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Who It Is: Pile – You’re Better Than This; Exploding In Sound (2015)
But much like fellow Exploding in Sounders Big Ups, Pile has the capability of turning this sort of matchmaking succession into a statement of utter consistency and, ultimately, perfectly-timed individuality. While songs like “Mr. Fish” and “Hot Breath” would make good additions to Dripping’s tracklist, they set the tone for a place Pile never really thought of encountering any time soon. Change and time are the most prominent themes on You’re Better, and just like My Bloody Valentine’s mbv carried on a legacy of experimentation and preceded reputations, Pile has resurrected a desire to pick up where they left while welcoming – rather hesitantly – whatever is there to offer for aging rock and rollers.
Review:
There’s something about the modern state of post-hardcore that seems less frantic and more predictable; much like the rise and fall of 90’s emo c. 2008 – 2015, the genre has become an exhausting mess among college towns and middle-class suburbs. It has been relegated from a relatively low-key expression of apathy and realistic desire before and in between the grunge prime to your friends’ band, reluctantly put on the bill because the venue needed another local and the good ones where out of town. It doesn’t inherently suck, but it takes a lot to stand out these days.
There’s something about the modern state of post-hardcore that seems less frantic and more predictable; much like the rise and fall of 90’s emo c. 2008 – 2015, the genre has become an exhausting mess among college towns and middle-class suburbs. It has been relegated from a relatively low-key expression of apathy and realistic desire before and in between the grunge prime to your friends’ band, reluctantly put on the bill because the venue needed another local and the good ones where out of town. It doesn’t inherently suck, but it takes a lot to stand out these days.
What It Sounds Like: Unwound, Chavez, Polvo, Survival Knife, Jawbox, Porches feat. Big Muff.
2012’s Dripping channeled the efforts of outfits such as Unwound and Polvo albeit being emotionally closer to a good Joan of Arc song than anything else. That being said, it is important to notice that this year’s You’re Better Than This remains a carbon copy mirroring the purposes of their 3 year-old predecessor.
So when a band like Pile rises from the depths of the filthiest mine ever seen, it is elemental to understand that, yes, you’ve found a diamond, but it isn’t far shinier than the one found before; over their decade-long career, Pile has achieved such a loyal following among the ever-changing state of the DIY scene by delivering abrasive qualities within their own accessibility.
To rate Pile’s evolution over these last three years is to sinfully ignore the kind of band they are in the first place. There’s nothing like it, and they merely deserve the universal understanding that they have cleverly crafted a genuinely incredible record without needing to rewrite music history. That’s the most gorgeously intense characteristic that makes Pile stand out among a sea of DIY contemporaries; You’re Better Than This isn’t going to start a trend and the Pile definitely doesn’t want to do Graceland or Kid A, but it will definitely change the way the listener feels about everything and nothing at all. The record is just that good.
You Should Probably Listen To: All of them and please don’t skip oh Lord.
Rating: 8/10
R.G Magellan