Built to Spill

From Free net encyclopedia

Built to Spill is an American indie rock band based in Boise, Idaho. The band is most well known for its catchy guitar hooks and the unique voice of frontman Doug Martsch.

1 History
2 Influences and comparisons
3 Discography
4 References
5 External links

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History

Former Treepeople lead Doug Martsch formed Built to Spill in 1992 with Brett Netson and Ralf Youtz as the band's original members. In an interview with Spin magazine, Martsch stated that he intended to change the band's lineup for every album, with Martsch being the only permanent member. After the band's first album, Ultimate Alternative Wavers (1993), the lineup changing idea held true, as both Netson and Youtz were replaced by Brett Nelson (not Netson) and Andy Capps for 1994's There's Nothing Wrong With Love. A compilation album called The Normal Years, consisting of recordings by both the first and second trios, was released in 1996. Between recording albums in 1995, the band gained notoriety by playing on the Lollapalooza tour.

Martsch signed Built to Spill to the Warner Brothers label in 1995. Unlike many artists signed to major labels, however, the deal the band brokered with Warner allowed it to retain a large degree of creative control over future albums. Built to Spill produced its first major label release in 1997 with Perfect From Now On. By this time, the band consisted of Martsch, Nelson, Netson, and Scott Plouf. Perfect From Now On met with critical success and caused Built to Spill to become one of the United States' most recognizable indie rock bands. Before releasing another album, Martsch made Nelson and Plouf permanent members of the band. In 1999, the band released Keep It Like a Secret to continued critical success, and for the first time, significant commercial success. In response to fan requests, the Live album was released in 2000. The band's fifth studio album, Ancient Melodies of the Future, was released in 2001. Martsch also recorded Now You Know, a solo album with both blues and folk elements, in 2002.

Many fans speculated that the band would not release any more albums after Ancient Melodies, as the band had not toured since 2003 or given any indication that it would record another album. Nevertheless, in March of 2005, Built to Spill embarked on a spring/summer tour. Later, the band confirmed rumors that they had recorded another studio album, titled You In Reverse, which was released on April 11, 2006. The band's official lineup for the album featured Martsch, Nelson, Plouf, and Jim Roth, who was formerly a touring guitarist only. Former band member Brett Netson provided guitar work on several songs, while Quasi's Sam Coomes provided keyboard work for the album.

The band announced an April/May 2006 tour in February 2006 in support of You In Reverse.[1] In late March 2006, however, frontman Doug Martsch suffered a detached retina that required surgery, causing the band to cancel its appearance at the South by Southwest music festival and postpone several of their tour dates. The band has rescheduled the April and May tour dates in the fall, but June dates on the West coast will go off as scheduled.[2]

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Influences and comparisons

Martsch has cited Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis' style of heavy, catchy guitar hooks as an influence on what has come to be Built to Spill's call sign. The band has also cited Neil Young and Pavement as influences. The sound of fellow indie rockers Modest Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie has been compared to Built to Spill's sound, most often because of all three bands' association with the indie rock movement known as the Northwest sound. Additionally, Built to Spill is connected with Brett Netson's band Caustic Resin through the bands' 1995 shared release and some shared members.

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