My pick with the highest PlayedTooLoudlyInTheCar™ potential is "Mess With Time" (5:43). Not since the introduction to Cream's "White Room" has a bolero been set against mind-melting guitar. Just when you're sure that the wall of guitar is going to cave in on itself, the whole band downshifts into a reggae skank that carries on the the end — with Martsch's eastern-tinged guitar riding on top. Built To Spill updates "Miserlou", sort of.
None of this is to imply that the shorter tunes are without merit. No, You In Reverse ends with "The Wait", a song that encapsulates what I find so interesting about this band. Within the span of just a few minutes, the song transforms from a sparse, acoustic sorta-folk tune into a full-on, wailing electric guitar and psychedelic skronk freakout. Very satisfying.
Toss the labels (and your expectations!) out the window and allow yourself the pleasure of hearing some well-executed and rich musical expressions. Doug Martsch may tire of the "guitar hero" status that's been forced upon him, but he's got to know that it's his ideas that really matter.
Article comments
1 - Hal
Nice review. You're right, this is a bad-assed album.
2 - DJRadiohead
The guitar textures are very different from most "guitar hero" records I have heard. BTS does not rely on riffs or shreds- what they do is something different and I like them for it. The guitar work is compelling without relying on two of the prominent tricks in the guitarplayer playbook.
3 - Tom Johnson
The more I listen to this album, the more I love it. And I waited on this one . . . I kind of burned out on BtS a couple years back, especially after the kinda lackluster Ancient Melodies of the Future and really didn't think I had much interest in this one. But I kept looking at it in the stores every time I went in and finally just gave in and grabbed a copy. Boy was I glad I did. And, as indicated in my mid-year best-of list, it's one of the best of the year so far. I don't doubt it's going to move too far from that list, either.
4 - Connie Phillips
This article has been placed at the Advance.net websites, a site affiliated with about 12 newspapers.
One such site is here.
5 - DJRadiohead
The cover art was also inpsiring to me in picking up a copy of the album. I don't know why. Something about it.
6 - Nik
Great review, actually inspired me to pick up the album this week. Been enjoying it, too - reminds me a little of My Morning Jacket
7 - Scott Butki
Good review, Mark. I tried to review this but I didn't know enough about the band to say anything too brilliant.