Doug Martsch recorded this entire album three times before he and bandmates Brett Nelson and Scott Plouf got it right. And boy, did they. The hallmark of this modern guitar genius is Built To Spill's major-label debut, an eight-song opus of extended jamming, ethereal melodies and Pacific Northwest style.

In all its sonic splendor, Perfect From Now On almost lives up to its title. It's a musical statement that doesn't rely on music-industry context or appealing to teen angst. It just exists, and exudes great beauty in that existence. Martsch takes pop songs to a level they have rarely reached before or since, elevating the tension until his notes careen around the walls of your cranium.