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Built to Spill came from unusual parents: Doug Martsch used to be the chief songwriter for the Treepeople. He left the band because his desire to tour had waned to near nonexistent, but more importantly because Doug desired a new creative situation. Martsch enlisted the services of guitar friend Brett Netson from Boise's misunderstood psychedelic warriors Caustic Resin (whose debut Body Love Body Hate is available from C/Z) and a mysterious percussion fella named Ralf from Eugene, Oregon. Built to Spill (BTS), much like Blue Oyster Cult (BOC), Bachman Turner Overdrive (BOC) or a bacon/lettuce/tomato sandwich (BLT) are a very savory delight indeed. Mr. Martsch's motivation for recording this record was initially unknown, but considering that Doug has become one of the most lauded creative forces in the Northwest, C/Z is proud to have been the launching pad for such a prestigious career...plus, we believe this is one of the best records C/Z has ever released. Initially, Ultimate Alternative Wavers was a hard sell, but after the inevitable passing of time, the momentum began to grow and Doug made a leap to Seattle's UP! records and released the classic Aint nothing wrong with love followed by the BTS/Caustic Resin group effort…go figure. For those of you still-uninitiated, Built to Spill is now a full time Warner Brothers recording artist. Supreme songs on this record are, though for Chrissakes not limited to: Nowhere Nothin' Fuckup which is a nice send up of the Velvet Underground's Oh Sweet Nothin, Shameful Dread, Three Years Ago Today, Revolution and the explanatory The First Song. Enjoy - this is genius in it's purest form. * * * * FROM AllMusic.com: Built to Spill were one of the most popular indie rock acts of the '90s, finding the middle ground between postmodern, Pavement-style pop and the loose, spacious jamming of Neil Young. From the outset, the band was a vehicle for singer/songwriter/guitarist Doug Martsch, who revived the concept of the indie guitar hero just as Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis — another important influence — was beginning to fade from the limelight. On record, Martsch the arranger crafted intricate, artfully knotted tangles of guitar; in concert, his rough-edged soloing heroics earned Built to Spill a reputation as an exciting and unpredictable live act. Much like Pavement, Martsch's compositions were filled with fractured song structures and melodies, often veering abruptly into new sections with little attention to continuity or traditional form. (In fact, the difficulty of Martsch's songs helped force him to abandon his original intention of working with many different lineups, since the twists and turns were difficult to master.) His lyrics had all the loopy wit and pop-culture references of many a '90s slacker icon, but Martsch changed things up with a genuine wistfulness borrowed from Mascis' and Young's more introspective moments. Unlike Pavement, Built to Spill were never hailed as rock's next great hope; they were neither as revolutionary nor as eclectic, and their music — with its winding instrumental passages and less immediate construction — required more effort to absorb. Instead, they remained even more firmly underground, where their unorthodox approach enjoyed tremendous support from the indie faithful.Built to Spill were formed in Boise, ID, in 1993, shortly after Martsch had departed the Boise-rooted, Seattle-based Treepeople. Martsch had grown up in Twin Falls, ID, where he formed his first band, Farm Days, with bassist Brett Nelson and drummer Andy Capps while in high school during the mid-'80s. After moving to Boise, Martsch hooked up with former members of the local hardcore punk band State of Confusion to form Treepeople, who relocated to Seattle in 1988. There they signed with the local indie C/Z, and issued several albums and EPs that offered a distinctive take on early Northwestern grunge. Eventually tiring of the band's far-ranging touring commitments, Martsch departed after 1993's Just Kidding album, and despite the continuing boom of the Seattle scene, he returned to Boise to refresh himself.Martsch formed the first incarnation of Built to Spill with bassist/guitarist Brett Netson (also a member of Boise scenesters Caustic Resin) and drummer Ralf Youtz. Initially maintaining a relationship with C/Z, Built to Spill debuted on record in 1993 with Ultimate Alternative Wavers, on which Martsch billed himself as "Dug." Afterward, Martsch moved the band over to another Seattle indie, Up Records, and revamped the rhythm section, in keeping with his plan to make Built to Spill a loose aggregation that would allow him to work with a variety of musicians. Check out the artist's website: http://www.czrecords.com Track List: 1. The First Song 2. Three Years Ago Today 3. Revolution 4. Shameful Dread 5. Nowhere Nothin' Fuckup 6. Get a Life 7. Built to Spill 8. Lie For a Lie 9. Hazy 10. Built Too Long, Pts. 1, 2, & 3 Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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