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.
Israel's Song
Built to Spill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Finally breaks away
Into freshness and understanding
He pushed the world he knew
Will the world break him back
Will someone snap him in half
And build back the glass
Or is it just the boy now
The lyrics of Built to Spill's song Israel's Song describe the journey of a boy who finally breaks free from the world he knew and gains a new understanding of life. The song implies that this newfound freedom and understanding may come at a cost. The lyric "will the world break him back" suggests that the world may try to force the boy back into conformity, causing him to lose the progress he has made. The line "will someone snap him in half and build back the glass" suggests that someone may try to break him down and rebuild him in a way that conforms to society's expectations.
Overall, the song speaks to the struggle of breaking free from societal norms and forging your own path. It acknowledges the risks involved in doing so but also celebrates the potential for growth and self-discovery that comes with taking that leap of faith.
Line by Line Meaning
A boy becomes normal today
A young person reaches a point of typicalcy and conformity, no longer standing out in any significant way.
Finally breaks away
After a period of being held back or constrained, he is finally able to break through and move forward.
Into freshness and understanding
Moving forward brings him into a state of newness and clarity, allowing him to see the world in a different way.
He pushed the world he knew
He challenged the limits and boundaries placed around him by society and tradition, seeking to break free and explore more.
Will the world break him back
Will the harsh realities and challenges of existence put him back in his place and prevent him from achieving his goals and dreams?
Will someone snap him in half
Could someone else or a situation completely tear him apart, leaving him broken and hopeless?
And build back the glass
If he is broken, will someone or something be able to pick up the pieces and help him rebuild himself?
Or is it just the boy now
Is he alone and responsible for his own success or failure, with nobody else to rely on?
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DOUG MARTSCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lorisutliffe5616
This use to be my secret weapon on a killer mix tape.
@laurintemme760
Extremely nice
@lorisutliffe5616
Love the bass!
@uprecords3757
http://u.subpop.com/1JwSKmN