Pile - Sunshine and Balance Beams (2025) [Hi-Res]

Album review

Since the late 2000s, Pile has churned out noisy indie rock that owes a debt to the more adventurous end of the Dischord roster, Amphetamine Reptile Records, and bands like Built to Spill and Superchunk. The Massachusetts-based band, which started as a solo project for vocalist/guitarist Rick McGuire, isn't afraid to toy with song structure or riff, nor will they shy away from a quiet, tender moment to juxtapose with thunderous crashing, harsh screams, and feedback to create a dramatic story arc.

Their ninth studio album, Sunshine and Balance Beams, is a tense, powerful, chaotic and ultimately fascinating release that fits right into the scope of their previous work without feeling warmed over or like regression. After a short track that starts as an ambient passage and builds to a crescendo that features organ, strings and clean guitars, "An Opening" is a clear statement of purpose for the band. The song kicks off by leaning into post-hardcore and indie rock sounds with dissonant guitars and Polvo-isms that thunder for a few moments before opening up to a beautiful vocal that makes way for screams and swelling strings and eventually an abrupt ending.

The intrigue continues with "Deep Clay," a driving track that nods to Jawbox and Minus the Bear, that is held together with clean and pensive vocals. "Bouncing in Blue" starts with clean vocals and a low, pulsing synth underneath that leads to swelling strings and a Fugazi-like pummelling. Sunshine and Balance Beams finds its equilibrium by never going for the obvious and pushing into uncharted territory without ever feeling forced or needlessly "eclectic." It all keeps you on your toes and makes you start to wonder why they aren't one of the biggest bands in the indie world. © Fred Pessaro



Tracklist:
1-1 Pile - An Opening [3:10]
1-2 Pile - Deep Clay [4:13]
1-3 Pile - A Loosened Knot [5:20]
1-4 Pile - Bouncing in Blue [5:38]
1-5 Pile - Uneasy [2:35]
1-6 Pile - Holds [4:16]
1-7 Pile - Born at Night [5:30]
1-8 Pile - Meanwhile Outside [8:19]
1-9 Pile - Carrion Song [3:11]