Band’s ‘Perfect’ is disc that’s built to last

Spencer Patterson

Friday, July 2, 2004 | 8:54 a.m.

Are you a classic rock fan, in search of a modern guitar hero after years of wearing out Hendrix, Clapton and Santana records?

If so, look no further than Doug Martsch, leader of Boise, Idaho, rock band Built to Spill.

You might not find Martsch's name next to Jack White (White Stripes), John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) or Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) on most contemporary guitarist rankings.

But Martsch's output is every bit as impressive, and provides an ideal point of entry for music lovers interested in delving into the world of 1990s indie rock.

"Perfect From Now On," Built to Spill's third full-length effort, released in 1997, probably isn't the ideal starting point for newcomers.

That would be its predecessor, 1994's "There's Nothing Wrong With Love," a poppier effort filled to the brim with hooks and sing-along lyrics.

Ultimately, however, "Perfect From Now On" stands as the band's most fully realized work, a tribute not only to Martsch's considerable guitar skills but also to his vast songwriting abilities.

The disc's eight tracks span more than 54 minutes, with just one clocking in under five minutes. The lengthy songs combine to give the album a sprawling, deliberate feel, ideal for lazing around the house or road tripping.

That's not to say "Perfect From Now On" doesn't have its share of rocking moments. Several songs, most notably "I Would Hurt a Fly," "Stop the Show" and "Kicked it in the Sun," feature shifting tempos, with upbeat segments emerging from otherwise mellow arrangements.

Martsch's trippy lyrics add to the album's psychedelic quality, easily rising above the maelstrom created by the band, which also featured drummer Scott Plouf, bassist Brett Nelson, second guitarist Brett Netson and guest cellist John McMahon in its 1997 incarnation.

"Every thousand years / This metal sphere / Ten times the size of Jupiter / Floats just a few yards past the Earth," Martsch sings in his restrained, high-pitched voice during opening cut, "Randy Described Eternity."

Technically speaking, "Perfect From Now On" -- Built to Spill's first for Warner Bros. -- represented the group's transformation from do-it-yourself hopefuls to major-label mainstays.

Spin the disc once, though, and it's apparent Martsch and his mates sacrificed none of their independent spirit by signing a record deal still in effect seven years later.

Artist: Built to Spill.

Title: "Perfect From Now On."

Year of release: 1997 (Warner Bros.).

Tracklisting: "Randy Described Eternity," "I Would Hurt a Fly," "Stop the Show," "Made-Up Dreams," "Velvet Waltz," "Out of Site," "Kicked It in the Sun," "Untrustable/Part 2."