I’ve been meaning to write about this one- now that my thermostat is broken, I’m sitting in my own house with a jacket on. So I can’t move very far because any sudden motion will brush up against the jacket that is yet to be warmed by depleting body heat. I’m probably exaggerating. 

The reawakening of slumbering indie giants Built to Spill is thoroughly recognized in their latest album There Is No Enemy. Its a good feeling to have been rooting for the return of 90s indie rock to find it’s place and not loose their footing. Although it took a few albums to find themselves once again, it was worth the wait. The sound is characteristically Built to Spill, but there is new blood pumping in those old veins. Doug Martsch’s haunting vocals layered over moody slow jams like ‘Oh Yeah’ and likewise over light and bouncy, ‘Good Ol Boredom’ where he sings, “and all we want is anything that will take our minds off this non stop anxiety, for a time”. In (one of my favorite tracks) Hindsight he asks, ‘is that grass only greener ’cause it’s fake?’  Things Fall Apart offers the weighty truth that, “It doesn’t matter if you’re good or smart– goddammit, things fall apart”.

There’s a sombre relief in knowing that things mostly suck, and trying to work it out and move forward is the philosophy that breeds a kind of unity- that we’re all in it together, and that we get eachother despite our circumstance. That’s the assurance that Built to Spill offers. They’re playing in the range of more mid-tempo songs, but deliver a depth in a whole new way- not as slow as Ancient Melodies of the Future. It seems like they may be wearing the same old shoes, but they’ve found a new pace. 

Built to Spill- Planting Seeds

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Built to Spill- Pat

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Built to Spill- Life’s A Dream

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