Built to Spill: 'Perfect' vs. 'Keep it Like a Secret'

'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.

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.

"perfecr" wins easy.
if anything,it should be "perfect" vs. "wrong with love"

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.

that's a very good line, yes!

i also really like

"we're special in other ways
ways our mothers appreciate"

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.

that's tragic, surmounter :(

my BTS records are all pretty much sacred cows. even the one(s) i don't listen to much anymore

"there's nothing wrong with love" is best

"I wanna see it untame itself and break its owner"

i was hoping this thread would be on top cuz i'm putting Keep It Like A Secret on now and that is exciting

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.

What saxomophone said.

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.

"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.

am i the only one who think that "secret"'s production is kinda annoying?

i kinda like it, however simplistic and like sophomore-year-of-college it may sound

<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.

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.

ooooh i need to get!!!!

Ancient Melodies is bad? is that a known thing? i've never heard.

perfect>>>secret.

Both are great, perfect from now on is the best.

Secret.

Ancient Melodies is bad? is that a known thing? i've never heard.

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.

In Built To Spill circles

hahahaha

'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.

At least Ancient Melodies has "Strange" (with Sam Coomes on rocksichord).

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.

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?

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.

xpost: Yes, that could be Cole Porter or something.

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.

so this band is offically my soundtrack for the beginning of 2008.

welcome 2008.

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.

do u have a favorite band? who is it? curious

Low

no offense or anything to BtS, i just don't like that sorta indie-guitar rock.

tks

"you thought of everything
but some things can't be thought"

always makes me smile :)

"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

plus 'perfect' is phenomenal at the end

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.

"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, 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.

keep it like a secret always feels perfect.

purrrrrrrfect.

the guitar bridge in the middle of Sidewalk is great

Else is painful to listen to

a frightening prelude to You Were Right.

whoas. Broken Chairs is a ridiculous closer. the vocals just hang in the air.

yeah, i agree!

we can all at least agree that TNWWL has the only actually funny hidden/joke track of the period

look for the record with ME on the cover

Cause baby you know I’m a REBEL
I’m a RAMBLER...
(Waxes poetic on axe)

we can all at least agree that TNWWL has the only actually funny hidden/joke track of the period

― Simon H., Wednesday, January 31, 2018 11:07 AM (twenty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

look for the record with ME on the cover

― tylerw, Wednesday, January 31, 2018 11:10 AM (seventeen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

lmao it really is actually funny

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

That is nice! You know what would make it better? Second guitarist.

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

we can all at least agree that TNWWL has the only actually funny hidden/joke track of the period

― Simon H., Wednesday, January 31, 2018 11:07 AM (twenty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

look for the record with ME on the cover

― 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, January 31, 2018 1:28 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This and Sebadoh showtape 91

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.

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

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.

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!