Comments on: The Over/Under: Built To Spill

By: Ronald

Ronald — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:33:41 +0000

I disagree that Doug should make more records. Every Built to Spill record is good because of the time/effect he put into it. The new one is no exception. Today you have all these artists rushing CDs out that suck. We should be praising an artist that takes him time.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:53:09 +0000

what a loser for even writeing this hes nothing but a walking abortion

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:28:56 +0000

Yeah, I fully agree with the pre-rating commentary. More BTS=good, Doug’s guitar work guesting would be beautiful, and the side projects we HAVE seen have all been great. I basically agree with the commenter who said, ‘songs have to be rated before they can be overrated’ and I just think BTS is shockingly overrated.

My live info (I’m one of those geeks) came from the excellent fan site bts.23.com. I would add the early cover of Daniel Johnston’s ‘Somethings Last a Long Time’ is amazingly beautiful.

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:04:43 +0000

I agree with everything you said in the main part of the article but nothing in your overrated/underrated parts made sense. Not to Dan on that one. However, the point made about “preview” that would totally kick ass if those were to ever be recorded/released. At least the “midnight star” part as a 7″… awesome guitar solo!

By: Darren

Darren — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:32:26 +0000

I like much of what Dan had to say, but I can’t claim anywhere near his expertise in regards to their live song selections. I generally disagree with picking solo songs and albums as underrated “songs” for a specific “band”. I think it’s a good way to sell albums that the music critic likes, but it goes against the spirit of the article. In general, it’s hard to find a Built to Spill song that is rated, much less one that is overrated. I think “Big Dipper” is a great song, but it might be the only one I would call overrated, only because I know some people who are aware of it, and there are plenty of other Built to Spill songs they should be aware of first.

If you are stretching to find “Built to Spill songs” that are underrated, I would dare to include “Wherever You Go” off You in Reverse, and “Still Flat” off The Normal Years. The opening guitar riff on “Wherever You Go” is one of their clearest statements on the album, and the song brings the band to a darker, nastier, and more powerful level than songs that the casual listener might find appealing. “Still Flat” must be considered one of their best early songs along with “Car”, “Joyride”, “Dystopian Dream Girl”, “Big Dipper”, and possibly “Girl” or “Reasons”. And I have to give Martsch some props for the lyric “Because of where you came from, you know where it’s at”. In general, the dynamics of the song should entitle it to a Best of Built to Spill Mix, and I can imagine it would be great to hear live.

Lastly, does anyone else think “She’s Real” off the Caustic Resin EP is one of the most beautiful songs that Martsch has been a part of? If you are looking for an example of how indie rock music and unrefined vocals can create something that rivals the simplistic love stories told in such popular songs as “Brown Eyed Girl”, this underrated song would be my argument.

By: pickle

pickle — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:29:43 +0000

cool article but whole-heartedly disagree with the idea that Perfect from Now On is overrated. If there’s one BTS album I would love to see performed start to finish that would be the one, hands down.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:35:36 +0000

You crazy, fool. And let me tell you why. The last time ‘Built to Spill’ was played live was around 2005. And at that, it was a sporadic entry into the live set.

Picking ‘Hindsight’ as an underrated track is ridiculous. As you point out, the album just came out, but Hindsight was the teaser track, released online before the album came out. Added to that, BTS has been playing the tune at shows for two years — making some 60 setlist appearances between 08 and 09. If a song ‘hits’ from this album, it will be Hindsight.

Same with Virginia Reel — it’s been a concert staple for a decade, and was included on the live album. If you want to pick an underrated BTS/Halo Benders track, go for Bomb Shelter Pt. 2, which they played at every show in 2006 with a video of Calvin projected above the band doing the vocals.

I dunno, I’ll give you Center of the Universe as being overrated, but the truth is, picking Joyride — a fifteen year old 7″ which they play like 5-10 times a year (out of 65-85 shows a year) — as ‘overrated’ is just silly.

You should’ve called this article ‘Some Songs By BTS I Like, and Some I Don’t’. This isn’t really an over/under.

By: Steve Vercelloni

Steve Vercelloni — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:32:05 +0000

It all really sounds good to me ultimately because there’s nothing like it out there… BTS showed up in Santa Ana, CA this summer out of nowhere and shared a bill with Woods (awsome) and Kurt Vile (very good). BTS played a song that night that I had forgotten about almost completely. It was “Stab” from TNWWL. It was just so damned good. Also, I recently revisited “The Rebels Not In” by the HBs and ended up ripping above and beyond “Virginia.” It’s pretty cool actually once you get used to Calvin Johnson’s voice.

By: Raul

Raul — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:21:54 +0000

Please, please let this happen. I think those two could make an album together as good as some of BTS and MM’s best.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:21:50 +0000

there’s a BTS appearance on the new PRIDS album this coming March… people wanting more BTS can check that out…. not that the prids aren’t worth it on their own, but there you go.