REVIEW: Pile of Love - Debut Self-Titled Album
Although it’s effectively the new year, we’re not quite finished absorbing all of 2021’s end of the year releases. In early December, the alternative rock group Pile of Love made their official debut with a self-titled record. "Pile of Love, including members of Drug Church, The Story So Far, State Champs and Elder Brother, is a band’s band with a brand new album’s worth of masterfully written songs. Their self-titled debut, Pile of Love, is a 10-song composite of nostalgic 90’s favorites with a subtle, pop-leaning sheen. Part Gin Blossoms, part Teenage Fanclub, bringing back Vagrant Records vibes when they were at the top of the game."
If you’re a fan of any or all of the bands previously stated, you’ll likely hear some elements drawn from each within the Pile of Love project. While it feels vaguely familiar, the album taps into a fresh, modernized soundscape of the nostalgic late 90’s alternative rock era. With Ryan Scott Graham contributing vocals alongside Morgan Foster of Mobin’s Child, we hear a tinge of the Graham’s acoustic driven side project, Speak Low If You Speak Love, amongst their layered vocals that exudes a more shoe-gaze sound that also takes us back in time.
The record has a sublime cohesive sonic flow, perfect for a long drive. Standout tracks like “Apart of You” & “Color You In” are guaranteed to have listeners blissfully bopping along to the drum’s grooves. Not to mention the very first track, “Those Things,” that kick-off the captivating DIY tone of the album. If you missed this release last year, it’s certainly not too late to try out this refreshing rock project.
