Artist bio

If Built To Spill's two following efforts, Perfect From Now On and Keep It Like A Secret are fully loaded plates of nourishing rock and roll, this split EP is an unhealthy appetizer.

The album's first track "When Not Being Stupid Is Not Enough" defines the word "epic." The song slowly works its way up from soft strumming to the somewhat negligible verses before giving way to a balls-out three-minute release of gushing guitar interplay. Martsch hammers away on single notes like a renegade member of Crazy Horse, as the rest of the group lumbers behind in Perfect fashion.

Next up is the similar sounding rocker "One Thing," which dips a little further into the crunchy end of the amplifiers. It all makes you want to merrily yelp, "Relentless! The band is fucking relentless!"

Unfortunately, the Caustic Resin tune "Shit Brown Eyes" really doesn't rise above outtake mediocrity. The vocals just get under my skin and the closing jam weakly restates the endings of the EP's first two songs before coming to an abrupt thud.

Likewise, the final cut, "She's Real," doesn't satisfy any sort of real music hunger that hasn't already been cured with the first three tracks. The band digs itself in deep during the three-minute finale -- which of course takes us back to the joyful crying stage -- but its epic aftertaste ends up seeming kind of pointless for album with only four tracks.

It's nice to hear the band stretch its improvisational wings (especially with such gusto!), but the final product comes off like a warm-up for something better (Perfect), or a mish-mash of material that could have been left behind.

Call it Built to Spill's Yellow Submarine. Gobble it down for a semi-fulfilling fix. But avoid buying it, unless you're a loyal fan.

BEN FRENCH | Ben founded NATN in the winter of 1998-1999 with fellow IU alums Troy Carpenter and Jonathan Cohen. During the day time, he's working for Nielsen Business Media, publisher of Billboard. Ben's favorite acts include Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Sonic Youth, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys.