From their lips to your ears
Amanda Hampton
Issue date: 10/30/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
After three years, Built to Spill is back with their seventh studio album entitled "There is No Enemy." Released Oct. 6, the album features an exciting mix of both longer and shorter songs with a style consistent with most of their previous releases.
Lyrically, Built to Spill seems to have created a more developed, interesting feel for "There is No Enemy." The lyrics are more noteworthy than those on some of the band's previous albums, such as "Keep it Like a Secret" and "You in Reverse." The lines are infectious and powerful throughout the album, emotions achieved through the repetition of the same line, as in "Oh Yeah," or through the straight and to-the-point lyrics of "Pat," which rests sweetly at less than three minutes long. In "Oh Yeah," which transcends the five-minute mark, front man Doug Martsch sings, "And if God does exist, I am sure He will forgive me for doubting Him, for He'd see how unlikely Himself seems."
The entirety of "There is No Enemy" has a candid feel to it, but it is a powerful one. Martsch wails ponderously on some songs (the longest song clocking in at 7:40) and loss is the prevailing topic throughout. Despite the candidness, Built to Spill is a band known for their consistency in both song quality and focus. It is no surprise when the gloomy tone of the album is counteracted with the moderately more uplifting croon, "You can make it if you try, and if you don't, it's gonna still be all right" in the ninth track on the album, "Planting Seeds."
At times zeroing in on the mid-'90s feel that spawned their success, "There is No Enemy" showcases the fact that Built to Spill knows how to create an album in which all of the tracks are engaging. Carefully constructed arrangements and Martsch's trademark guitar solos ensure that this album has enough variety to satiate any musical palate. The twang of the bass and Martsch's distinguishing chant encompass all of the tracks and keep the listener engaged for the duration of the 55 minute album. What is more, the songs on the album go beyond the now mundane guitar, bass and drum to feature more diverse instruments such as horns, cellos, organs and Mellotrons.
Yet, that is not to say that the album does not contain a few pitfalls. The reminiscent, mourning lyrics of "Pat" ("like everything was fine, and you had never died") and Martsch's continuous drone in the infectious ballad "Things Fall Apart" are enough to lead some down a rather long and melancholy road. However, it is this variety and Built to Spill's ability to consistently create records that are simultaneously happy and sad, fast and slow, and innovative and nostalgic, that makes the band such a musical gem in the first place.
For those who do not wish to purchase the entire album, download "Planting Seeds," "Hindsight" and "Life's a Dream," or stream the entire album at www.myspace.com/builttospill.
Lyrically, Built to Spill seems to have created a more developed, interesting feel for "There is No Enemy." The lyrics are more noteworthy than those on some of the band's previous albums, such as "Keep it Like a Secret" and "You in Reverse." The lines are infectious and powerful throughout the album, emotions achieved through the repetition of the same line, as in "Oh Yeah," or through the straight and to-the-point lyrics of "Pat," which rests sweetly at less than three minutes long. In "Oh Yeah," which transcends the five-minute mark, front man Doug Martsch sings, "And if God does exist, I am sure He will forgive me for doubting Him, for He'd see how unlikely Himself seems."
The entirety of "There is No Enemy" has a candid feel to it, but it is a powerful one. Martsch wails ponderously on some songs (the longest song clocking in at 7:40) and loss is the prevailing topic throughout. Despite the candidness, Built to Spill is a band known for their consistency in both song quality and focus. It is no surprise when the gloomy tone of the album is counteracted with the moderately more uplifting croon, "You can make it if you try, and if you don't, it's gonna still be all right" in the ninth track on the album, "Planting Seeds."
At times zeroing in on the mid-'90s feel that spawned their success, "There is No Enemy" showcases the fact that Built to Spill knows how to create an album in which all of the tracks are engaging. Carefully constructed arrangements and Martsch's trademark guitar solos ensure that this album has enough variety to satiate any musical palate. The twang of the bass and Martsch's distinguishing chant encompass all of the tracks and keep the listener engaged for the duration of the 55 minute album. What is more, the songs on the album go beyond the now mundane guitar, bass and drum to feature more diverse instruments such as horns, cellos, organs and Mellotrons.
Yet, that is not to say that the album does not contain a few pitfalls. The reminiscent, mourning lyrics of "Pat" ("like everything was fine, and you had never died") and Martsch's continuous drone in the infectious ballad "Things Fall Apart" are enough to lead some down a rather long and melancholy road. However, it is this variety and Built to Spill's ability to consistently create records that are simultaneously happy and sad, fast and slow, and innovative and nostalgic, that makes the band such a musical gem in the first place.
For those who do not wish to purchase the entire album, download "Planting Seeds," "Hindsight" and "Life's a Dream," or stream the entire album at www.myspace.com/builttospill.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Alex
posted 10/31/09 @ 6:28 AM EST
i never heard of them until now... their songs sound good... and yes,the title of this article is very well chose ... from their lips to my ears :)
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