. It’s the ’90s soft rock song on the album. We all loved writing and recording it, and it’s a fun one to play live – especially the middle 8.”
That middle 8 sends shivers down the spine as Connolly, with harmonic backing from her fellow bandmates, comes to an exhilarating emotional climax:
I don’t wanna ruin my life
But I wanna go home with you
I don’t wanna ruin my life
But I wanna go home with you
It’s the shapes that you make
And your body is safe
It’s the shapes that you make
And your body is safe
Pillow Queens have consistently shocked, stunned, and awed over their eight-plus years as a band; their 2020 debut album In Waiting and 2022’s sophomore LP Leave the Light On were both favorites of our pages, with the latter making its way onto our Best Albums of the Year feature. At the rate their latest singles are headed, Name Your Sorrow will likely find its way onto the same list.
Working with producer Collin Pastore (whose credits include work with Lucy Dacus and boygenius), 2024’s Pillow Queens are unapologetic, unfiltered, in the pocket and in their prime, crafting songs that sizzle and soar with uncompromising intensity, smoldering fervor, and soul-stirring finesse. From Dublin’s streets to the sheets and everywhere in-between, Pillow Queens demand their audience’s undivided attention. “Like a Lesson” is the latest and, one might argue, the best of the bunch thus far, but Name Your Sorrow promises to take its listeners on a twelve track journey through the highs and lows of loneliness and love. “It is about stages of love, loss and grief and how they can all exist alongside one another – intertwined, messy, beautiful – how both love and loss can coexist,” Cathy McGuinness shares.
April 19th is just a month away, and when that time comes, we’ll all be naming our sorrows; until then, douse yourself in the fire and fury, the heartache and drama of Pillow Queen’s “Like a Lesson.”
Good grief give me a reason
An hour of your time
A kiss every season
Leander in the blue
Swims up for a greeting
I really do love you
But nobody believes me
You said, you said, you said
You’re sorry
You’re not enough to keep me happy
It’s just a cliff
No one can stop me
We’re so predictable
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Stream: “Like a Lesson” – Pillow Queens
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© Martyna Bannister
© Martyna Bannister
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