Bill’s Rockpile 2021008
Although we did not have the “return
to normal” we all had hoped for, it still was a pretty good year on the music
front. Bands returned to clubs --- albeit with some caveats --- and artists
emerged with records that many recorded while quarantined or otherwise holed
up. That made for a tough task to winnow the list down. The Rockpile used to
conform to the capacity of a CD (about 20 songs) but since we expanded with the
cloud and streaming, I’ve been able to expand the list. Such was the case this
year. I have saved over 40 songs as potential favorites and was only able to
winnow down to 34 this year. These are the songs that I listened to repeatedly throughout
the year and would put on playlists. In many cases the albums they were on were
so good it was tough to pick a favorite track.
I’ve also expanded the ways to
consume the Rockpile here. For the first year, all my favorites were also on
Spotify, so I’ve included a link to the Spotify stream in addition to the
Mixcloud steam I have done the past few years. Note: on the Spotify stream I
had to substitute a Reds, Pinks & Purples alternate song (“The Record
Player and the Damage Done”) since Glen Donaldson for some reason made the song
I downloaded Private on Bandcamp and removed elsewhere. You can hear it on the
Mixcloud stream. And, with each song, I’ve also included a streamable link to
that song on Bandcamp. Please consider buying and downloading songs that you
like to support the artists. As with last year, Bandcamp Friday when the site
forgoes its share of the song royalties, made for good opportunities to grab
stuff and crowdsource targets.
I hope we can get back to a more
relaxed posture on shows next year. There are many scheduled, and festivals
that would address the pent up demand…but we will have to see how things go.
Nothing crystallized the state of things this year than seeing Wayne Coyne at
Flaming Lips show sing inside his bubble without a mask, and then step outside
for songs and sing through one. Would be great if next year he doesn’t need to
do that, and we all can feel safe at indoor shows.
Cheers,
Bill
1. “Try To Change My
Mind” The Laughing Chimes
2. “Comeback Girls” The Crystal Furs
3. “Only To Go On” Semihelix
4. “You’re Not
Always On My Mind” Quivers
5. “Made of Moods” Massage
6. “Ritchie
Sacramento” Mogwai
7. “The Wishing Well”
Ovlov
8. “Crystal Ball” The
Tubs
9. “Strong Feelings”
Dry Cleaning
10.
“Not So Bad” Painted Shrines
11. “Green (Mean
Time)” Corvair
12. “True Love” Hovvdy
13. “Fade” Aeon
Station
14. “Don’t Go Puttin
Wishes In My Head” Torres
15. “Dealers” Savak
16. “Broadway” Pardoner
17. “Silver
Twin” Motrik
18. “Waiting For The Night“ Tape Waves
19. “Too Late Now” Wet
Leg
20. “Sea Life
Sandwich Boy” Horsegirl
21. “Honey, Baby” Grrrl
Gang
22. “Daffodils” Dummy
23. “Time Trials” Flowertown
24. “I Only Ever Wanted
To See You Fail” The Reds, Pinks, & Purples
(artist has now removed the song from music sites)
25. “Never Available”
The Umbrellas
26. “Dream a Better
Me” David Christian And The Pinecone Orchestra
27. “It’s The Hope
That Kills You” Fortitude Valley
28. “E39” I Was A
King
29. “Deep Purple
Girl” Pia Fraus
30. “I Don’t Mind” The
Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness
31. “Wait Your Turn”
Chime School
32. “Lonely Pines” Mt.
Misery
33. “Osa Polar” Melenas
34. “Take What You
Need” Film School
Here is the link the the Spotify stream:
Here is the link the the Mixcloud stream: