Perfect from Now On

by Built to Spill

Overview

Not many groups would take a major-label contract as a cue to put out an album where the shortest song is still a radio-unfriendly five minutes in length. For that, listeners can thank their stars that Built to Spill isn't like many groups and Doug Martsch isn't like many artists. Perfect from Now On manages the amazing trick of being one of the band's best albums, with Martsch and company using the opportunity of larger budgets and distribution to create an album at once inspiring and quietly emotional, not the easiest combination to pull off. With drummer Scott Plouf and bassist Brett Nelson as the other core performers, plus second guitarist Brett Netson and cellist John McMahon as key guests, the result is astounding all around. The length of the songs allows the band to create uniquely post-everything mantras, blending psych trances and drones, post-punk airiness and flow, and Martsch's affecting, tender singing and lyrics into a whole. Martsch's high tones and the guitar passion here helped fuel further comparisons to Neil Young -- to pick out one moment, consider the closing minutes of "I Would Hurt a Fly," feedback peeling out over the rhythm and strings -- but the Boise musician is his own man through and through. Selecting standout moments from such a solid disc almost defeats the purpose, but many examples still deserve further notice. "Stop the Show" builds to a dramatic, but not in the least bit hammy, shift from a roaring wash to a quick, clipped pace; Martsch's vocals and further sudden tempo switches are the icing on the cake. "Velvet Waltz" indeed plays at that musical pace, McMahon's playing and Martsch's heartbreaking, lovely lyrics and singing the core of an incredible song. "Untrustable/Part 2 (About Someone Else)" concludes a simply fantastic record. ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	06/19/2007
Label:	Warner Bros.
UPC:	0093624996651

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Randy Described Eternity
2. I Would Hurt a Fly
3. Stop the Show
4. Made-Up Dreams
5. Velvet Waltz
6. Kicked It in the Sun

Disc 2

7. Out of Site
8. Untrustable, Pt. 2 (About Someone Else)
9. Easy Way

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Built to Spill   Primary Artist
Doug Martsch   Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Moog Synthesizer
Robert Roth   Mellotron
Scott Plouf   Drums,Piano,Percussion,Moog Synthesizer
Brett Netson   Guitar
Brett Nelson   Bass,Guitar,Optigan,Guitar (Bass),Moog Synthesizer
Peter Lansdowne   Drums,Drums
Karena Youtz   Vocals (Background)
John McMahon   Cello

Technical Credits

Phil Ek   Engineer,Producer,Mixing,Recording
Kip Beelman   Assistant Engineer
Doug Martsch   Mixing,Composer
Sam Hofstedt   Mixing Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Built to Spill   Composer
Howie Weinberg   Mastering
Brett Nelson   Musician
Karena Youtz   Title,Lyricist,Musician
Phil CK   Mixing,Engineer
Chris Takino   Mixing,Mixing Assistant
Tae Wonya   Design,Art Direction