Need to Know: Wrong Every Day
With our column, Need to Know, the Redefining Records team aims to give you exactly that. A concise review of a new release that gives you the essential insights, so you instantly know whether to lend your ears for a listen.
PIGS AND CLOVER
WRONG EVERY DAY
IS IT WORTH LISTENING TO?
Absolutely. Wrong Every Day is a fun, heartfelt, and refreshingly unpretentious collection of songs from Iowa City's Pigs and Clover. With plenty of humor, personality, and a healthy dose of perspective on life's many frustrations, it's the kind of record that'll have you chuckling one minute and reflecting on your own life the next.
BEST SONGS
WHO’S IT FOR?
Fans of Americana, folk, blues, and alt-country will find plenty to enjoy here. If you appreciate clever storytelling, a little social commentary, and musicians who aren't afraid to laugh at themselves, Pigs and Clover should be right up your alley.
There's something wonderfully communal about their music, too. These are the kinds of songs that feel right at home in a neighborhood pub, where familiar faces gather over a few drinks and the band gives everyone another reason to stick around. You don't necessarily need to know the words to feel like you're part of the fun.
WHAT’S GOOD?
Pigs and Clover have been making music in Iowa City for years, originally as the husband-and-wife duo of Matt and Jamie Kearney. With bassist Sam Price and drummer Eric "EG" Madison joining the fold, Wrong Every Day marks their first album as a four-piece, bringing together three distinct songwriting voices and plenty of musical history.
The result is an eclectic blend of twangy guitars, bouncy rhythms, bluesy harmonica, and warm vocal harmonies. There's a little folk, a little country, and even some indie rock influence sprinkled throughout. Matt's deep, resonant vocals occasionally recall Nick Cave, particularly when he slips into a conversational, almost spoken-word delivery. But it's his personality, more than any technical vocal fireworks, that makes these songs so enjoyable.
The album's greatest strength is its songwriting.
Matt has a knack for finding humor in everyday frustrations and even some of life's darker realities. The opening track, “I'm Wrong Every Day,” turns anxiety about an uncertain future into an unexpectedly optimistic reminder that sometimes being wrong is a good thing. “If You're Not Helping Don't” pokes fun at the well-intentioned people and overly complicated systems that somehow make our lives more difficult.
Then there's “Cheap Guitars,” a personal favorite and perhaps the best representation of what makes this band so endearing. With its playful grunts, lively guitars, and spirited harmonica, the song celebrates the simple joy of making music. Forget expensive instruments, perfect performances, or writing the next great American song. Sometimes picking up a beat-up guitar and playing your heart out is more than enough. You can practically hear the smile on Matt's face as he sings.
That same infectious personality shines on “I Do Prattle On,” a wonderfully quirky collection of rambling stories and half-remembered adventures. Matt's vocals are particularly entertaining here, and a well-placed pause before the harmonized chorus makes the payoff even sweeter.
There's plenty of substance behind the laughs, too.
“Two Payments Left On My Last Heart Attack” tackles the financial burden of healthcare with some well-executed dark humor, drawing from Matt's own experiences.
Jamie Kearney brings a more tender perspective to the record, particularly on “Be With Me,” a sweet, heartfelt song about connection and companionship. Meanwhile, Eric Madison takes a more direct approach to social commentary on “Upside Down,” pairing outspoken lyrics with engaging guitar work and a chorus that feels like the whole band joining together to make themselves heard.
It's a wide range of emotions and experiences, delivered by musicians who seem genuinely happy to be making music together.
THAT’S A BUMMER:
For all the variety in the songwriting, the instrumentation doesn't explore quite as much territory. Most of the album draws from the same familiar building blocks: twangy guitars, harmonica, steady bass and drums, and occasional vocal harmonies.
Those ingredients certainly work, and there are some memorable musical moments scattered throughout. But the arrangements don't always offer the same surprises as the lyrics. With three songwriters bringing such different perspectives to the table, a little more instrumental variety could have helped distinguish the songs and make the album feel more dynamic.
The shifts between songwriting styles can also make the record feel more like a collection of individual tunes than one particularly cohesive listening experience. Fortunately, the personality and emotional range of the songwriting do plenty to keep things interesting.
ALL IN ALL:
Wrong Every Day isn't trying to reinvent Americana, and that's perfectly fine. Pigs and Clover know who they are, and there's something refreshing about a group of musicians who seem so comfortable making music on their own terms.
The album explores everything from political frustrations and medical bills to romance, friendship, and the simple pleasure of playing guitar. Through it all, there's a recurring sense that life is messy, people are imperfect, and sometimes the best thing we can do is laugh, keep trying, and enjoy the company of those around us.
It's a fitting philosophy for a band whose music feels like an invitation to gather.
Wrong Every Day might not blow you away with musical complexity, but it'll probably put a smile on your face. And sometimes, that's exactly what good music ought to do.
