Pile's Best Songs
Pile is pretty much universally agreed upon to be one of the most underrated groups in the indie rock scene, a sentiment I agree with. Anyways I've been obsessed with this band recently and decided it'd be fun for rank their best tracks in my opinion. Also, yes this includes the new record, which I've heard because I torrented it like the shithead I am. Don't worry I already bought the vinyl.
For what it's worth, the Big Wed 7inch isn't the database and the song Afraid of Home would've placed #6 on my list so oop. Anyways, holourable mentions include Appendicitis, Big Web, Sweat Lodge, Octopus, Sun Poisoning, & Rope's Length. |
| 15 |  | Pile
You're Better Than This
Waking Up In The Morning- A good example of a classic soft/loud dynamic done well. Pile does that a lot... anyways. That core riff is dope as fuck. |
| 14 |  | Pile
Dripping
Prom Song- One of the few tracks that contains a total rip-roarin', face meltin' guitar solo and that's a neat thing... also I dig the way this track devolves into just total noise. |
| 13 |  | Pile
A Hairshirt of Purpose
Dogs- One of the more subtle songs on the new record. Also one of the most menacing and maybe the only song in their entire discography to feature a string accompaniment (don't quote me on this). Love how this song really builds up to a huge climax. |
| 12 | | Pile
You're Better Than This
Mr. Fish- A pleasant-on-the-surface, accessible track off the front end of potential their darkest album. A good example of Rick Maguire's folk influence showing through in some of his catchiest melodies to date. |
| 11 | | Pile
A Hairshirt of Purpose
Slippery- This song moves along as an acoustic folk number for it's first half until it abruptly explodes into a hellish affair that's bound to inspire some shitted pants on first listen. |
| 10 | | Pile
Dripping
Grunt Like A Pig- This track is ferocity incarnate. Surely one of Pile's most aggressive tracks. Also few bands can pull off such a flawless groove in 7/8. Major props for that. |
| 9 |  | Pile
Magic Isn't Real
Number One Hit Single- Magic Isn't Real's best moments come from the band just straight up going for the jugular, and that's exactly what they do here. This is a straight-up, balls out affair that's sure to melt faces. That switch up half way through is so damn sick. |
| 8 | | Pile
Dripping
So Hard- Surely a unique track in the band's discography. Rarely do they ever commit to the soft moments for a whole track and pull it off so well. The harmonies alone make this track. |
| 7 | | Pile
A Hairshirt of Purpose
Fingers- The best song off Hairshirt is Pile once again doing what they do best, creating noisy and chaotic indie rock. A dense and intense build in this songs mid-section pays off huge when they finally let loose and create one of the most dizzying sections they've laid to tape. |
| 6 | | Pile
Dripping
The Jones- A wonderful closer to arguably their most successful record. For sure one of their catchiest songs and I love the way the pull off the tempo change for the big hook in the songs back half. |
| 5 | | Pile
Dripping
Bump A Grape- Maybe the best example of the band's folk elements melding with their brand of noise rock. Classic loud/soft dynamic. Also, fuck the lyrics in this song are weird. From a band who writes about cutting off dicks you wouldn't think it'd be odd to hear about spiders crawling into one's butt. But it's still pretty fuckin weird.
THEY CRAWL INTO MY HOLES! |
| 4 |  | Pile
Special Snowflakes b/w Mama's Lipstick
Mama's Lipstick- Potentially the most experimental song in their catalogue. Opens with a couple minutes of ambience and reprisals of Special Snowflakes before turning into a folky, moody rock tune that remains simultaneously unsettling and catchy. Some of Rick's best melodies come through in this song and the piano that plays out the song is so perfectly done. |
| 3 | | Pile
You're Better Than This
Hot Breath- I'm pretty sure this is what hell sounds like. Never have the band recreated the feeling of dread so perfectly. This song is just dripping with gloom and crippling depression. Undoubtedly the darkest song they've ever written, and some truly gnarly lyrics as well. The way this shit explodes on a dime too... god damn. Rick's never sounded this venomous. |
| 2 | | Pile
Magic Isn't Real
Came As A Glow- Admittedly a relatively straight-forward track by the band's standards, and a single if there ever was one. But it's such a perfect example of the no-bullshit rock'n'roll sound that defined this record. Heavy punchy guitars, a driving drum performance, and some of the best bass work in their catalogue. When the pace picks up at the halfway point, however, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who won't be banging the fuck out of their head to that guitar riff. |
| 1 | | Pile
Special Snowflakes b/w Mama's Lipstick
Special Snowflakes- This song is a pure modern rock masterpiece. Pile's longest track to date, this is a 7-minute winding and twisting journey through everything that makes this band exceptional. The juxtapositions of loud and soft moments work together perfectly and it all builds to an incredible intense and satisfying climax. Also Rick's finest work as a lyricist, dealing with themes of narcissism and elitism with incredible cynicism. |
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