Built to Spill produces best of indie rock

Much of today's independent rock music can trace its roots primarily to the earliest punk movements, and often shares that music's embrace of short songs that rely less on precise performance than on the sheer exuberance with which they are written and performed. Therefore, the role that Built To Spill singer/guitarist Doug Martsch further cements his claim to, on "Keep It Like A Secret," the band's second album for Warner Brothers, seems to be itself an oxymoron: that of indie rock guitar he ro. Each of the album's 11 tracks is loaded with innumerable guitar hooks played on top of one another to create a ringing, churning whirlwind of noise on which the songs are based. These many guitar parts are held together by a necessarily tight rhythm section. "Carry the Zero" is a prime example. Just when it seems like it is about to tumble over on top of itself, all of the divergent parts funnel together into a synchronous outro of unexpected power.

The band uses dynamics masterfully throughout the album, with tracks such as "You Were Right" and "Broken Chairs" alternately rumbling softly and squalling urgently. The contrasts in these dynamics create the album's emotional core and are an excellent compliment to Martsch's wide-eyed lyrics.

The detail invested in Built To Spill songs is all the more impressive given that nearly all of them could stand on their own as simple pop songs. Martsch's acerbic vocal tone gives the perfect bite to his sweet, breezy melodies, which would be pleasantly memorable listening experiences if backed only by a single, strummed guitar. But the instrumental virtuosity and complexity with which these songs are arranged make the listening experience much more. Attentive listeners will be stunned by the way in which the guitar lines wind around one another, creating moments of harmony and dissonance that produce an underlying tension and sense of urgency that is felt tangibly in the songs.

Further, Martsch largely avoids the pitfalls of bombast and self-indulgence that often befall great guitarists. Listeners' interest will rarely waver during the album's lengthy instrumental interludes, as the guitar hooks Martsch concocts are as interesting as the vocal ones. In fact, nearly every sound Martsch produces on the album is both fascinating and catchy.

All of which makes for a dazzlingly sunny album that bears and deserves repeated listenings. New points of interest continually leap to the forefront and become ingrained in the listener's musical memory on this confident statement of Martsch's distinctive vision. "Keep It Like A Secret" is one of those unique creations that can boast both popular appeal and true musicality, and affords Martsch the opportunity to prove that as one of indie rock's biggest exceptions, he is also one of its most vital artists.

02-02-99