Tracks 7 and 8 from Perfect From Now On (1997)

Tracks 9 and 10 from Keep It Like A Secret (1999)

Track 11 from Live (2000)

Track 12 from Ancient Melodies of the Future (2001)

Built To Spill's first album was one of the last ones I checked out, so it was funny to realize that they had a song called "Built To Spill" that gave a context to the band's odd name all along. My earliest exposure to the band was seeing the "Untrustable" video on "120 Minutes" and then hearing the Ben Folds Five cover of "Twin Falls," and that's still one of my favorite Built To Spill songs.

My friend Susie put their cover of Heavenly's "By The Way" from the BTS/Marine Research split 7" on a mixtape for me and that was really got me into Built To Spill. I wish that cover was on streaming services so I could include it here, I love it. I think there should be an expanded reissue of The Normal Years or sequel compilation with that and other non-album tracks. That motivated me to pick up a cheap used copy of Keep It Like A Secret and really become a fan, "Else" is one of my favorite songs ever. The one time I saw BTS live they played Perfect From Now On in its entirety, which was pretty cool, but I couldn't help wishing it was Secret they were playing. 

I feel like Built To Spill is one of those bands where I don't think all their albums are solid front-to-back but there's great songs on all of them, so it was fun to cherry pick, although I definitely prefer the era with Scott Plouf, great drummer. I recently tweeted a snarky comment about how Built To Spill should have a platinum album or two like two bands that definitely wouldn't exist without their influence, Modest Mouse and Death Cab For Cutie. Still it's pretty impressive that Built To Spill were on Warner Bros. for something like 19 years without ever having much commercial success, even longer than Sonic Youth's major label tenure (16 years). Flaming Lips have them both beat by far, though, they've been with Warners since 1992.