Built to Spill
“There is No Enemy”
3.5 out of 5 stars
Indie rock icons Built to Spill have been strumming and singing since the ’90s, but unlike most ’90s bands, its managed to remain relevant today. With very little lost over the years, frontman Doug Martsch and his band strive for an alt-pop sound and are constantly compared to Pavement, Dinosaur Jr. and the Flaming Lips.
Though similar to its 2006 release, “You in Reverse,” on its latest album the band trades all its three-minutes-or-less pop packages for more jam-focused, ambling guitar fills. “Hindsight” features all the literate songwriting of Martsch with the usual pedal-enhanced guitar riffs.
Tracks such as “Aisle 13” and “Nowhere Lullaby” are worth a listen as well, with a slightly more pop-oriented feel.
Key Tracks: “Hindsight” and “Aisle 13”
Originally published in TCNJ’s student newspaper The Signal on 12/1/09.
