ARTIST: Built to Spill 
TITLE: There’s Nothing Wrong with Love
YEAR RELEASED: 1994
CHART ACTION: None
SINGLES: Car, Distopian Dream Girl
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: In the Morning was a video, and on Beavis & Butthead
LINEUP: Doug Martsch, Brett Nelson, Andy Capps with some help from others.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Second independent album from the Pacific Northwestern band demonstrates Martsch’s guitar playing and wry songs.
SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: On this album, Doug Martsch cuts loose. While the songs aren’t as epic as they could be – his guitar playing and style steps to the fore. It’s complicated, loud and at times psychedelic, yet not trite or boring. The reason is Martsch and his guitar hooks – he knows how to pepper his songs with them.
Martsch’s high-pitched semi-whine may not be technically the best voice, but it works for these songs and supports his lyrics and melodies well. There are a lot of parallels to Dinosaur, Jr. Plus, little touches like the cellos in “Car” add a depth that’s missing from many similar bands of the time.
Soon, Martsch would be signed to a major label, but with little restrictions on his content (for once). This album is how he was signed, since it showed he could move units and keep true to his vision.
NOTES & MINUTIAE: The last track is a parody called “Preview”, which pokes fun at all of the current (for 1994) alt-rock trends.
IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No.
GRADE: A: At first, you may wonder about this album (especially the vocals, if you’re not used to him), but the hooks and melodies and guitar playing sell it.
