There's Nothing Wrong With Love

by

Built to Spill

Edit

Spin magazine placed TNWWL in the top albums of the decade, if I'm correct. The unfortunate part, though, is that Built to Spill's 1994 release should be closer to the top than it was placed.

This album is unbelievable. There is so much emotion put into every note that Doug Martsch launches from his guitar that the album requires so many listens to absorb it all. "Car", "Fling," and "Cleo" are some of the most beautiful songs ever written. "Big Dipper" is just plain guitar-pop fun. The best song, in my opinion, is the closer "Stab." It starts off simple, gets loud, changes to a mournful string-based session, and closes the album with the most haunting solo I've ever heard. This song, and especially the last few minutes of it, stir something inside of me unlike any other song that I have heard.

Even though I have close to 200 CDs, this one is in my compact disc player every day. Phil Eck did a great job with the production of this album and deserves a lot of credit. A few more notes, though. Brett Nelson's bass playing is unbelievable. Andy Capp's drumming is decent, but Nelson plays the bass like it's a part of him. The last thing I'll mention is the last, untitled track, which still gives me a laugh. This "preview" pokes a little fun at the mainstream punk scene and modern rock radio.

So if I could give this album six stars, I would.

If you've landed here because you know BTS well, then skip this review. If, on the other hand, you're here because an Amazon link piqued your interest, then let me help you out. I landed here a while back because I bought the Flaming Lips "The Soft Bulletin". I have since listened to all the BTS records. Choosing where to start (and stop) in my mind is easy. Perfect is the album to buy - it is far and away the best this band has ever created and it is a minor late 90s masterpiece, certainly on par with the Soft Bulletin. Each of the songs on Perfect takes you on a mini musical journey, starting with one melody and transitioning to one or more others over the course of 5-8 minutes. The sound is intense and epic. Their other albums are nowhere near as accomplished. On There's Nothing Wrong, like early Lips, BTS mine the short, alternative (i.e., loose, twangy, Pavement-like) sound of early 90s rock. No doubt about it, In the Morning, Reasons and Big Dipper are great songs, but compared to I Would Hurt or Out of Site off Perfect, they pale. Get Crooked Rain from Pavement instead. Not recommended.