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.
Girl
Built to Spill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reading books about intimidation
Waiting for my girl to come
And if she does will she be dumb
Or really smart
Will she break my heart
And wad it up and throw it in my face
I knew I'd find a nice girl someday
Settle down
Someone I can talk to
Someone I don't have to talk to
Someone who'll gimme time and gimme space
And take it all away sitting at the bus station
Reading books about legislation
Suddenly my girl comes
And she's not even dumb
In fact she's kinda smart
Will she break my heart
And wad it up and throw it in my face
I knew I'd find a nice girl someday
Find a nice girl
Settle down
Someone I can talk to
Someone I don't have to talk to
Someone who'll gimme time and gimme space and take it all away
Actually I've never even been to a railroad station even though I used to live near one
And still I'm waiting for my girl to come
And if she does will she be dumb
Or really smart
Will she break my heart
And wad it up and throw it in my face
Wad it up and throw it in my face
I knew I'd find a nice girl someday
Find a nice girl
Settle down
Someone I can talk to
Someone I don't have to talk to
Someone I can talk to
Someone I don't have to talk to
Someone I can talk to
Someone I don't have to talk to
Someone I can talk to
Someone I don't have to talk to
Someone I can talk to
Someone I don't have to talk to
Someone I can talk to
The lyrics of the song "Girl" by Built to Spill convey a sense of uncertainty and anticipation as the singer waits for his girl at a railway station, pondering whether she will be smart or dumb, whether she will break his heart or not. The verse indicates the singer's desire for a stable and secure relationship with someone he can talk to without feeling forced. The final lines of the song repeat the desire for a partner with whom he can communicate without being obliged to do so.
The singer seems to be caught in a cycle of questioning his chances of finding the right partner and hoping for the same. The lyrics show his longing for a meaningful relationship, someone who can fulfill his emotional needs, and who will not leave him heartbroken. He is resigned to his uncertainty and is open to any possibility that could come along.
The last lines of the song repeat "Someone I can talk to, Someone I don't have to talk to," creating a feeling of ambiguity and contrast that mean the singer wants someone who can both fulfill his desire for companionship and give him space when he needs it.
In conclusion, the song "Girl" communicates a sense of uncertainty and vulnerability of the singer as he awaits the arrival of his girl at the railway station.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting at the railway station
The singer is sitting at the railway station, which is an imagery for waiting for someone or something in general.
Reading books about intimidation
While waiting, the singer is occupied with reading books about intimidation, which could be interpreted as the fear of whether the girl will meet his expectations or not.
Waiting for my girl to come
The singer is waiting for a girl to arrive, which he has been hoping for.
And if she does will she be dumb
The artist is worried that the girl he's meeting might not be intelligent enough for him.
Or really smart
Alternatively, he fears that the girl might be too clever for him, causing him to feel uncomfortable.
Will she break my heart
The singer is anxious whether the girl's actions or words might hurt him emotionally.
And wad it up and throw it in my face
He imagines that if the girl were to break his heart, she would crumple it up and throw it in his face, a metaphor for a serious emotional wound.
I knew I'd find a nice girl someday
Despite his fears and anxiety, the artist remains positive that he'll eventually find the right partner for himself.
Find a nice girl
The artist repeats his desire to find a nice girl, emphasizing his hope and optimism in this regard.
Settle down
The artist is hoping to find someone to settle down with, i.e., a long-term partner with whom they can share their life.
Someone I can talk to
He is searching for someone who he feels comfortable around to share his thoughts and ideas with.
Someone I don't have to talk to
Alternatively, he is also seeking someone who he does not have to constantly communicate with, as he values his alone time.
Someone who'll gimme time and gimme space
In addition to not having to talk to his partner all the time, the singer is also hoping to find someone who respects his personal space and gives him time when he needs it.
And take it all away sitting at the bus station
On the occasion of the girl's eventual arrival, the singer contemplates that his life as it was will now be gone, as he will now need to accommodate another person in his routines and plans.
Reading books about legislation
As he waits at the bus station, the singer reads books about legislation, possibly an allegory for the rules he is seeking a partner to conform to.
Suddenly my girl comes
The artist's wait comes to an end when the girl he is waiting for arrives.
And she's not even dumb
The artist is relieved that the girl he's meeting is intelligent and meets his expectations.
In fact she's kinda smart
He also realizes that the girl is not only not dumb, but actually quite smart, putting to rest his fears about her intelligence.
Wad it up and throw it in my face
The repeated line further emphasizes the singer's fear of emotional hurt incurred if the girl were to break his heart.
Someone I can talk to
The artist repeats his desire for someone to talk to, reminding the listener of his desire to have a partner he can communicate with.
Someone I don't have to talk to
He similarly reiterates his preference for alone time, indicating that he seeks a balance of communication and personal space.
Someone who'll gimme time and gimme space and take it all away
By repeating the earlier line, the artist highlights the importance of mutual respect and understanding in a relationship, wherein one partner gives the other space when needed, but is still there when required.
Actually I've never even been to a railroad station even though I used to live near one
In an unexpected twist, the singer confesses that he has never been to a railway station despite living near one, possibly indicating that his wait for this girl was not at an actual railway station, but a metaphor for waiting for someone in life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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