Bands/Artists You Should Be Listening to Right Now - Built to Spill

Photo Credit: Isabela Georgetti

In an era of information overload, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. We have access to so much music, it can be difficult to appreciate (or find) artists that we connect with. With that in mind, we thought it would be a cool idea to give you some periodic recommendations of bands/artists you simply need to be listening to! Let’s get started!

Built to Spill we feel are one of the most important indie bands that came out of the early 90s. Formed in Boise, Idaho in 1992, the band has featured a rotating cast throughout their existence. One constant however has been the presence of lead vocalist and guitar player Doug Martsch. When they were conceived, Martsch originally meant for the group to feature rotating membership by album, which they have done. However, the group also has featured a consistent lineup for approximately a decade during their tenure on the scene.

Martsch and company were heavily influenced by alt rocks mainstays Dinosaur Jr. and we see the inspiration, especially in their guitar work. Though it should be pointed out that Built to Spill doesn’t necessarily follow the blueprint established by J. Mascis and company, particularly in the part where J. says that his songs are riffs pieced together to feature a guitar solo. Built to Spill tend to have a more melodic bend to their work. We’ve often said there is alternative/indie lineage that goes Dinosaur Jr. to Built to Spill, before ending with Modest Mouse. All three of these artists effortlessly blend elements of rock, alternative, and dynamic, yet unique vocal stylings.

“Carry the Zero” is perhaps the band’s most well known track. It appeared on 1999’s Keep it Like a Secret. It’s a phenomenal track. But again, as with other artists in this series, if you don’t go beyond this one, you cannot truly appreciate the impact the band has had on alternative music.

We have a lot of favorites from the band. One we would offer up as a great place to jump in with Built to Spill would be “Liar”. “Liar” appears later in the band’s evolution, dropping on 2006’s You in Reverse.

Another favorite of ours is “Car”, which appeared all the way back in 1994 on their sophomore release, There’s Nothing Wrong with Love. It’s a track this is texturally so diverse in how the band arranges the melody throughout. It initially features Martsch’s vocals dialed down, accompanied by an understated guitar rythm. It shifts into a delightfully bouncy guitar melody and dynamic drum work. The band even includes cello on this one. It doesn’t sound on paper like it would or should work. But that’s one of the great things about Built to Spill. They’re such gifted musicians, but they’re also so down to earth and unassuming.

We saw this first hand at a co-headling show with the Afghan Whigs in Austin, TX. We remember vividly that Greg Dulli and the Afghan Whigs opened the show with an elaborate stage setup and an energetic presence throughout. After their set Built to Spill came out to close the show. They had no frill, no bells, or whistles to their stage show. That is, there were no props, not even a backdrop. Instead, Martsch and co. came out and absolutely tore the house down with nothing more than their instruments. In a day where bands are becoming more elaborate (and sometimes go overboard) with their stage shows, Built to Spill just comes out punching with their sound.

In another instance of this laid back persona, we watched Doug Martsch playing a filmed set for KEXP where he popped a string on his Fender Stratocaster. Martsch calmly swapped out his wounded guitar for a Squier Stratocaster. If you’re a musician, you know that Squier now serves as the internal budget friendly option of Fender instruments. People often judge artists by what they play.

What Martsch did next goes to show that if you’re a great musician, it doesn’t really matter how expensive your equipment is, as much as it does how comfortable you are playing it. He absolutely killed the rest of the set and you couldn’t tell the difference. There was a time where Squier Strats could be had for $99. They’re a great option for beginners wanting to get their feet wet in electric guitar without breaking the bank. Martsch could play a log with some wire attached like the Log Lady in Twin Peaks or something and would make it sound good.

Another gem by the band is “Big Dipper”, another one off of There’s Nothing Wrong with Love. It’s so engaging in its melody and features some vocal work from Martsch that is next level in instances on the track where he roars and then later will almost whisper to you. The boosted guitar solos are also so ahead of their time, for a song that came out over 30 years ago.

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention some of the bands later work. “Nowhere Lullaby is an absolute heartbreaker that appears on their 2009 release There is No Enemy. The melody on this one hits you right in the chest and just delivers when paired with Martsch’s gentle vocal work.

We also cannot forget the performance the band put on with the epic “I Would Hurt A Fly”. This one is over six minutes long and grabs you from the jump and grips you throughout. It appears on 1997’s Perfect From Now On. This song is the definition of brooding. The guitar work in it menaces the listener in the way a scary movie can thrill you to delight.

In 2022, the band came back with another incredible album, When the Wind Forgets Your Name on Subpop. This one features some great heady, boosted guitar work, booming percussion, and vocals from Martsch that move up and down his register all track.

There’s so much we have left out of this one, simply because this band has done so much including nine studio albums, one live album, and five EPs. So there’s so much history here for you to get into. We think you’ll really enjoy diving deeper into what’s left.

FMI on Built to Spill, visit their website. Also, they’re touring!