"Built to Spill: The Normal Years" is a compilation album released in 1996. It comprises material from the early years of the indie rock band Built to Spill, featuring tracks from their first two albums, "Ultimate Alternative Wavers" (1993) and "There's Nothing Wrong with Love" (1994), as well as various EPs and singles.
The album showcases Built to Spill's distinctive sound, characterized by Doug Martsch's intricate guitar work, thoughtful lyrics, and melodic songwriting. Tracks like "Some" and "Car" demonstrate the band's ability to blend elements of indie rock, alternative rock, and lo-fi aesthetics, while songs like "Big Dipper" and "Distopian Dream Girl" highlight Martsch's introspective lyricism and the band's dynamic musicianship.
"The Normal Years" serves as a comprehensive overview of Built to Spill's formative years, capturing the raw energy and creativity that would define their later work. It provides fans with a retrospective look at the band's early catalog and showcases their evolution as one of the most influential bands in the indie rock scene of the 1990s.
