Built To Spill Ambles Through Latest Release
There is No Enemy suffers from a lack of growth and innovation.
Built To Spill
There Is No Enemy
Released on Oct 06, 2009
When a band has been active for 15+ years and continues to receive critical acclaim, they’ve pretty much worked their way into the unofficial “Indie Canon.” Built To Spill has released seven albums, and they’re about as legendary as indie acts get because of the profound influence they’ve had on bands that run the gamut from Modest Mouse to Death Cab for Cutie.
As a result, I’m almost intimidated by the idea of reviewing their latest release There is No Enemy. However, after I put on the first track, I realized that there wasn’t much to be intimidated by. Even if they are praised by critical vehicles, they ultimately have a laid-back, unassuming sound that hasn’t changed all that much from their Perfect From Now On days.
For diehard fans, this album will most likely bring a sigh of relief. There are no crazy sound shifts or wildly different tones to their lyrics. However, I’m not a diehard Built To Spill fan. And I get a little sick of the aimless 4-6 minute jam sessions that punctuate their lengthier tracks. Yes, it’s one of their calling cards. But does that mean that they can’t experiment at all beyond it?
My contention with the album is illustrated perfectly in “Oh Yeah,” which is probably the weakest track on There is No Enemy. The endless repetition of the phrase “oh yeah” just doesn’t make for riveting music, nor does the clumsy-sounding jam session that marks the end of the song.
That being said, I’m impressed by what Built To Spill accomplishes when they rein in their sound on shorter songs, like the opening track “Aisle 13.” It has a defined direction, yet there’s still a sense of roaming creativity on the track that goes awry when unleashed on longer songs. Their lyrics are difficult to describe, if only because their “quirkiness” negates that kind of trite classification. Just listen to Doug Martsch sing about coming home to someone “covered in ants, cuz you’re so sweet”—there’s a sense of both honesty and cynicism in his delivery, and his voice has always been a point of strength for the band.
While “Oh Yeah” is demonstrative of a jam song gone wrong, “Good Ol’ Boredom” and “Done” manage to pull off lengthier improvisations with more energy and drive. I can’t help it—even when I’m supposed to be going along with the music and appreciating their talent to riff off one another, I dislike when it appears to have no direction at all. “Good Ol’ Boredom” sounds like anything but, thanks to a consistently rhythm that’s downright upbeat. There are some beautiful moments in “Done,” which makes the ambling interludes a welcome addition, rather than a seemingly pointless excuse to keep playing.
I may be unimpressed by some of their jamming, but if you’ve loved Built To Spill for just that reason, than There is No Enemy will enthrall you from start to finish. If you’re impatient like me, savor the beginning, and choose wisely from the longer offerings.
High Point
“Hindsight.” I’d say that this is the best synthesis of their biting lyrics (“is that grass just greener cuz it’s fake?”) and their ability to contain their sound within a shorter song.
Low Point
Their inability to edit themselves musically—I know editing a jam session is antithetical to the process, but come on. At least put some energy into it.
Posted by Alyssa Vincent on Oct 06, 2009 @ 8:00 am
