Built to Spill is an American indie rock band that formed in Boise, Idaho, in 1992. Centered on lead vocalist and guitarist Doug Martsch, the only permanent member, Built to Spill has released nine full-length albums since its inception.
Martsch originally envisioned the band to feature a changing set of backing musicians for each album, but eventually settled with a stable lineup for over a decade before returning to his original plan in 2012.[1] Having received consistent critical acclaim throughout their career, three of the band's albums—There's Nothing Wrong with Love, Perfect from Now On and Keep It Like a Secret—placed in the top 50 of Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1990s list.[2]Keep It Like a Secret was the band's first album to chart on the Billboard 200 in the United States, while their 2009 release There Is No Enemy became Built to Spill's highest-charting album of their career.
History
Formation, debut and There's Nothing Wrong with Love (1992–1995)
Martsch signed Built to Spill to Warner Bros. Records in 1995 for a three-album deal. Unlike many artists signed to major labels, the deal the band brokered with Warner Bros. allowed it to retain a large degree of creative control over future albums. Built to Spill produced its first major-label release in 1997 with Perfect from Now On. By this time, the band consisted of Martsch, Nelson, Netson, and Scott Plouf. Perfect from Now On was met with critical success and caused Built to Spill to become one of the United States' most recognizable indie rock bands. Before releasing another album, Martsch made Nelson and Plouf permanent members of the band. In 1999, the band released Keep It Like a Secret to continued critical success and for the first time, significant commercial success; it debuted at No. 120 on the Billboard 200 and a year after its release had sold 60,000 copies.[5][6] The band's first live album, Live was released in 2000. By 2001, the band's three albums for Warner Bros. had sold a combined 200,000 copies in the US.[7] The band's fifth studio album, Ancient Melodies of the Future, was released in 2001.
In 2002, Martsch released Now You Know, a solo album with both blues and folk elements. He performed numerous solo concerts in support of the album. Built to Spill was on hiatus for most of this period.
Second Warner Bros. period (2002–2017)
In 2003, Warner Bros. Records optioned the band for another album.[8] From 2003 to 2005, Built to Spill toured extensively, performing over 150 dates[9] that included new songs from as early as 2004. Its sixth studio album, You in Reverse, was recorded in Portland in 2004 but was not released until April 11, 2006. The band's official lineup for the album was Martsch, Nelson, Plouf, and Jim Roth, who was formerly only a touring guitarist. Brett Netson provided guitar work on several songs and later rejoined the band as a full-time member.
After the release of You in Reverse, Built to Spill continued touring almost non-stop. In March 2006, Martsch suffered a detached retina, which required surgery. This forced the band to miss an appearance at the South by Southwest music festival and postpone several dates of the tour.[10] Even worse news came when former drummer Andy Capps was found dead in his home on May 18, 2006.[11][12]
The band resumed touring on June 3, 2006, with a show that included four new songs. This show and many on the tour included the dedication of the song "Car" to Capps, who had played on the track when it was recorded.[13]
Warner Bros. Records stated that Built to Spill had been recording its follow-up to You in Reverse on and off during the 2006 tour,[14] but nothing appeared until the July 10, 2007 release of a 12" single, "They Got Away"/"Re-Arrange". "They Got Away" is a heavily reggae-influenced original song, while "Re-Arrange" is a cover of a song by the reggae band the Gladiators.
The US tour was scheduled through October 2007, followed by an Australian tour. Martsch stated in a September 2007 interview that he didn't want to tour in the United States again until the band records;[15] however, the band then announced a one-month US national tour for spring of 2008.[16]
In a March 2008 interview with Playback:stl,[17] Martsch spoke of new material from the Halo Benders, a collaboration between Martsch, Calvin Johnson, Steve Fisk, former Treepeople member Wayne "Rhino" Flower, and original Built to Spill drummer Ralf Youtz, but "we started that about a year ago, we have not even got anything off the ground." Later in the interview, Martsch gave his perspective on the future of Built to Spill past the current material; "I do think that Built to Spill could be something better than ever just because our lineup is better than ever ... I think there is potential for the five of us to collaborate on something that is just way better than anything that I have ever come up with by myself or that we have done in the past." Martsch also interjected that "This coming record we're not doing that—it's mostly going to be songs that I have been working on." The band extended its 2008 tour in the United States and Europe, performing the album Perfect from Now On in its entirety.
In 2009, the band announced its next album, There Is No Enemy. The tracklist and album art were revealed on August 17, 2009, the first single, "Hindsight", was released on September 8, and the album was released on October 6, 2009.[18] The band toured from August through November 2009[19] and for much of 2010, including performances at the Pitchfork Music Festival and the All Tomorrow's Parties festival, curated by The Simpsons creator Matt Groening.
In July 2010, Martsch appeared on the first release from Brett Nelson's the Electric Anthology Project, in which Nelson creates covers from an artist in a synth-pop style, featuring the vocalist from the original version. This self-titled EP, which featured one song from each Built to Spill record (using anagrams of their original titles) and newly recorded vocals by Doug Martsch, received a moderately favorable review in Pitchfork, even though "it was obviously released as a goof," and the "good moments almost make you wish Martsch had taken this concept more seriously."[20][21] In September 2010, the band released a video for its single "Hindsight" from There Is No Enemy, directed by Bob Odenkirk.[22]
On October 25, 2012, Built to Spill played a secret, invitation-only show at the Bunk Bar in Portland, Oregon, with a new rhythm section consisting of Jason Albertini (Helvetia, Duster) on bass and Stephen Gere (Uzala, Brett Netson Band, Atomic Mama) on drums.[23] On January 7, 2013, Martsch, Netson and guitarist Jim Roth announced that Albertini and Gere would be permanent replacements for Plouf and Nelson, who were departing the band amicably.[24] Built to Spill continued touring periodically as a five-piece but didn't release another album for several years. Martsch would later state that a 2012 album was abandoned due to the departure of Nelson and Plouf and his dissatisfaction with the songs.[25]
Untethered Moon was released on April 18, 2015. The album was recorded as a trio with Martsch, Albertini, and Gere and was co-produced by Martsch and frequent Built to Spill guest keyboardist and Quasi frontman Sam Coomes. The band toured summer/fall 2015 in support of the new album.[26]
Brett Netson and Jim Roth left the band in the latter half of 2015 and a trio lineup of Martsch, Albertini and Gere debuted on a spring 2016 West Coast run.
Post-Warner Bros. years (2017–present)
Performing at Mr. Small's in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2023
On September 14, 2017, Built to Spill announced that they would leave Warner Bros. after 22 years.[27]
In October 2018, Martsch announced on Facebook that the band will return to his initial idea of having a shifting rotation of members for each release. Brazilian musicians João Casaes and Lê Almeida served as the rhythm section for a set of South American shows.[28] In 2019, the band added Melanie Radford on bass and Teresa Esguerra on drums.[29] On June 12, 2020, they released the cover album Built to Spill Plays the Songs of Daniel Johnston.[30]
The band signed to Sub Pop in October 2021.[31] On September 9, 2022, the band released their first album of new material since 2015, When the Wind Forgets Your Name.[32] The album was recorded with Casaes and Almeida on rhythm prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.[33] In 2024, they announced a 30th anniversary tour for There's Nothing Wrong With Love, starting in August, during which the album will be performed in full each night.[34]
Members
Current line-up
Doug Martsch – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (1992–present)
Melanie Radford – bass (2019–present)
Teresa Esguerra – drums (2019–present)
Former members
Brett Nelson – bass, backing vocals (1993–2012), drums (2001)
The Halo Benders was a band formed in 1994 as a side project by Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening and Doug Martsch of Built to Spill. They released their first album, God Don't Make No Junk, in 1994. They followed up in 1996 with Don't Tell Me Now and in 1998 with The Rebels Not In.
Doug Martsch is an American singer and musician. He is best known for his distinctive vocals and guitar playing style in the band Built to Spill.
Ultimate Alternative Wavers is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Built to Spill. The line-up consisted of Doug Martsch on guitar and vocals, Brett Netson on guitar and bass, and Ralf Youtz on drums, although there was some variation in instrumentation on a few tracks. The album was recorded at Audio Lab in Boise, Idaho, in the fall of 1992, and released in 1993 on C/Z Records. It was re-released in late 2006.
There's Nothing Wrong with Love is the second full-length album released by American indie rock band Built to Spill. There's Nothing Wrong with Love was recorded in May and June 1994, and released September 13, 1994, on the Up Records label. It was produced by Phil Ek. The songs "Car" and "Distopian Dream Girl" were released as singles. Sub Pop reissued the album on vinyl in 2015. This is the only album to feature drummer Andy Capps and the first to feature bassist Brett Nelson.
The Normal Years is a compilation album of singles, live songs, songs on other compilations, and previously unreleased recordings by indie rock band Built to Spill.
Perfect from Now On is the third full-length album released by Built to Spill, and the band's first major label release. It was recorded at the Avast! Recording Company in Seattle, Washington by Phil Ek. Stylistically, the album was marked by its experimentation with longer song structures and philosophical lyrics.
Keep It Like a Secret is the fourth studio album released by American indie rock band Built to Spill, and their second for Warner Bros. Records.
Live is an album of live recordings made by indie rock band Built to Spill on the band's Keep It Like a Secret tour in 1999. At the time the album was recorded, the band consisted of singer/guitarist Doug Martsch, guitarists Brett Netson, Jim Roth, bassist Brett Nelson, and drummer Scott Plouf. Live was released on the Warner Bros. label on April 18, 2000.
Ancient Melodies of the Future is the fifth album by indie rock band Built to Spill. The core line-up of the band remained as it had for the previous two albums, with singer/guitarist Doug Martsch, bassist Brett Nelson, and drummer Scott Plouf. The album was recorded at Bear Creek in Woodinville, Washington, with overdubs recorded at Avast! Recording Co. in Seattle, Washington, and Martsch's studio, The Manhouse, in Boise, Idaho. Ancient Melodies of the Future was released in 2001 by Warner Bros.
Now You Know is the debut solo album by American musician Doug Martsch of indie rock band Built to Spill. Unlike Martsch's rock-oriented work with Built to Spill, the album touches on blues and folk in addition to rock. Now You Know was released in 2002 on Up Records label.
You in Reverse is the sixth full-length album released by indie rock band Built to Spill. The band added one new member for this album, making Built to Spill a quartet for the first time. It was also the first album since Ultimate Alternative Wavers not recorded or produced by Phil Ek. The lineup was Doug Martsch, Brett Nelson, Scott Plouf, and Jim Roth. The album was recorded in Portland, Oregon at Audible Alchemy. You in Reverse was released on April 11, 2006.
Ralf Youtz is an American musician. Youtz was the original drummer in the Boise, Idaho-based indie rock band Built to Spill. He appeared on their 1993 debut album, Ultimate Alternative Wavers. Youtz was replaced by Andy Capps after the album's release, although he would work with Martsch again with The Halo Benders. Youtz also had short stints with the bands Sone and The Feelings. Youtz played guitar and sang in Ape Shape, which opened for Built to Spill on several dates of their 2005 tour. He also played bass in The No-No's. His sister, Karena Youtz was married to Built to Spill frontman Doug Martsch. In 2019, Youtz joined the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers as a snare drummer.
Built to Spill Caustic Resin is a split EP released by indie rock bands Built to Spill and Caustic Resin. The EP was a collaboration between the bands.
"Carry the Zero" is a song recorded by the American rock band Built to Spill for their fourth studio album, Keep It Like a Secret (1999). It was released as the second single from Keep It Like a Secret in 1999 through Warner Bros. Records. An extended play of the same name was released the same year; it is their first solo EP after the 1995 split EP Built to Spill Caustic Resin.
"Goin' Against Your Mind" is a song recorded by the American rock band Built to Spill for their sixth studio album, You in Reverse (2006). It was released as the lead single from You in Reverse on January 17, 2006 through Warner Bros. Records.
Caustic Resin is an American indie rock band from Boise, Idaho consisting of Brett Netson on guitar and vocals, Tom Romich Jr. on bass guitar, and James Dillion or Pat Perkins on drums.
Brett Nelson is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter best known as the former bassist for the indie rock band Built to Spill.
There Is No Enemy is the seventh full-length studio album by indie rock band Built to Spill. The album was released in the US on October 6, 2009, and is the last to feature long-time drummer Scott Plouf and bassist Brett Nelson, who left the group in 2012. It features guest musicians Sam Coomes, cellist John McMahon, Scott Schmaljohn, Paul Leary, and additional keyboards by Roger Manning.
Untethered Moon is the eighth studio album by American rock band Built to Spill. The album was released on vinyl for Record Store Day on April 18, 2015, and on CD and digital format on April 21, 2015. It is the band's first album in nearly six years, since 2009's There Is No Enemy, making it the band's longest delay between studio albums up to that point.
Built to Spill Plays the Songs of Daniel Johnston is a 2020 tribute album by indie rock band Built to Spill covering the works of outsider musician Daniel Johnston. It was released on June 12, 2020, by Ernest Jenning. The album was conceived after the band completed touring with Johnston during his final two concerts in November 2017. The album received mostly positive reviews.
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