Davey
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2002
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Well maybe not exactly my first review since I did do a little 3-way thing once (now that sounds like fun 
) here, but this is my first official full length 90s indie rock review!
We probably all have a handful of goto type albums, the ones you can pull out just about anytime and never get tired of hearing. Always sound fresh, but at the same time like an old friend. This is one of those for me. It was my introduction to Built To Spill, back sometime in 1997 when it came out on Warner Bros. Records. Indie rock on a big label. This was their first album for the WB. I picked up the double vinyl on the Up label, I think partly because I thought the cover was pretty cool. But I had probably read something about it too, can't remember exactly now. I was buying quite a bit of indie rock type vinyl back then, much of it unknown to me. This one took awhile to turn into a favorite though. I knew from the first listen that it was something special, but it's not the type of music that slaps you into submission. More like a slow acting but habit forming drug...you don't quite know how you feel about it but can't stop taking it. And after about ten times you're totally, hopelessly addicted.
Band leader Doug Martsch is something of a modern day guitar hero for those of you not in the know, and this was his band's epic. All long songs, only 8 of them, ranging from about 5 minutes to almost 9. No filler, all very solid. My understanding is they wound up recording it twice to get the sound they wanted, but didn't quite get there. Think maybe the Abbey Road suite type Beatles crossed with Down By The River type Neil Young and Crazy Horse (in fact they have a live album with an outstanding 20 minute version of Cortez the Killer) and maybe some occasional Electric Ladyland type Hendrix. Martsch has a whiney voice that's a bit like Neil Young, but most of the songs are written around that sound and work well with it. Lots of texture and spaciness, kind of like Pink Floyd even at times, but not really. Beautiful feedback and trance-inducing melodies. Cellos, melotrons and moog synths add even more texture and the lyrics bring color and depth to the images. Really a brilliant album, easily one of the best of the 90s. Highly recommended if you haven't heard it, but remember, it takes a while to really get down under your skin. Maybe if you can borrow a copy to give it a try before you buy? Or download some songs like "I Would Hurt A Fly", or just about anything on the album to be honest.
I did pick up a used copy of the CD a couple years ago and it's a little disappointing sound-wise compared to the LP which gives it more of an epic sound and they also have much better guitar tone. But I still love it regardless of the format.
Here's a few words about it from Doug Martsch that appeared in a Pulse! magazine interview .....
"That was one time when I thought I was in way over my head. [But] it worked out fine. And I love that record; I think it's the best thing that we've done. It was supposed to be kinda epic-sounding, but I was never able to get it where I wanted it and that was really disappointing to me, but in retrospect I think that's what makes it a cool record ... If it'd sounded the way I wanted it to sound like a Blur record or Radiohead or something; I imagined it being massive and I'm glad that it's not; I'm glad that it's still sort of like a guy in his room but kind of epic."
) here, but this is my first official full length 90s indie rock review!We probably all have a handful of goto type albums, the ones you can pull out just about anytime and never get tired of hearing. Always sound fresh, but at the same time like an old friend. This is one of those for me. It was my introduction to Built To Spill, back sometime in 1997 when it came out on Warner Bros. Records. Indie rock on a big label. This was their first album for the WB. I picked up the double vinyl on the Up label, I think partly because I thought the cover was pretty cool. But I had probably read something about it too, can't remember exactly now. I was buying quite a bit of indie rock type vinyl back then, much of it unknown to me. This one took awhile to turn into a favorite though. I knew from the first listen that it was something special, but it's not the type of music that slaps you into submission. More like a slow acting but habit forming drug...you don't quite know how you feel about it but can't stop taking it. And after about ten times you're totally, hopelessly addicted.
Band leader Doug Martsch is something of a modern day guitar hero for those of you not in the know, and this was his band's epic. All long songs, only 8 of them, ranging from about 5 minutes to almost 9. No filler, all very solid. My understanding is they wound up recording it twice to get the sound they wanted, but didn't quite get there. Think maybe the Abbey Road suite type Beatles crossed with Down By The River type Neil Young and Crazy Horse (in fact they have a live album with an outstanding 20 minute version of Cortez the Killer
) and maybe some occasional Electric Ladyland type Hendrix. Martsch has a whiney voice that's a bit like Neil Young, but most of the songs are written around that sound and work well with it. Lots of texture and spaciness, kind of like Pink Floyd even at times, but not really. Beautiful feedback and trance-inducing melodies. Cellos, melotrons and moog synths add even more texture and the lyrics bring color and depth to the images. Really a brilliant album, easily one of the best of the 90s. Highly recommended if you haven't heard it, but remember, it takes a while to really get down under your skin. Maybe if you can borrow a copy to give it a try before you buy? Or download some songs like "I Would Hurt A Fly", or just about anything on the album to be honest.I did pick up a used copy of the CD a couple years ago and it's a little disappointing sound-wise compared to the LP which gives it more of an epic sound and they also have much better guitar tone. But I still love it regardless of the format.
Here's a few words about it from Doug Martsch that appeared in a Pulse! magazine interview .....
"That was one time when I thought I was in way over my head. [But] it worked out fine. And I love that record; I think it's the best thing that we've done. It was supposed to be kinda epic-sounding, but I was never able to get it where I wanted it and that was really disappointing to me, but in retrospect I think that's what makes it a cool record ... If it'd sounded the way I wanted it to sound like a Blur record or Radiohead or something; I imagined it being massive and I'm glad that it's not; I'm glad that it's still sort of like a guy in his room but kind of epic."
