[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Built To Spill — Traces
Album: You In Reverse
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1977









Released: 2006
Length: 4:38
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Daylight can never really hide what's alive
I know it's hard sometimes
For you to tell where you end
And where the world begins

You do your best to avoid assimilation
Guess that's the best you can do
And all the parts of it that matter change
All traces disintegrate

At night
My mind gets on this
Train of thought
And can't get back off

And when you know
How few things there are worth knowing
I suppose
Anyone who tries could forget

Responding now
To trains that crash before you
Never thought
Crashing could happen to you

And all the parts of it that matter change
All traces disintegrate
Comments (151)add comment
 Synth80s wrote:

A great track from an even better album. These guys may not be reinventing rock music, but their recorded output is tight and compelling. One of my favorites buys of the last few years.



Didn't they? What about "Cortez, the killer"? 
 ciarataylor wrote:

Wow Bill you set a record for 5 Sucko Barfo’s in a row.


Well, given that you rate virtually every song on RP Sucko Barfo, that's not surprising. Why not find a station that plays music you like, if that's even possible, and spare us your endless negativity?
Wow Bill you set a record for 5 Sucko Barfo’s in a row.
I quite like the tune, but I also like the album cover.
GOOD TUNE! I never heard of them before. Thanx RP!
Love BTS!
I'm so glad and blessed that I finally got to see them jam here several years ago!  I love their incredible, incendiary guitars and clever lyrics.
 steuss wrote:

Great tune for the times.  We’ve had RP on most of the time during this unsettling ramp up of the Covid-19 pandemic, and just now heard your inter-song comment about hoping the mix is helping us stay calm. Bill and Rebecca, I wanted to let both of you know that it most certainly is…I even commented to my wife and our grown kids a couple of days ago to that effect, that the mix seemed especially geared to calming and reassuring, with a richness that exceeds even your normal standards. In the evenings, I am given to turning off the news and turning RP on, opening another bottle of wine, lighting a fire in the fireplace, and kicking back. And we’ve also recognized a few choice lyrics/titles that are geared to the times, in the RP tradition!

Thank you again for the many gifts that you bring to us and your many listeners. Stay safe and healthy!



And now it's a year on and we're waiting on the ramp down of the Covid-19 panic. Us in reverse.
Is it my hearing/age or am I imagining – a few of the opening bars of the instrumental sounds very similar to the theme of a 1960s/70's UK TV show with Roger Moore and Tony Curtis called The Persuaders!!

I love it when the sensitive rock out and soar to new highs out of old lows
 steuss wrote:
Great tune for the times.  We’ve had RP on most of the time during this unsettling ramp up of the Covid-19 pandemic, and just now heard your inter-song comment about hoping the mix is helping us stay calm. Bill and Rebecca, I wanted to let both of you know that it most certainly is…I even commented to my wife and our grown kids a couple of days ago to that effect, that the mix seemed especially geared to calming and reassuring, with a richness that exceeds even your normal standards. In the evenings, I am given to turning off the news and turning RP on, opening another bottle of wine, lighting a fire in the fireplace, and kicking back. And we’ve also recognized a few choice lyrics/titles that are geared to the times, in the RP tradition!

Thank you again for the many gifts that you bring to us and your many listeners. Stay safe and healthy!
 
I agree this station and a few others has kept me sane in an insane time
Nice to know they have good music from boise, another reason why i love RP
So glad I'm being reminded (a couple of times, recently), of how much I like these guys.  Really great, and very innovative, band, very much worth a careful listen.
Great tune for the times.  We’ve had RP on most of the time during this unsettling ramp up of the Covid-19 pandemic, and just now heard your inter-song comment about hoping the mix is helping us stay calm. Bill and Rebecca, I wanted to let both of you know that it most certainly is…I even commented to my wife and our grown kids a couple of days ago to that effect, that the mix seemed especially geared to calming and reassuring, with a richness that exceeds even your normal standards. In the evenings, I am given to turning off the news and turning RP on, opening another bottle of wine, lighting a fire in the fireplace, and kicking back. And we’ve also recognized a few choice lyrics/titles that are geared to the times, in the RP tradition!

Thank you again for the many gifts that you bring to us and your many listeners. Stay safe and healthy!
'You in Reverse' is a great album from the mid/late 00's; a very rich period in indie and alt rock.
 Synth80s wrote:
A great track from an even better album. These guys may not be reinventing rock music, but their recorded output is tight and compelling. One of my favorites buys of the last few years.
 
Ditto, my friend.
A great track from an even better album. These guys may not be reinventing rock music, but their recorded output is tight and compelling. One of my favorites buys of the last few years.
I, like most, am disgusted with the prevalence of AutoTune in modern music. But then I hear this song, and, well,
 stegokitty wrote:
I was trying to figure out (if at all true) which was (possibly/probably) mimicking the other.
Based on the birthdates of these two bands, I'm thinking it's Death Cab For Cutie as the band, theoretically imitating the older band, Built To Spill.
And based upon some other comments, BTS is imitating (in a sense) Neil Young.
Not saying it's a bad thing at all.
Just an observation, from someone who is not very familiar with BTS nor for that matter with DCFC, and with an average knowledge of Neil Young, but who has (I must say) a reasonably keen ear. 
 
Unless one makes a living as an impersonator or a tribute act, it would be very unlikely for any musician or a band to spend all of their energy "imitating" any other band.  Being "influenced by" another artist is one thing, "imitating" is another, and this band sounds influenced by many more artists than just Neil Young
 stegokitty wrote:
I was trying to figure out (if at all true) which was (possibly/probably) mimicking the other.
Based on the birthdates of these two bands, I'm thinking it's Death Cab For Cutie as the band, theoretically imitating the older band, Built To Spill.
And based upon some other comments, BTS is imitating (in a sense) Neil Young.
Not saying it's a bad thing at all.
Just an observation, from someone who is not very familiar with BTS nor for that matter with DCFC, and with an average knowledge of Neil Young, but who has (I must say) a reasonably keen ear.
 
I definitely understand the BTS / Neil Young comparison, but I don't think Death Cab sounds like either one (although I did see them open for Neil years ago).
I really love the ghost of Neil Young in this song.
I was trying to figure out (if at all true) which was (possibly/probably) mimicking the other.
Based on the birthdates of these two bands, I'm thinking it's Death Cab For Cutie as the band, theoretically imitating the older band, Built To Spill.
And based upon some other comments, BTS is imitating (in a sense) Neil Young.
Not saying it's a bad thing at all.
Just an observation, from someone who is not very familiar with BTS nor for that matter with DCFC, and with an average knowledge of Neil Young, but who has (I must say) a reasonably keen ear. 
JAMMIN' BAND! Saw them, finally, on October 10 at The Fox Theater on The Hill here in Boulder... What a show! They rocked SOLID! THREE Lead Guitars! WOW! They also did the best cover any of us had ever seen of The Smiths' "How Soon Is Now?" ~Go see 'em!
Not the strongest song from this album but still a goodie! 
 philbertr wrote:
How is it that THC seems to supercharge my sense of hearing and pleasure in music?

 
Plain ol' sobriety is killing this song for me. Is this Interpol with a better singer? 
nice....
Nice natural drum sound...
 
Could someone arrange a mash-up between this and KD Lang's "Constant Craving"?
Yeah! I love the echoes of Neil that ripple and jam throughout this & all their songs. Sure hope I get to see 'em play one of these days!

haha -very true;-)



 philbertr wrote:

How is it that THC seems to supercharge my sense of hearing and pleasure in music?  
 


 joelbb wrote:
This one sounds like Neal forgot the damage done and used the needle.  NY as junkie.
 
That would be Neil, to you, and it does have that chunk-a long- style and some familiar major chords-yet a goood song.      {#Bananajam}
This one sounds like Neal forgot the damage done and used the needle.  NY as junkie.
How is it that THC seems to supercharge my sense of hearing and pleasure in music?
 justin4kick wrote:
I hear Traces of Neil Young.
 
Traces???

I like Built to Spill because they wear the great Mr. Young on their musical sleeves.
FANSTASTIC!
 Hannio wrote:
This one just plods along.
 
Kind of...yeah.
This one just plods along.
BTS is the perfect Indie rock\pop band.{#Yes}
...makes me feel like I'm back in college...in 1988....
I always like the guitar playing in this band
 4merdj wrote:

This looks more like a *built* spill ... {#Devil_pimp}
 
Using glycerin for a more manageable "built" spill.

I hear Traces of Neil Young.
This band ranks right up there with, say, Foreigner.
Slightly more pleasurable than having my teeth drilled on by the dentist.
 
 
EDIT:  cool album cover though.

 coolpeople_rule wrote:
Built to   
 
This looks more like a *built* spill ... {#Devil_pimp}
7->8
I can't decide if I like this or not. I'm going to sit on the fence for a while. 5.
Amazing CD by an amazing band.  Doug Martsch is a top notch artist/songwriter.

5 -> 6

 

I like the little frantic instrumental part before the end.


Just saw these guys perform last Friday at the Vic in Chicago. Great show — not a single disappointing number in the entire set. And the lead singer's mother was there and he dedicated a song to her, which was cute.
 skyguy wrote:
This is a great picture of the band

https://www.bp.com/managedlistingsection.do?categoryId=9021626&contentId=7041219
 

Very clever!
Built to   
I like this song—-wow, it may be a little Television-y. Love this kind of guitar playing.
for his guitar playing i give it an 8.
You just made an oil spill joke.

 
skyguy wrote:
This is a great picture of the band

https://www.bp.com/managedlistingsection.do?categoryId=9021626&contentId=7041219
 


 Papernapkin wrote:
The more I hear, the less I like.
 
Agreed!
This is a great picture of the band

https://www.bp.com/managedlistingsection.do?categoryId=9021626&contentId=7041219
 crockydile wrote:

If it did, I didn't get the message. I dig legitimate connection!! I know I'm a bit of a pain in the ass, but I'm an honest pain in the ass! {#Cool}

 
not even excelsior misses excelsior. . .

 peter_james_bond wrote:
Crocky I agree with you! Has Hell frozen over? {#Curtain} ....{#Lol}
 
If it did, I didn't get the message. I dig legitimate connection!! I know I'm a bit of a pain in the ass, but I'm an honest pain in the ass! {#Cool}

 crockydile wrote:
Very compelling. Nice Spilling!
 
Crocky I agree with you! Has Hell frozen over? {#Curtain} ....{#Lol}
 Papernapkin wrote:
The more I hear, the less I like.
 
I totally agree.......

The more I hear, the less I like.
 govna wrote:
wow this guy's voice is even more annoying than the iron and wine guy.
 
YIKES{#Exclaim}
From someone who rated not 1 but 2 Bob Dylan songs 10{#Stupid} This guys voice is nowhere NEAR as off key and annoying as Dylan

Normally i dont mind covers, but this one i really like!!
6—>8
{#Dancingbanana_2} very nice another band never heard of in south africa

8—->9
Very compelling. Nice Spilling!
 orthomd wrote:
a lot of their music sounds very similar to modest mouse....not that that's necessarily a bad thing
 
These guys have been making music since the early 90's, maybe even earlier.  They certainly do not sound like Modest Mouse.

An awesome song from an awesome album :)


I haven't heard this for awhile.  Always like it
Neil Young-y
There's a riff in this song that is exactly the same as in the Death Cab song 'Cath' that was played a few songs ago...love it!
Reg Mombasa cover art? Damn fine work all round!
 orthomd wrote:
a lot of their music sounds very similar to modest mouse....not that that's necessarily a bad thing
 

WTF?  You gotta be kidding.   Maybe a little like MMs latest stuff, but you should check out some early MM and see if you say the same thing.
Song is a 7 but I'm bumping it down to a 1 in protest —- play something else by BTS pleeeez??
I don't care what the skeptics say, this is still a solid 4.  {#Snooty}
a lot of their music sounds very similar to modest mouse....not that that's necessarily a bad thing

{#Bananajam}
 MonkeyPod wrote:
Why do I like everything Bill plays from this band?

Is he just picking the toe tappers or are they that good?

 

They are that good, or at least this album is that good. It's the only one I have so far. (I was listening to it this morning on my commute.) I think this album is fantastic and doesn't have one bad song on it. This is one of the better ones.{#Bananajam}
What's not to like about this song?

How much time ya got...

Odd. I listen every single day, and I haven't heard this that much. Maybe I'm not listening when Bill's playing it. Anyway, I rather like it. Although I can see how I might get to not liking it so much if I heard it as aften as I hear that bloody Loreena McKennitt song.


Hey I like it {#Beat}
 Excelsior wrote:
Here we go again... {#No}
 
Honestly, Excel, why do you even bother to listed to RP?

Hey, great to hear this song again! I'm turning it up. :-) 
Here we go again... {#No}
Good Lord.  Built to Spill has 6 albums, and they're a great band... how about playing something different by them instead of the SAME TWO FREAKING SONGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN?!?!?!?!  {#Frustrated}
 MM_Prague wrote:
This one's getting heavy rotation (for RP) here, and is starting to grate on me... time for it to go, IMHO...
 
Months later, I heartily concur!{#Frustrated}
Every song I hear from this band just sounds repetitive, jerky and unimaginative.

Pretty good.. 7 > 8
Sounds a bit like Pink Floyd to me
This one's getting heavy rotation (for RP) here, and is starting to grate on me... time for it to go, IMHO...
MrDill wrote:
The intro to this sounds to me like an 80s cop show theme
you mean like, "bad boys, bad boys ..."
Beautiful and Poignant, a gem.
govna wrote:
wow this guy's voice is even more annoying than the iron and wine guy.
ROFL!!! I wouldn't go quite that far, but I know where you're coming from. Built to Spill loses points with me at every hearing. I started off liking them. Now--not so much.
wow this guy's voice is even more annoying than the iron and wine guy.
This is a good band!
The intro to this sounds to me like an 80s cop show theme
Why do I like everything Bill plays from this band? Is he just picking the toe tappers or are they that good?
I see I'm not the only one to notice similarities to awesome musical ancestors -- I like how these guys hit twangs of CSN&Y in all their incarnations... Can't do bad with that, if they are as good as this! Thanks to RP for turning me onto 'em -- as was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be!
These guys are excellent!! very diverse and intelligent music...I have followed them from the beginning and it's exactly why I listen to this station...great song
Apparent nod to Neil notwithstanding, these guys have something to say. Good influence, good stuff.
ugh, make it stop
I had complained about another BTS song being too much of a Neil Young knock-off. This song shows they have a much wider range of style and know how to write memorable songs. Good stuff.
Boring!
I really like the riff in the bridge, even though it is very simple, it is haunting, like the rest of this tune
Neil Young-ish.
Time to pull this one from rotation.
I hope this dates back ro the seventies because I think this is not excellent. Ouf!
That to me is incomprehensible. REM is light years ahead of this band in nearly every way imaginable--lyrics, rhythm, complexity and range of technique, depth, vocals, mastery. What gives? Photo-John wrote:
REM does nothing for me. But I dig these guys.
Agreed! pushkinjim wrote:
Boring, mediocre and tasteless -
pushkinjim wrote:
Ho hum ! Sounds too much REMish for my taste.
REM does nothing for me. But I dig these guys.
mildy haunting
Nice kinda surf/spy thing going on in the arrangement.
jedidjah wrote:
Excellent song! Really rocks.
LOL -- you sure about that?
overplayed and uninteresting.
Excellent song! Really rocks.
Boring, mediocre and tasteless -
Going to see them tonight. Fun!
Wow, haven't heard this for ages,obvious Pavement influences.Nice song 7
Ho hum ! Sounds too much REMish for my taste.