Rockpile 2019

Bill’s Rockpile  2019    2008

Happy almost 2020! This project began in 2005 as a means of chronicling my favorite songs of the year and distributing (via CD!) to a small list of friends and compatriots. It was another good year for artists of all kinds and this is another super-sized rendition of my favorites. These songs are ones that stuck with me --- either playing them repeatedly or striking a tone of remembrance. And for the first time, I included a song cover, only because it was so distinct and meeting of both of my criteria. Over the years as the CD has become more of a curiosity I have posted these to sites that will accommodate a mix and ability to meet copyright restrictions. Mixcloud has been great with ability to post a mixed stream and for people to consume online or on a mobile device. You can listen from the web object pasted here or click on the link. I am sending out a few CD copies as well. Happy to send you one if you just drop me a note at wjcurran@gmail.com with your mailing address. Thanks for listening! Comments welcome. Please note that The Bevis Frond album did release in 2018..but it was so late (and good) that Venom Drain should be added to this list. 

Cheers,

Bill

1.   “Shiny New Model” Bodega

2.   “Sideways Glance” Pure Moods

3.   “High On My Mind” Young Guv

4.   “Bees” The Love Language

5.   “Nervous Man” The Boys with The Perpetual Nervousness

6.   “Cotton & Cane” Olden Yolk

7.   “Somebody Like Me” Imperial Teen

8.   “Pretty” Girlpool

9.   “All My Happiness Is Gone” Purple Mountains

10.  “For Brinsley” Swimming Bell

11.  “Baby Green” Versus

12.  “Gone For Good” smiles

13.  “The Devil and The Jinn”  Pernice Brothers

14.  “Nothing At All”  The Stroppies

15.  “House of Papercuts” Seablite

16.  “Novelty” Peel Dream Magazine

17.  “Chasing That Feeling“ Business of Dreams

18.  “Extended Leave” Lake Ruth

19.  “Lost Faith” Bob Mould

20.  “Baby, Be Good To Me” Kelley Stoltz

21.  “Beagle Theory” The Resonars

22.  “Venom Drain” The Bevis Frond

23.  “Chase The Sun” black sand

24.  “The Modern Leper” Julien Baker

25.  “Silver” DMA’s

Favorite Show of 2019: Stereolab @ Royale in Boston in September

Rockpile 2018

Bill’s Rockpile  2018   2008

Year 13 of chronicling personal musical favorites and quietly posting for my friends (or sending CDs as in the early years). I found this to be a fruitful year for favorites…at the end of the year there were close to 40 songs I had parked for year end review. As it is, this is the longest list I have contributed over the dozen+ years. Hope you enjoy listening or looking up these songs. Mixcloud has been a good vehicle to post them.. Check that site out for other good things. If you are addicted (or mobile-challenged) and need a CD copy please drop me a note.

As always, thanks for listening!

Cheers,

Bill

1.   “Cut To The Quick” Olden Yolk

2.   “Walk Backwards” Papercuts

3.   “Someone New“ Smokescreens

4.   “Brick Horizon” Woolen Men

5.   “Soft Collar Fad” No Age

6.   “Downtown” Connections

7.   “Hit My Head” The Love-Birds

8.   “Psychic Cruise” Honey Radar

9.   “Exaltation” Salad Boys

10.  “Stay With Me” Even As We Speak

11.  “Raise Your Voice Joyce” Fucked Up

12.  “See You At The Movies” J Mascis

13.  “Baptize Your Wasted Face In Wine” Bill Baird

14.  “Daylight”  Eric Bachmann

15.  “The Cross of Lorraine”  Lake Ruth

16.  “Complex” The Chills

17.  “Good For Some Reason” Say Sue Me

18.  “Health Insurance“ Negative Scanner

19.  “Istanbul Is Sleepy (feat. Anton Newcombe)” The Liminanas

20.  “Baby Alligator” Ovlov

21.  “All Roads Lead Back” Best Bets

22.  “Inside Out” Blades of Joy

23.  “How To Socialise & Make Friends” Camp Cope

24.  “Less Than Thou” The Beths

25.  “Me & My Dog” Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers & Lucy Dacus

26.  “Masterpiece (Wanna Die)” Eyelids

27.  “California Finally” La Luz

Favorite Show of 2018: April Magazine/Love-Birds/Honey Radar/The Rays at Hemlock Tavern, San Francisco

Rockpile 2017

Bill’s Rockpile  2017

Hi,

Year 12 of chronicling my favorite tracks from the previous year. I am a bit late in posting for 2017! When I went back to my save file for tracks I like throughout the year I was astonished to see 30 songs I had put aside...definitely the most since I have been doing this. I've winnowed down to 24 tracks and 90 minutes but for those that have requested CD copies...it will have to be reduced further. Happy 2018 to the few to those that land here (or my Mixcloud site) and listen. May we have less turbulent times... Will send CDs to those that request if you drop me a note at wjcurran@gmail.com with your email address. As always thanks for listening!

1.   “All Mine” The Morning Line

2.   “Gravity Is Stern” The Stroppies

3.   “Falling Eyes“ Eyelids

4.   “Silver” Waxahatchee

5.   “Awkward Exchange” Alex Lahey

6.   “Arrow” Beaches

7.   “Tailwind” Elva

8.   “Everyone You Meet” The Clientele

9.   “Dedicated To Bobby Jameson” Ariel Pink

10.  “My Buzzing Telephone” Sugarfoot

11.  “Glide” The Dream Syndicate

12.  “I H8 Ppl” Jason Falkner & R. Stevie Moore

13.  “Anais & Me”  Snowball II

14.  “Same Place”  Peaness

15.  “Solid Gold” Seafang

16.  “Star Roving” Slowdive

17.  “Black Bolt“ Heaters

18.  “Joyride” Business of Dreams

19.  “I Took Your Picture” Cults

20.  “Theatre Of Lunacy” The Rays

21.  “In Undertow” Alvvays

22.  “Action Ray” Spectre Folk

23.  “Hope The High Road” Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

24.  “Take Care (To Comb Your Hair)” Ty Segall

* 25 "I'm Fine Here" The Northeastern Railroads"

* Put out a superb album "Hope" in 2017 and "I'm Fine Here" being a track that was on original list and frantically omitted but worth repeated listens.

Favorite Show of 2017: Jason Isbell / Mountain Goats @ Bank of Blue Hills Pavilion