Customer Reviews

Live

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've seen Built To Spill a few times, in large and small venues that had one thing in common - the acoustics and the sound mix were pretty bad. With all the distortion and effects, it made it pretty hard to hear the actual notes being played in the louder passages.

This cd, in contrast, is very nicely mixed; you get to hear all the playing. Martsch's singing is a little strained here and there on tracks (I winced at the very opening of The Plan), but is pretty good overall. There are nice arrangements of songs from recent studio albums, with space in them for his guitar improv work. The more complex and subtle songs from Perfect From Now On get boiled down to essentials - melodic lines and riffs - with guitar noise textures to fill things out in place of the many guest musicians who played on that fine cd. Cortez the Killer, and Broken Chairs, both really let the guys stretch out with loose playing and effects for a great wall of sound. These two songs, especially, are the kinds of things that just sound like mud in a live venue - it's great to be able to hear things more clearly.

Lots of folks rant and rave over Martsch's guitar god status, but I think they're off base a bit. He's not a technical wizard capable of intricately difficult parts like a Steve Morse or Vai. Rather, this is a guy with a good ear for sounds and textures, a good composer and arranger, who happens to use the guitar to make his music. His playing tends to strong melodies contrasted with broad washes of noise and texture; plus, he's got a good command of dynamics. I say this just to warn anyone who buys this cd hoping for more "clean" traditional technical playing - you might be disappointed.

My only regret with this cd is that there wasn't room for some of the stranger covers that Built To Spill have been known to do, like a Macy Gray song (!) or Ozzy's classic Mr. Crowley.

I'd give it 4.5 if I could. This was the album that got me started on BTS about 2 years ago, so I agree with the people saying this is a good way to get introduced to the band. This album, more than any other I've heard from BTS (or probably anyone, for that matter) has absolutely amazing guitar work.
The two 19 minute tracks are excellent. The meandering guitar on Cortez the Killer is pretty good (and that's the best Neil Young impression I've heard), but the real jewel is Broken Chairs, with its awesome buildups and creshendos.
The Plan, Randy..., Stop the Show, and Car are all significantly better live, as the guitar is allowed to stand out more. And Virginia Reel is amazing. The guitar on that one soars. Seriously, with that song I put on the headphones, close my eyes, and imagine soaring through the clouds.

So overall, this album is really special. If not for Singing Sores, which lacked the interesting guitar work found everywhere else, and Hurt a Fly, which was the exception by being better in the studio version, this would definitely be a perfect album.
If you love great guitar, you really should own this.

This collection of built to spill live tunes, including a halo benders number and a neil young cover, showcases Doug Martsch's incredible talent for creating minimalist guitar melodies. Songs from "Perfect From Now On" are given new life, and "The Plan" from Keep it Like a Secret is expanded into a classic jam piece. Martsch's guitar greatness is especially shown on the cover of Neil Young's "Cortez the Killer," which is turned into a guitar driven improvisational piece. I was a little skeptical of a BTS offical live release, because I wondered how it would come off. In my mind, it came off as a great representation of a great band.

Although the studio albums have their moments, Built To Spill are one of those groups that really light up as a live act, something which "Live" documents flawlessly well. I am not a particularly big fan of the "song" parts of the group's songs (they're just a little too nondescript to these ears) but that's not really what the band's about on this release: what's on display here are some of the greatest guitar heroics to be heard in several decades. The soundscapes which are created in tracks like "Cortez The Killer" and "Broken Chairs" (19 minutes each!) must be heard to be believed (and check out the picture-perfect Neil Young vocal impersonation in "Cortez"!). Even a relatively short track like "The Plan" contains a mind-blowing solo which travels through several different and uniquely original styles. Put simply, the guitarists can play ANYTHING, and use whatever effects are at their disposable to maximum advantange. The overall effect is extremely loud, overpowering, majestic and (gasp!) psychedelic. The studio work sounds like a dry run in comparison; for those who want a first taste of Built To Spill, "Live" would certainly be my first recommendation.

It took me a few years to finally buy this album, even though I am a big Built to Spill fan. The reason was simple, most of the songs were from an album I didn't particularly like when it came out (Perfect From Now On) and only a few were from my favorite two (There's nothing Wrong with Love & Keep It Like A Secret).

When I finally did buy it I was pleasantly surprised. First of all I had a renewed appreciation for the band when I had another go at 'Perfect From Now On' and loved it this time around. As a previous reviewer has said, the versions on here are mostly better than on the studio albums and really gives a good sense about the live-band they are. Making it even sadder that Doug never flies over to Europe, the last time I saw them here was around 1996... but fortunately I saw them in Boston and this album is very similar to the experience I had there.

The guitar sounds meander along in time like on 'Cortez' the killer but never get boring, like so many other guitar bands get when they have jams like this. And that's what makes this album special, even in 19 minutes you never get bored.

Great live album, not the best ever as some have said, but up there.

built to spill has taken their powerful studio music and seemlessly transferred it into a live concert that will make any guitar lover a fan. this album makes me want to learn to play the guitar like never before. their cover of "cortez the killer" would make the master himself jealous. this is a must but for anyone who really appreciates live albums, and who can get lost in a long guitar solo.

First of all, much thanks must go out to Neil Young for making this CD possible. The gorgeous cover of "Cortez the Killer" is absolutely a must hear for Neil Young fans, Doug does his mentor proud. Better set aside 20 minutes of your life if you wanna listen to it all, though (wow). "Broken Chairs" is another song that will take a significant notch out of your day. I have seen BTS play the tune, and it is so good and filled with energy live. This take goes on, and I really like music that "goes on", but it can't replace the fever I felt seeing it live (which isn't a knock, it's to be expected). One of my favorite BTS songs, "I would kill a fly", shows up here but doesn't take the song anywhere new.

Still, if you have a craving for guitar solos ala Neil Young electric or J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), then this will fill your plate and your belly, I promise you that.

I was a little disappointed with the song selection of this album, as they didn't really choose my favorite songs. However, the covers are what make this album pretty darn cool. In particular, Cortez the Killer is very cool, and Virginia reels around the fountain is pretty roudy as well. Good album for a built to spill fan. If you're just starting though, i'd say get "there's nothing wrong with love," even though Perfect from now on is my favorite album by bts, tnwwl is more accessible. Anyway, this is a pretty rad album. Better than a lot of lousy live albums

standing up, in a mess of hundreds of kids packed like sardines in venues across seattle, watching doug fiddle with his pedal, standing up, looking around, and squeaking out a word in between songs. "Thanks."

the same way, everytime.

this album certainly catches built to spill's live shows perfectly, and the recording can fool you into thinking it's not live at all. the guitars are separated onto different channels, so you have one coming in one ear, and the other....well, yeah. it sounds good, to say the least.

but i can't help but feel that for a live album, it's not exciting. which i guess can be taken as a moot point, who says the show has to be exciting? but sitting there through 20 minutes of self-indulgent guitar fiddling *at* a show, is different from sitting there at home listening to it.

i would stand there and think "god this is great, i hope he doesn't stop playing/god this is great, but i wish he'd stop playing 'cause that kid behind me keeps jumping on my feet." that sort of conflict you can't quite sort out, because what you're feeling is too engrossing.

if for nothing else, the love as laughter cover and the neil young cover make it worth it. And the Halo Benders song sounds good too, you can pretend to be Calvin Johnson and fill in his baritone if you're feeling up to it.... But everything else sounds pretty much the same with slight twists.

not at all a bad album, something to have for a completist, and a good intro for a beginner.

and i still think scotty gets bored on the drums.

Words cannot encapsule the fluidity, depth and finesse that characterise this album.

With two songs that stretch to near 20 minutes each (including a perfect reading of Neil Young's "Cortez The Killer") Built To Spill have fashioned an experience which is at once psychedelic and awash in richness.