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Life & Arts

Built to Spill goes full throttle in 'Reverse'

Band's latest album driven by its lo-fi sound, overall effort

by ENRIQUE DOMINGUEZ
The Daily Cougar

When employed by a company, it is difficult to watch workers with less seniority snatch higher-paying positions. In the case of indie rock cult heroes Built to Spill, notoriety after 13 years in the music business is the least of its concerns. Lead singer and songwriter Doug Martsch has been overlooked since his days as a member of the band Treepeople in the early 1990s Seattle music scene. He doesn't take it as a slap in the face, but as fuel to the fire of creativity he has instilled within him. 

On its seventh studio album You In Reverse, Built to Spill progresses with its brand of folk and lo-fi-influenced experimental indie rock but adds a sense of maturity and professionalism that was missing from its previous efforts.

Without regular producer Phil Ek (The Shins, Pretty Girls Make Graves) at the helm, Built to Spill disposes of quirky keyboards and strings in favor of traditional guitar, drums and bass with occasional feedback and distortion. Its sound jells together best on the opener "Goin' Against Your Mind." The intro consists of a two-minute instrumental that begins with a solo attack from drummer Scott Plouf, who is joined by the rest of his band members sequentially to create an ethereal jam session of stretched and jittery guitar riffs. Martsch gently lays his bizarre croon over the amazing instrumentals like a blanket and dictates lyrics about misconceptions and trust like, "Though ‘twas an alien / Turned out to just be God / If you're not sure who not to believe / Who has better reasons to receive?"

In contrast to the haunting vocals and dark melody of "Traces," "Liar" features sunnier guitars and a bouncy drumbeat. The following track, "Saturday," is another stab at indie pop but with a simplistic, sharp guitar and drum lines that are reminiscent of Death Cab for Cutie's mellow style.

The standout track, "Wherever You Go," features Martsch and guitarist Jim Roth trading off licks in a fashion perfected in Neil Young's stomp. Martsch proudly belts out each word in this song much like David Gilmour when he sings, "Most of us are wrong / Most of us are green / Must've been the wrong message we've received."

"Conventional Wisdom" brings listeners back to classic Built To Spill style with an electric lo-fi sound that recalls Pavement and Sebadoh. It even experiments with Middle Eastern metal melodies on the trippy "Mess with Time."

You In Reverse is a fantastic album that sticks to the basics while not blowing creativity out of proportion. 

Although it may not garner them the fame they deserve, the band mates should be proud they have created another solid album. Martsch probably wouldn't have it any other way.
 

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