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

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.

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

Doug also rocks Lace Sensors in his Strat so he's automatically a better guitarist than most

i too love guitar solos

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 ^^^^^

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.

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

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.

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.

yeah, exactly. they vamp and rearrange, but not a lot of solos per se.

and it's awesome

we're talking indie rock

we've defined soloing down

Motion denied on the grounds that J Mascis exists

Mixolydian is beneath a man of Yngwie's talent, Phrygian or bust

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.

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.

sonically it's a fucking racket

This is certainly an opinion about PFNO.

wonder how they are live as just a three piece
best 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.

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

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!