Former Treepeople frontman Doug Martsch formed Built to Spill in 1992 with Brett Netson and Ralf Youtz as the band's original members. In an interview with Spin magazine, Martsch stated that he intended to change the band's lineup for every album, with Martsch being the only permanent member. After the band's first album, Ultimate Alternative Wavers (1993), the lineup changing idea held true, as both Netson and Youtz were replaced by Brett Nelson (not Netson) and Andy Capps for 1994's There's Nothing Wrong With Love. A compilation album called The Normal Years, consisting of recordings by both the first and second trios, was released in 1996. Between recording albums in 1995, the band gained notoriety by playing on the Lollapalooza tour.
Martsch signed Built To Spill to the Warner Brothers label in 1995. Unlike many artists signed to major labels, however, the deal the band brokered with Warner allowed it to retain a large degree of creative control over future albums. Built to Spill produced its first major label release in 1997 with Perfect From Now On. By this time, the band consisted of Martsch, Nelson, Netson, and Scott Plouf. Perfect From Now On met with critical success and caused Built To Spill to become one of the United States' most recognizable indie rock bands. Before releasing another album, Martsch made Nelson and Plouf permanent members of the band. In 1999, the band released Keep It Like a Secret to continued critical success, and for the first time, significant commercial success. In response to fan requests, the Live album was released in 2000. The band's fifth studio album, Ancient Melodies of the Future, was released in 2001. Martsch also released Now You Know, a solo album with both blues and folk elements, in 2002. After 2002, Warner Bros. records signed the band to another album.
Built To Spill did not tour as a band in 2002 although Doug Martsch performed numerous solo concerts in support of his solo album. From 2003 to 2005, Built To Spill toured extensively with over 150 live performances, playing new songs live as early as 2004. In 2004, the band confirmed rumors that they had recorded another studio album in Portland, OR, titled You In Reverse. The album was not released in 2005 due to difficulties associated with the use of a new recording facility, inefficiencies associated with self-producing the album and time constraints. You In Reverse, the first studio album in five years, was released on April 11, 2006. The band's official lineup for the album featured Martsch, Nelson, Plouf, and Jim Roth, who was formerly a touring guitarist only. Former band member Brett Netson provided guitar work on several songs, Quasi's Sam Coomes provided keyboard work and Steve Lobdell, the owner of the Portland studio, plays on almost every song for the album including guitar, piano, vibes and percussion. Netson rejoined Built To Spill as an official member in 2006 after touring with the band in 2005.
The band announced an April/May 2006 tour in February 2006 in support of the new album. In late March 2006, however, frontman Doug Martsch suffered a detached retina that required surgery, causing the band to cancel its appearance at the South by Southwest music festival and postpone several of their tour dates. The band rescheduled the April and May tour dates in the fall, but most June dates on the West were not postponed. At their June 3, 2006 show, their first of the 2006 tour, Built to Spill played four unreleased songs that were not included on You In Reverse. This show also included the dedication of the song "Car" to former band member Andy Capps who had passed away a few weeks earlier that would continue throughout the tour.
In July 2007, Built To Spill released a new 12" vinyl single with two reggae-esque tracks, "They Got Away" and "Re-Arrange". According to Doug Martsch, BTS is not becoming a reggae band, they just "love to play it".
In 2009 Nelson replayed and recorded one song off of each full length Built To Spill album in ""New Wave circa 1982" style with analogue synthesizers and a drum machine having Martsch resing all of the songs and released it July 2010 through CDBABY,Itunes and Junketboy as The Electronic Anthology Project.Nelson's son (Nicholas) did the art/layout with the titles reworked as anagrams by his wife (Stephanie) he plans on future projects under the same moniker redoing other bands music.
Doug Martsch and original BTS drummer Ralf Youtz are also founding members of the much-loved, but short-lived, band the Halo Benders, with Calvin Johnson.
Youtz and Martsch are also brothers-in-law. (Martsch is married to Youtz's sister).
Ralf Youtz was leader of the Portland, Oregon band Ape Shape. He went on to pursue a Ph.D. in Mathematics.
Bret Netson is leader of the influential art/metal Boise band Caustic Resin, which put out a split 10" with BTS in 1995. That album has two different cover photos because a found photo was used without permission for the original version, but the photographer later found out and objected.
Broken Chairs
Built to Spill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out beyond the quieted garden
You can bring the man form into trust
Through the holes in my everydayness
Lends sustenance where starvation's necessary
Cause my head's a dictionary
Of long spring days and the speech of crows
Who themselves are mirrors of apprehensions
Where starvation's necessary
Cause my head's a dictionary
Of long spring days and the speech of crows
Who themselves are mirrors of apprehensions
In the fallen sun
Who themselves are mirrors of apprehensions
In the fallen sun
Well, alright
You can make it stay
Well, alright
Well, alright
Well, alright
You can make it stay
Well, alright
Alright
Alright
Well, alright
Alright
Alright
The lyrics of Built to Spill's "Broken Chairs" describe a fascinating and introspective journey of the self. The 'broken chairs' mentioned in the title seem to be a metaphor for the parts of ourselves that don't quite fit together anymore, or the things that have become inadequate or broken in our lives. The first line, "your body conforms to" suggests this feeling of being molded or constrained by the broken chairs, while the next line, "out beyond the quieted garden" indicates the desire to escape or transcend these limitations.
The following lines, "you can bring the man form into trust, through the holes in my everydayness, lends sustenance where starvation's necessary" seem to suggest an internal struggle or conflict between what is expected of us and what we truly desire. The singer appears to be searching for a way out of their own limitations and finding sustenance in unexpected places.
The final lines of the song, "who themselves are mirrors of apprehensions in the fallen sun" indicate a sense of deep introspection and self-reflection. The 'speech of crows' mentioned earlier could represent our inner thoughts and doubts, while the 'fallen sun' perhaps represents a feeling of failure or loss.
Overall, "Broken Chairs" is a beautifully written and thoughtful song that reflects on the complexities of the self and the search for meaning in a life filled with brokenness and limitations.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken Chairs your body conforms to
The broken chairs represent the conformity of the physical body, showing that the physical form is not perfect or complete and often conforms due to societal expectations.
Out beyond the quieted garden
The singer describes a setting that is outside of a garden, a place where silence and calmness is present.
You can bring the man form into trust
The trust that can be formed between people is what keeps the human form strong.
Through the holes in my everydayness
The mundane, everyday life has cracks or openings where vulnerability can seep in, making the person susceptible to change.
Lends sustenance where starvation's necessary
Where people lack sustenance, those who have it can offer help to those who need it most.
Cause my head's a dictionary
The singer's mind is a library, containing vast knowledge of their experiences and interpretations of the world they live in.
Of long spring days and the speech of crows
The singer has vivid memories of warm spring days and the unique sounds of crows, which define their perception of the world.
Who themselves are mirrors of apprehensions
The crows' beliefs and values are a reflection of the fears and worries that humans have about the unknown.
In the fallen sun
The imagery of a sunset symbolizes the end of something or the loss of hope.
Where starvation's necessary
The lack of basic human necessities, such as food, can cause severe repercussions.
Cause my head's a dictionary
The vast knowledge in the person's mind can help them remember the struggle of starvation and perhaps elicit compassion.
Of long spring days and the speech of crows
Memories of happier times can bring comfort in the present.
Who themselves are mirrors of apprehensions
People's beliefs and values are often based on their fears and worries.
In the fallen sun
Sunset represents an end to something; a transition.
Well, alright
An expression of acceptance and okay-ness in regards to the situation.
You can make it stay
The power of the individual to hold onto what they believe in.
Alright
An expression of agreement or approval.
Alright
An expression of acceptance and contentment.
Well, alright
An expression of acceptance and okay-ness in regards to the situation.
Alright
An expression of agreement or approval.
Alright
An expression of acceptance and contentment.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DOUG MARTSCH, UHURU BLACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind