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.
preview
Built to Spill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kick you in the head and then I'll
Kick you in the head now
Kick you in the head and then I'll
Kick you in the head
I feel so lost inside
This seems so real to me
This angst inside of me (Woah)
Take a look around
Tell me what you find inside
Is it what you wanna be?
A man needs lovin'
A woman needs a man to love
And I'll hold on to you
My midnight star
'Cause baby you know that I'm a rebel
I'm a rambler
That was a sneak preview of the next Built to Spill album,
At your record store August 5, 1995
Look for the record with me on the cover!
The song “Preview” by Built to Spill contains a seething, angsty quality which is evident right from the opening lines. The song appears to be a commentary on the state of modern society and the confusion and disorientation that can arise from trying to navigate its complexities. This is illustrated most vividly in the lines “I feel so lost inside, where can I hide? This seems so real to me, this angst inside of me”. From these lines, it is clear that the singer is struggling with feelings of isolation and unbelonging.
The chorus of the song, with its repetition of the phrase “Kick you in the head”, can be interpreted in a number of ways. On one level, it speaks to the sense of frustration and helplessness that the singer feels in the face of a difficult and oppressive world. On another level, it is a call to action – a rallying cry for others to rise up and fight against the forces that seek to keep them down.
The final verse of the song introduces a more positive, uplifting note. The lines “A man needs lovin’, a woman needs a man to love, and I’ll hold on to you, my midnight star” paint a picture of love and devotion in the face of the world’s troubles. The singer is a “rebel” and a “rambler” – someone who refuses to be boxed in or controlled – but they have found solace in the arms of another. It is a hopeful note to end the song on, suggesting that even in difficult times, there is still love and connection to be found.
Line by Line Meaning
Phil Ek here, with a preview of the next Built To Spill record
I, Phil Ek, am introducing to you a sneak peek of the upcoming Built To Spill album.
Kick you in the head and then I'll
I am aggressively taking control of this situation.
Kick you in the head now
I am showing my strength and power over you in this moment.
I feel so lost inside
I am experiencing a deep sense of confusion and uncertainty.
Where can I hide?
I am searching for some sort of refuge or escape from this overwhelming feeling.
This seems so real to me
This feeling of angst and confusion is palpable and undeniable to me.
This angst inside of me (Woah)
The feeling of anxiety and unease is consuming and intense within me.
Take a look around
I am suggesting that others examine their surroundings and circumstances.
Tell me what you find inside
I am urging others to take a deeper look within themselves.
Is it what you wanna be?
I am questioning whether or not others are satisfied with their current state of being.
A man needs lovin'
Men require love and affection just as much as anyone else.
A woman needs a man to love
Women also desire a romantic partner to love and be loved by.
And I'll hold on to you
I will be there for you and support you through thick and thin.
My midnight star
You are my shining light in the darkness of night.
'Cause baby you know that I'm a rebel
I am a non-conformist and don't like to follow the status quo.
I'm a rambler
I enjoy traveling and exploring new places and experiences.
That was a sneak preview of the next Built to Spill album,
What you just heard was a teaser of what's to come on the next Built to Spill record.
At your record store August 5, 1995
The album will be available for purchase at your local record store on August 5th, 1995.
Look for the record with me on the cover!
The album cover will feature an image of myself, Phil Ek, so keep an eye out for it!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DOUG MARTSCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dougwaxon7183
The song snippet from 0:20-0:40 really captures what all pop punk in the 90's sounded like to me. Love the friendly dig/nod.
@sweatpants1212
"A man needs lovin.. A woman needs a man to love.." That one's topped the Billboard Country charts a few times over
@taylorbortnerathing
CUZ BABY YOU KNOW THAT I'M A REBEL
@jessf7341
I always knew it was satire and thought it was funny but also I would totally listen to all of these unironically lmao
@esimcp
I love how people are actually taking these songs seriously
@BennSimonn
Look for the record with me on the cover!
@averagebusinessmen2
i choked on my own spit at 1:20
@Gigizhvania
whats more funny is that they didn't even release an album in 1995
@taylorbortnerathing
and i'll hold on to you......my midnight star
@CliveGulch
When people ask me why the 90’s was such a great decade for music I pop in a particular CD and head on over to a certain hidden track. Only wish they had made a video for it.