― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:05 (twenty years ago) link
― dean! (deangulberry), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:07 (twenty years ago) link
― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:09 (twenty years ago) link
― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:11 (twenty years ago) link
― The Good Dr. Bill (Andrew Unterberger), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:17 (twenty years ago) link
― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:19 (twenty years ago) link
― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:29 (twenty years ago) link
― otto, Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:35 (twenty years ago) link
Specifically that puppet thing eating the corn or whatever.
― The Good Dr. Bill (Andrew Unterberger), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:36 (twenty years ago) link
― nonthings (nonthings), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:37 (twenty years ago) link
― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:39 (twenty years ago) link
― nonthings (nonthings), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:41 (twenty years ago) link
― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:45 (twenty years ago) link
― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:47 (twenty years ago) link
― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:49 (twenty years ago) link
― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:52 (twenty years ago) link
― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:54 (twenty years ago) link
the first one -- Ultimate Alternative Wavers -- also has some good stuff, esp. "Nowhere Nothin' Fuckup," which is sort of a tribute to/cover of the Velvet Underground's "Oh Sweet Nuthin'"
― chris herrington (chris herrington), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:57 (twenty years ago) link
― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:58 (twenty years ago) link
They're all great. I can only think of a handful of other bands that have released three albums in a row that sound almost nothing like one another yet are each awesome in their own right.
― Nick Mirov (nick), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:02 (twenty years ago) link
― nonthings (nonthings), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:08 (twenty years ago) link
― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:09 (twenty years ago) link
― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:10 (twenty years ago) link
― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:10 (twenty years ago) link
― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:17 (twenty years ago) link
― nonthings (nonthings), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:19 (twenty years ago) link
― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:20 (twenty years ago) link
― nonthings (nonthings), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:21 (twenty years ago) link
― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:21 (twenty years ago) link
― nonthings (nonthings), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:22 (twenty years ago) link
― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:24 (twenty years ago) link
― nonthings (nonthings), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:26 (twenty years ago) link
― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:27 (twenty years ago) link
I once was at a strip club where the strippers had to play their own music on the jukebox. One girl stripped to Silent Lucidity by Queensryche, so anything's possible.
― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:28 (twenty years ago) link
― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 22:30 (twenty years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 18 February 2004 00:57 (twenty years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 18 February 2004 01:04 (twenty years ago) link
― martin m. (mushrush), Wednesday, 18 February 2004 01:24 (twenty years ago) link
'randy described eternity' was the outstanding highlight of the show i saw last week. the show reminded me that although the less sprawling, pop song-structured songs in the band's catalogue are very fine indeed, the band is in a league of its own when it comes to the longer, more layered, drawn out, melodic guitar assaults.
thus, 'perfect from now on' is not only the band's crowning achievement, but also one of the top 5 records of the 90s.
― Charlie Howard, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 12:14 (sixteen years ago) link
I'm kind of amazed that there isn't more outright anti-BtS contrarianism on this thread. you won't be getting it from me, though; I love both of these records, and it really just comes down to which I'm in the mood to hear at any given time.
"Kicked It In the Sun" was pretty amazing when I saw them live a couple years back, though.
― bernard snowy, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 12:48 (sixteen years ago) link
"perfecr" wins easy. if anything,it should be "perfect" vs. "wrong with love"
― Zeno, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 12:49 (sixteen years ago) link
Why aren't they coming to DC/Baltimore?
I love both of these records, but prefer Keep It Like a Secret because it is more concise (excepting Broken Chairs, which you can pretty much wander off at the end of). Temporarily Blind is one of my favorite songs ever written. Carry the Zero is pretty far up there too.
Perfect From Now On is a little too sprawling for me, even though that sprawl kinda enables them to reach the psychedelic peaks that make the record so good.
If there's a word for you It doesn't mean anything
Is one of their best lines though.
― kingkongvsgodzilla, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 13:05 (sixteen years ago) link
that's a very good line, yes!
i also really like
"we're special in other ways ways our mothers appreciate"
― Charlie Howard, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 13:42 (sixteen years ago) link
UGH where is my keep it like a secret CD?????
some fucking bitch stole my Perfect From Now On copy at college. i like harrassed her about it and she never fucking returned it.
morning btw.
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 13:44 (sixteen years ago) link
that's tragic, surmounter :(
my BTS records are all pretty much sacred cows. even the one(s) i don't listen to much anymore
― Charlie Howard, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 13:46 (sixteen years ago) link
"there's nothing wrong with love" is best
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 14:53 (sixteen years ago) link
"I wanna see it untame itself and break its owner"
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 14:54 (sixteen years ago) link
i was hoping this thread would be on top cuz i'm putting Keep It Like A Secret on now and that is exciting
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 14:59 (sixteen years ago) link
it's been years since i played either one i think, but remember beeing very let down by 'keep it like a secret' back when. there was simply nothing on it that grabbed my attention, whereas 'perfect from now on' had had a great impact on me as it was *the* album that first got me into indie rock back in '97.
― saxomophone, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 15:04 (sixteen years ago) link
What saxomophone said.
― dblcheeksneek, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 15:14 (sixteen years ago) link
Perfect From Now On is one of those rare(ish) albums that is more than the sum of its parts... it's not just a collection of great songs, there's a kind of transcendant thematic cohesion (dude).
I never really got into TNWWL. Always seemed a little immature - lyrically, vocally, structurally. I think they'd definitely matured as songwriters by Perfect. Mind you Perfect is the one I heard first, and if one's a late adopter it's always harder to go back and evaluate the earlier stuff.
― ledge, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 15:15 (sixteen years ago) link
"I never really got into TNWWL. Always seemed a little immature "
and thats what makes it a more simple and fun to listen to,(sometimes, depends on mood),compared to the seriousness of "perfect".
also,"car" and "stab" might be their best songs ever.
― Zeno, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 15:55 (sixteen years ago) link
am i the only one who think that "secret"'s production is kinda annoying?
― Zeno, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 16:11 (sixteen years ago) link
i kinda like it, however simplistic and like sophomore-year-of-college it may sound
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 16:13 (sixteen years ago) link
<i>am i the only one who think that "secret"'s production is kinda annoying?</i> No you are not. I prefer Perfect...
Call me a knucklehead, but I usually go for the live album above all else -- my favorite version of Car, my favorite versions of any of the songs off Keep It Like A Secret. It's possible I'm wrong on this one, but I think the 20 minutes of Cortez the Killer are all worthwhile.
― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 16:51 (sixteen years ago) link
They're all great, except for the horrible Ancient Melodies. Now that's a bad record.
The new one is excellent, too. Holds up much better than expected.
― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 16:52 (sixteen years ago) link
ooooh i need to get!!!!
Ancient Melodies is bad? is that a known thing? i've never heard.
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 16:59 (sixteen years ago) link
perfect>>>secret.
― Hunt3r, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 18:09 (sixteen years ago) link
Both are great, perfect from now on is the best.
― Herman G. Neuname, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 18:11 (sixteen years ago) link
Secret.
― kiss out the jams, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 20:21 (sixteen years ago) link
In Built To Spill circles, Ancient Melodies Of The Future can't even be spoken out loud. You can only whisper it's name for fear of getting some sort of hex.
New one's great, however.
― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 21:26 (sixteen years ago) link
In Built To Spill circles
― carne asada, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 21:28 (sixteen years ago) link
hahahaha
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 21:39 (sixteen years ago) link
'ancient melodies' isn't bad. it's just a bit boring, and obviously worse than anything else they've done
i have a friend who through some kind of misfortune or bad planning always stumbles onto the artist's worst record first. she picked up 'ancient melodies' as an intro to built to spill and was totally sold on it. on that basis, i gave it another listen, and well, it has a few great songs.
― Charlie Howard, Thursday, 10 January 2008 01:57 (sixteen years ago) link
At least Ancient Melodies has "Strange" (with Sam Coomes on rocksichord).
― Patrick South, Thursday, 10 January 2008 02:08 (sixteen years ago) link
In America every puddle gasoline rainbow
From "Nowhere Nothing Fuckup", Ultimate Alternative Wavers, which is definitely not their best by a longshot, but man that is a good line. I like Nothing Wrong With Love best.
― Mark Rich@rdson, Thursday, 10 January 2008 03:12 (sixteen years ago) link
Okay, I need some feedback here: am I just in a hopelessly romantic mood right now, or is "As long as it's talking with you / Talk of the weather will do" an absolutely perfect lyric?
― bernard snowy, Thursday, 10 January 2008 03:30 (sixteen years ago) link
whereas 'perfect from now on' had had a great impact on me as it was *the* album that first got me into indie rock back in '97.
Upon listening to Perfect From Now On, most of indie rock is really disappointing.
― kingkongvsgodzilla, Thursday, 10 January 2008 03:40 (sixteen years ago) link
xpost: Yes, that could be Cole Porter or something.
― kingkongvsgodzilla, Thursday, 10 January 2008 03:41 (sixteen years ago) link
they played 'nowhere nothing...' the other night when i saw them! very pleasant surprise.
and bernard yeah, that's a great line from a song that's a fitting closer to an under-appreciated record
and yeah, kingkong, 'perfect...' really does set the benchmark for majestic guitar-based indie rock.
― Charlie Howard, Thursday, 10 January 2008 03:43 (sixteen years ago) link
so this band is offically my soundtrack for the beginning of 2008.
welcome 2008.
― Surmounter, Friday, 11 January 2008 18:14 (sixteen years ago) link
I'm kind of amazed that there isn't more outright anti-BtS contrarianism on this thread.
well in that case, let me be the first to say it: i fucking hate this band.
― stephen, Friday, 11 January 2008 19:01 (sixteen years ago) link
do u have a favorite band? who is it? curious
― Surmounter, Friday, 11 January 2008 19:04 (sixteen years ago) link
Low
― stephen, Saturday, 12 January 2008 01:14 (sixteen years ago) link
no offense or anything to BtS, i just don't like that sorta indie-guitar rock.
tks
― PappaWheelie V, Saturday, 12 January 2008 04:59 (sixteen years ago) link
"you thought of everything but some things can't be thought"
always makes me smile :)
― Charlie Howard, Tuesday, 25 March 2008 08:24 (sixteen years ago) link
"Both are great but Keep Like A Secret starts higher and peters out more near the end. Perfect is more consistent overall so I'll probably give it the nod" is very OTM
― stevie, Tuesday, 25 March 2008 15:37 (sixteen years ago) link
plus 'perfect' is phenomenal at the end
― Charlie Howard, Tuesday, 25 March 2008 15:40 (sixteen years ago) link
I must give major props to "Velvet Waltz" off of Perfect From Now On, still my favorite BTS song.
I still like Keep it Like a Secret just as much, with There's Nothing Wrong With Love. I want to like the live album, but it reminds me too much of the one time I saw BTS live, which was sort of like a sped up version of watching an old man lose the ability to grip his hammer, and then die.
― Z S, Tuesday, 25 March 2008 15:59 (sixteen years ago) link
-- stevie, Tuesday, March 25, 2008 11:37 AM (4 days ago) Bookmark Link
By OTM, do you mean "Opposite of The Money"? The last three songs on KILAS are impeccable.
― kingkongvsgodzilla, Sunday, 30 March 2008 01:29 (fifteen years ago) link
keep it like a secret always feels perfect.
― Surmounter, Saturday, 11 October 2008 04:16 (fifteen years ago) link
purrrrrrrfect.
the guitar bridge in the middle of Sidewalk is great
― Surmounter, Saturday, 11 October 2008 04:18 (fifteen years ago) link
Else is painful to listen to
― Surmounter, Saturday, 11 October 2008 04:31 (fifteen years ago) link
a frightening prelude to You Were Right.
― Surmounter, Saturday, 11 October 2008 04:33 (fifteen years ago) link
whoas. Broken Chairs is a ridiculous closer. the vocals just hang in the air.
― Surmounter, Saturday, 11 October 2008 04:45 (fifteen years ago) link
wtf ;D
― Surmounter, Saturday, 11 October 2008 04:46 (fifteen years ago) link
Long time since I listened to Keep it Like a secret, not so long for Perfect from Now On. For me Perfect is Perfect because each song is like aa epic story without being prog- it is coherent and massive- works as a whole gigantic album. Keep it like a secret is more varied and feels far more inconsistent.I was extremely disappointed at the time. I guess I had Built to Spill pigeoned as a group who wrote monumental tracks which felt both pop-like and also quite symphonic. There is daylight between these two records for me and i am interested in why so many people seem to love "Keep it." there no right or wrong answer of course but this one just seems so obvious. have all you Keep it people listened well to perfect from now on. Also all those people who love Keep It Like a secret- did you like this before you heard Perfect from Now on? For me it was the other way round and like a favourite pet maybe it is hard to give up your first love.
― Hinklepicker, Saturday, 11 October 2008 06:15 (fifteen years ago) link
I heard Keep It Like A Secret long before Perfect From Now On and it's by far my favorite Built to Spill record. I have all the other ones but honestly listen to to this one 95% of the time and all the others 5%.
I really should listen to Perfect more.
― a better command of the mummy language (joygoat), Saturday, 11 October 2008 07:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Thats what I'm trying to say. My theory is that all the Fans of Keep it like a Secret were first to this record and second to Perfect from Now on. Maybe it depends on which one you listened to first.
― Hinklepicker, Saturday, 11 October 2008 09:21 (fifteen years ago) link
well Keep It is the first and only that i've heard. i can't remember if i got Perfect or something else after, but it doesn't matter cuz this girl stole it.
what should i get now???
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 18 November 2008 00:37 (fifteen years ago) link
Perfect From Now On!
― Pfunkboy Formerly Known As... (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 18 November 2008 00:40 (fifteen years ago) link
their best, "There's Nothing Wrong With Love"
― nicky lo-fi, Tuesday, 18 November 2008 00:41 (fifteen years ago) link
I've always said There's Nothing Wrong with Love was my fave, but I'm starting to wonder if Secret aged better.
― Lasers of the New School (PappaWheelie V), Tuesday, 18 November 2008 00:43 (fifteen years ago) link
perfect perfect perfect perfect perfect. perfect.
― ledge, Tuesday, 18 November 2008 00:43 (fifteen years ago) link
voted "there's nothing wrong with love"
― Kevin Keller, Tuesday, 18 November 2008 03:56 (fifteen years ago) link
They played Perfect in its entirety last month here in Brussels, and right after "Untrustable" (I mean RIGHT after, they didn't even stop for the applause) they played "In Your Mind" from Ancient Melodies. I always thought it was the best song from that album, but it was a bit weird to hear it so closely connected to Perfect.
During the encore we got "Car", which was a nice treat as well :)
BTW, my vote goes to Perfect.
― ArchCarrier, Tuesday, 18 November 2008 10:31 (fifteen years ago) link
They played Perfect in its entirety last month here in Brussels
fuck fuck fuck this was in london two weeks ago. why don't i check live listings? fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.
― ledge, Tuesday, 18 November 2008 12:04 (fifteen years ago) link
I actually don't think I've heard Perfect From Now On. I own Keep It Like A Secret but I never got into it. I like There's Nothing Wrong With Love and Ultimate Alternative Wavers a lot more.
― I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO (Colonel Poo), Tuesday, 18 November 2008 12:37 (fifteen years ago) link
Thanks for the post. I didn't realize Keep It was so highly regarded, the CD's been sitting around the back of my collection. Somehow I got it confused with Ancient Melodies which I found very disappointing.
― hugo, Tuesday, 18 November 2008 16:38 (fifteen years ago) link
No one likes "Broken Chairs"? This is one of my favorite songs on this album.
― Mike Crandle, Financial Analyst, Bear Stearns, New York, NY 10185 (res), Thursday, 24 September 2009 05:04 (fourteen years ago) link
it's an OK song but it has one of the most torturously long fadeouts ever
Keep It is really the only Built To Spill i fuck with at all, I saw one of the shows where they did Perfect last year and just kept thinking about how much i'd like to hear the other album instead.
― goodship journey to lollipop (some dude), Thursday, 24 September 2009 05:15 (fourteen years ago) link
^
― if I don't see more dissent, I'm going to have to check myself in (Matos W.K.), Thursday, 24 September 2009 06:47 (fourteen years ago) link
The song broken chairs is credited in the liner notes to "uhuru black". I'm pretty sure this is noy a black uhuru song though, right?
― those .rawr blogs (kingkongvsgodzilla), Thursday, 24 September 2009 09:58 (fourteen years ago) link
I just got into these guys, and I really like _KILAS_. With the exception of "Randy", _Perfect_ seems completely unremarkable to me.
― Mike Crandle, Financial Analyst, Bear Stearns, New York, NY 10185 (res), Friday, 25 September 2009 02:37 (fourteen years ago) link
there's nothing wrong w/ love is my favorite by a good amount, though i think "liar" is my favorite song by them
― blap 10, lure, ax (k3vin k.), Friday, 25 September 2009 02:44 (fourteen years ago) link
great song, no doubt
― iatee, Friday, 25 September 2009 02:50 (fourteen years ago) link
'The song broken chairs is credited in the liner notes to "uhuru black". I'm pretty sure this is noy a black uhuru song though, right?'
Uhuru Black was a Built To Spill roadie who died shortly before Keep It Like A Secret was recorded. He wrote the words, they turned it into a song as a tribute to him.
― cwkiii, Friday, 25 September 2009 04:17 (fourteen years ago) link
That's cool. Makes me like the song better. But it's still one of the rare BTS songs that goes on too long.
― kornrulez6969, Friday, 25 September 2009 04:20 (fourteen years ago) link
The only Built to Spill album I'm super-familiar with is Keep It Like a Secret, which I like quite a bit. I've heard a smattering of songs from other albums, but until recently I hadn't heard Perfect From Now On. It's ... fine, I guess? I mean, I get that Built to Spill is basically an indie-rock jam band and the sprawl is often what it's about, but I wish these songs also had the memorable hooks of Keep It Like a Secret, which strikes me as a far superior album for its balance. Amusing to me -- though maybe it shouldn't be -- that Ned rates this album so highly.
― Trewster Dare (jaymc), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 15:24 (eleven years ago) link
I think Perfect From Now On is their best record, but they seem to disagree. I think that tour a few years ago where they played it in its entirety was their way of retiring it. When I saw them in 2010 they only played one song from it, and when I saw them this year they didn't play anything from it. Closed this year's set with what felt like a 30 minute version of "Broken Chairs", though.
― cwkiii, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 15:29 (eleven years ago) link
i think if you're familiar with the sprawl first, perfect is sort of hits-plus-filler in comparison
― da croupier, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 15:30 (eleven years ago) link
i mean secret is hits-plus-filler, sorry
I missed KILAS the first time so it was a real pleasure discovering it two summers ago.
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 15:31 (eleven years ago) link
yeah it's hard for me to even imagine someone knowing Built To Spill for years and THEN hearing stuff like "Center Of The Universe," "Carry The Zero," "Else" now - definitely their highest pop points. But, outside of some best-of playlist, Perfect is definitely my go-to album to throw on if I'm in the mood for them.
― da croupier, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 15:37 (eleven years ago) link
perfect and there's nothing wrong with love are the only ones i listen to these days.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 15:39 (eleven years ago) link
For some reason, I can never keep these titles straight. I like "Keep it Like a Secret" a lot, but somehow can't penetrate "Perfect from Now On" except the first track.
― Poliopolice, Thursday, 11 April 2013 14:45 (ten years ago) link
Perfect is not only denser and proggier, but I think angrier and more dissatisfied, which makes for a weird combination. After I revived the Keep It Like a Secret poll last week, I listened to both of them (that's basically what I think about the Built to Spill discography, btw: both of them). I can never keep the titles straight on Perfect From Now On. Which is the one where he says "dry lines on me/dryology"? Which is the one that starts off with mellow sweet guitars for like two minutes that are interrupted by the huge distorted chunks and a huge scream on the wah? That one's the best, but I don't know which one it is.
― how's life, Thursday, 11 April 2013 15:28 (ten years ago) link
Which is the one where he says "dry lines on me/dryology"?
"Made-Up Dreams"
Which is the one that starts off with mellow sweet guitars for like two minutes that are interrupted by the huge distorted chunks and a huge scream on the wah?
"Stop the Show"
― cwkiii, Thursday, 11 April 2013 15:39 (ten years ago) link
So many great songs on this album (my favorite of theirs by far), but yeah, super dense and proggy, especially compared to the rest of their discography.
― cwkiii, Thursday, 11 April 2013 15:42 (ten years ago) link
i love both albums, although i think i've had more frequent periods of obsession with Perfect. Velvet Waltz, in particular, can trigger a strange cathartic rush
― your holiness, we have an official energy drink (Z S), Thursday, 11 April 2013 15:46 (ten years ago) link
"Velvet Waltz" is the best thing this band ever did, anger that's gone cosmic
― Euler, Thursday, 11 April 2013 15:51 (ten years ago) link
yeah, velvet waltz has always been my fave, though hearing it now brings on feelings of lol teenage angst years. thinking about going to see them next month, it's been a while, maybe 6-7 years?
― tylerw, Thursday, 11 April 2013 15:55 (ten years ago) link
Which is the one where he says "dry lines on me/dryology"?"Made-Up Dreams"Which is the one that starts off with mellow sweet guitars for like two minutes that are interrupted by the huge distorted chunks and a huge scream on the wah?"Stop the Show"― cwkiii, Thursday, April 11, 2013 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― cwkiii, Thursday, April 11, 2013 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Well yes, but my point is that I'm not familiar with a lot of the songs front-to-back. It's more like I'll but it on as passive listening and then there are these intense moments that draw me in for a while.
― how's life, Thursday, 11 April 2013 16:03 (ten years ago) link
one of the best things about keeping old records is bringing back feelings of lol teenage angst years! I guess because those were pretty good years & I like refeeling feelings
― Euler, Thursday, 11 April 2013 16:12 (ten years ago) link
I've come to love KILAS more, and regard it as a perfect record, but it still surprises me that it came after Perfect From Now On, not before. PFNO is such an ambitious expansion of Built to Spill's sound that KILAS can't help but feel like a contraction
― Evan R, Thursday, 11 April 2013 16:15 (ten years ago) link
Well yes, but my point is that I'm not familiar with a lot of the songs front-to-back.
I pretty much realized this immediately after posting...sorry!
― cwkiii, Thursday, 11 April 2013 16:17 (ten years ago) link
one of the best things about keeping old records is bringing back feelings of lol teenage angst yearshaha yeah, i suppose...there are some pretty specific things about 1997 that perfect from now on conjures up.
― tylerw, Thursday, 11 April 2013 16:26 (ten years ago) link
― da croupier, Wednesday, July 25, 2012 11:37 AM (five years ago)
this is exactly what happened to me. i got Perfect From Now On in 2005 when i was becoming obsessed with Modest Mouse. could never get past "Randy Described Eternity," great song, but the production was really flat and the songs were ponderous. 10 years later i was in Ohio at a friend of a friend's house and someone put on Keep It Like a Secret. the super concentrated pop songwriting & production & absurd abundance of hooks was apparent like 30 seconds into "The Plan," but "Center of the Universe" was the one that just absolutely floored me, I asked them to play it 3 or 4 times in a row after it was over. and in the last 2 and a half years I've grown to love Keep It Like a Secret so much, the description upthread of the record as "hooks repeated until they crush you like a bug" is so otm. no filler at all, every song has like 7 incredible hooks. i'm listening to There's Nothing Wrong with Love for the first time right now and it's really great, gotta revisit Perfect From Now On...
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 18:42 (six years ago) link
perfect is a little more spread out in hooks / a little bit more about investing each song with as much space and grandeur as possible but as much as keep it like a secret is my fav bts album there's nothing on it that quite achieves what, say, the first few seconds of "velvet waltz" do
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 18:45 (six years ago) link
i think the thing that made me a built to spill fan is the "out of site" riff
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 18:46 (six years ago) link
Both fantastic albums but PFNO edges KILAS by a nose. People don't talk about it a lot as a wild major-label debut but it really is? (It also surprises me every time I remember they're still on Warner.)
I went beyond my usual price comfort range to pick up a ticket for BTS+ Afghan Whigs, two longtime faves I've never seen live. I could see a BTS gig being great or very dull, tbh.
― Simon H., Tuesday, 30 January 2018 18:49 (six years ago) link
tbh bts/afghan whigs is my dream tour and i need to buy tickets when i finally get paid again
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 18:51 (six years ago) link
I hope they play for 2.5 hours each
― Simon H., Tuesday, 30 January 2018 18:52 (six years ago) link
i've only seen built to spill once but they were so badass and i've never seen a less than great whigs show
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 18:52 (six years ago) link
the (local, at least) opener is a weird but cool choice
https://open.spotify.com/album/219b8zjnAnvtK4jh5CAlKs?si=kcqFEO-NSA2bg905Y7J1wg
― Simon H., Tuesday, 30 January 2018 18:54 (six years ago) link
shit i gotta get my ticket for their show here. BTS is opening right? or is it a co-headlining situation
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 18:54 (six years ago) link
co-headlining situation! it's gonna fucking rule!
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 18:55 (six years ago) link
oh sick, ok im going
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 18:59 (six years ago) link
not familiar with afghan whigs what's a good record to start with
gentlemen or black love
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:00 (six years ago) link
Gentlemen.
That's a weird double bill.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:00 (six years ago) link
Black Love imo
― Simon H., Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:00 (six years ago) link
I've never been that impressed by BTS live, but Afghan Whigs, I have left more than one of their shows thinking it the best I have ever seen to the extent that if I never saw another show by anyone I would be satisfied.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:01 (six years ago) link
afghan whigs are one of the only rock bands of their time to successfully ingest r&b into their songwriting, they're v special to me, hope you like them flappy
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:01 (six years ago) link
Afghan Whigs, I have left more than one of their shows thinking it the best I have ever seen to the extent that if I never saw another show by anyone I would be satisfied.
exactly. best show i've ever seen in my life is still the 2012 bowery ballroom reunion show
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:02 (six years ago) link
I also recommend In Spades which is much better than I ever expected from their "reunion"
― Simon H., Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:03 (six years ago) link
saw the Afghan Whigs on the Black Love tour, was unbelievably great
― bhad and bhabie (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:16 (six years ago) link
also I think Black Love > Gentlemen
it's not really a weird bill at all! considering they probably have a ton of mutual fans imo
Built to Spill has always been great live but you have to like solos. I love guitar solos.
― bhad and bhabie (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:18 (six years ago) link
same
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:21 (six years ago) link
didn't know there was this much consensus on black love. it's my fav whigs record (and prob the best introduction to them, it took me a while to completely get into gentlemen)
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:22 (six years ago) link
the production and sequencing is just a little more satisfying to me, Gentlemen (and Congreagation) both excellent obv
― Simon H., Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:25 (six years ago) link
black love and 1965 are my absolute favorites but there's not much distance in quality between any of them post-up in it
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:28 (six years ago) link
I hope someone makes that Black Love noir one day
I've never been able to get into 1965 for some reason
― Simon H., Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:30 (six years ago) link
Probably seen BtS six or seven times, and I'd say they crushed it at about four of those, one of which was probably a top 10 concert of all time for me. Best part of the show is usually the closer ("Broken Chairs" or something fittingly epic) where they give themselves the freedom to jam without restraint, but there's always this sense they could turn any song into a Perfect From Now On-scale monster if they wanted to.
― Evan R, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:33 (six years ago) link
1965 is the sexiest album
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:33 (six years ago) link
ah that's prob why I don't like it
― Simon H., Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:34 (six years ago) link
i'm personally glad i've never seen the whigs perform "omerta" live bc the sexual energy would be overpowering
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 19:39 (six years ago) link
I don't like Built to Spills jammy solos, I think they're vampy/noodly/predictable, but ymmv. I do like when BTS goes into cover song mode. Same with the Whigs, for that matter, but the former is usually more faithful and the latter brilliantly twists totally inspired picks into spooky/sexy/sleazy Whigs mode.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 20:11 (six years ago) link
I used to be one of those fans who listened for the songs and tolerated the solos, but eventually the jams became a real attraction for me... a lot of them are pretty damn dramatic. Doug Martsch admitted to me a few years ago that the jams are more for them than the audience, a way to keep themselves interested, but you can kinda tell that's where his heart is at and where he puts in the most passion.
They're one of those bands fascinated by the unattainable ideal of perfection, and the idea that there really is a perfect way to play each of these songs and the drive to get as close to that ideal as they can. Pretty satisfying seeing a band that cares that much about their craft, even if the jams aren't your thing
― Evan R, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 20:29 (six years ago) link
Doug also rocks Lace Sensors in his Strat so he's automatically a better guitarist than most
i too love guitar solos
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 21:24 (six years ago) link
as much as keep it like a secret is my fav bts album there's nothing on it that quite achieves what, say, the first few seconds of "velvet waltz" do
i checked my old posts on this thread and got really self-conscious about my opinion not really changing much over so many years, but i still think ^^^^^
― Karl Malone, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 21:32 (six years ago) link
Doug Martsch admitted to me a few years ago that the jams are more for them than the audience, a way to keep themselves interested, but you can kinda tell that's where his heart is at and where he puts in the most passion.
yeah, i agree with this and on the days when PFNO really connects with me it's because it was the album where they best balanced the hooks with the jams.
― Karl Malone, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 21:36 (six years ago) link
that's what kim thayil said about the soundgarden songs they would routinely stretch out for 'noise jams' on, oddly enough since there did not seem to be much flexibility to how they did them
― j., Tuesday, 30 January 2018 22:15 (six years ago) link
Well, per that, I generally like guitar solos, too, but I've never heard any BTS solo stuff that terribly impressed me, compared to, say, the epic solo on Temple of the Dog's "Reach Down." But then, as much as I respect Mike McCready as a guitar player, there are lots of times I wish he would just chill out. Doug's playing imo is best used in service of hooks, not soloing.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 22:40 (six years ago) link
I'm always confused when people bring up guitar solos when talking about Built to Spill. I don't think of them as a guitar solo band at all, but the way people talk you'd think Doug Martsch was up there shredding in the mixolydian mode like Yngwie or something.
I mean, of course they're a guitar band, and they do play extended jams, but those jams don't typically involve guitar solos in the classic sense. They usually involve layered, pre-written parts, and little variations within the parameters of those parts, maybe some leaning on the wah pedal for atmosphere, but not the sort of improvisational up-and-down-the-fretboard action you usually think of as a rock guitar solo. At least on the two albums this thread is about, which are the ones I know best.
― JRN, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 23:14 (six years ago) link
yeah, exactly. they vamp and rearrange, but not a lot of solos per se.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 23:15 (six years ago) link
and it's awesome
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 30 January 2018 23:28 (six years ago) link
we're talking indie rock
we've defined soloing down
― j., Tuesday, 30 January 2018 23:32 (six years ago) link
Motion denied on the grounds that J Mascis exists
― JRN, Tuesday, 30 January 2018 23:38 (six years ago) link
Mixolydian is beneath a man of Yngwie's talent, Phrygian or bust
― bhad and bhabie (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 31 January 2018 00:04 (six years ago) link
imo, perfect from now on could have been such a better record with a little brevity. then again, the whole thing was recorded three times (they were unhappy with first takes, and second time around the master tapes melted). the songs are so strong, but sonically it's a fucking racket.
there's nothing wrong with love and keep it like a secret are stone cold gems, though.
wonder how they are live as just a three piece, now, since interweaving guitarplay was fundamental to their sound. then again, jason from helvetia is playing bass, and he is a badass musician.
go and listen to duster if you haven't already, he was the drummer in them. wonderful slowcore, some of the best guitar tones i've ever heard on record. label mates of BTS back in the day.
― meaulnes, Wednesday, 31 January 2018 02:45 (six years ago) link
Ha, I had no idea Nelson and Plouf were no longer in the band.
Wait, Brett Nelson and Brett Netson are two different people?! WTF, BTS? TS: bands with two members name Brett vs. bands with two members named Chad.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 31 January 2018 14:34 (six years ago) link
sonically it's a fucking racket
This is certainly an opinion about PFNO.
― Simon H., Wednesday, 31 January 2018 14:37 (six years ago) link
wonder how they are live as just a three piecebest BTS show i've seen (in 1998-ish?) was with a three-piece lineup ... was cool to see Martsch figure out how to play those intricate parts effectively.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 31 January 2018 16:29 (six years ago) link
Keep it like a secret and there’s nothing wrong with love are both stunningly brilliant but perfect from now on has this ineffable quality/innigkeit about it that makes it forever my favorite bts
― Winter. Dickens. Yes. (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 31 January 2018 17:54 (six years ago) link
yeah, i agree!
― tylerw, Wednesday, 31 January 2018 18:01 (six years ago) link
we can all at least agree that TNWWL has the only actually funny hidden/joke track of the period
― Simon H., Wednesday, 31 January 2018 18:07 (six years ago) link
look for the record with ME on the cover
― tylerw, Wednesday, 31 January 2018 18:10 (six years ago) link
Cause baby you know I’m a REBELI’m a RAMBLER...(Waxes poetic on axe)
― Winter. Dickens. Yes. (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 31 January 2018 18:20 (six years ago) link
― Simon H., Wednesday, January 31, 2018 11:07 AM (twenty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― tylerw, Wednesday, January 31, 2018 11:10 AM (seventeen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
lmao it really is actually funny
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Wednesday, 31 January 2018 18:28 (six years ago) link
re: concerns about the three-piece lineup & how doug could manage to make up for missing guitars... this arrangement of Else from a couple years ago is really beautiful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4JxIYuVwKw
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 31 January 2018 19:05 (six years ago) link
That is nice! You know what would make it better? Second guitarist.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 31 January 2018 21:04 (six years ago) link
Lol yea but still, good version. There was a sweet pro shot video of a full show from 1999 at some theater in Boulder that’s disappeared off YouTube for some reason unfortunately. Amazing version of Else with lap steel
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 31 January 2018 22:52 (six years ago) link
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:28 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
This and Sebadoh showtape 91
― YouTube_-_funy_cats.flv (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Thursday, 1 February 2018 05:25 (six years ago) link
this seems like the more recently active Built to Spill thread so I'll bump this one... BTS sign to Sub Pop! tour dates! new album!
Pacific Northwest rock band Built to Spill have singed with Sub Pop, the Seattle-based label announced today (October 7). In celebration of the news, Built to Spill have shared a string of North American tour dates kicking off in Seattle on December 16 and wrapping up in San Francisco in February of next year. They’ll be joined by Dinosaur Jr., Team Dresch, Prism Bitch, and more on select dates. Find their full schedule below.In addition to the tour announcement, Sub Pop revealed that Built to Spill—comprised of Doug Martsch, Melanie Radford, and Teresa Esguerra—are currently working on their debut album for the label. The LP is due out next year, and will mark the band’s follow-up to 2015’s Untethered Moon. Last year, the group issued Built to Spill Plays the Songs of Daniel Johnston.
In addition to the tour announcement, Sub Pop revealed that Built to Spill—comprised of Doug Martsch, Melanie Radford, and Teresa Esguerra—are currently working on their debut album for the label. The LP is due out next year, and will mark the band’s follow-up to 2015’s Untethered Moon. Last year, the group issued Built to Spill Plays the Songs of Daniel Johnston.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 7 October 2021 21:09 (two years ago) link
said dates:
12-16 Seattle, WA - The Showbox at the Market =12-17 Portland, OR - Revolution Hall =12-18 Olympia, WA - Capitol Theatre =12-19 Tacoma, WA - Spanish Ballroom at Elks Temple =01-26 Seattle, WA - The Crocodile ^ !01-27 Seattle, WA - The Crocodile ^ !01-29 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom ^ !01-30 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom ^ $01-31 Eugene, OR - Sessions Music Hall ^ ! $02-02 Sacramento, CA - Harlows ^ $02-03 Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory ^ $02-04 Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl ^ #02-05 Pioneertown, CA - Pappy & Harriet's (Outdoors) ^ $02-07 San Diego, CA - Belly Up ^ $02-08 Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex ^ $02-09 Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex ^ $02-10 Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theatre ^ $02-11 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore ^ $02-12 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore ^ $= w/ Team Dresch^ w/ Prism Bitch# w/ Dinosaur Jr.! w/ Oh, Rose$ w/ Itchy Kitty
= w/ Team Dresch^ w/ Prism Bitch# w/ Dinosaur Jr.! w/ Oh, Rose$ w/ Itchy Kitty
Doug has been in a sort of strange - maybe transitional, it seems now - zone recently, playing backyards and tiny venues in Portland and elsewhere in the Northwest. It's cool that he has switched up the lineup to include two women, though I generally would rather see BTS as a quartet.
― alpine static, Thursday, 7 October 2021 22:10 (two years ago) link
I saw a pretty great trio show back in the 90s (and also a terrible one!). He's definitely a cool player, I like the idea of him doing a little more heavy lifting. Glad he's still at it!
― tylerw, Thursday, 7 October 2021 22:17 (two years ago) link