Perfect from Now On

Perfect from Now On is the third full-length album released by Built to Spill, and the band's first major label (Warner Bros.) release. It was recorded at the Avast! Recording Company in Seattle, Washington by Phil Ek. Stylistically, the album was marked by its experimentation with longer song structures, philosophical lyrics, and the incorporation of cello.

The album was essentially recorded three times. The first time, Martsch attempted to play all the instruments except drums. He and Phil Ek were dissatisfied with the results, so Martsch brought in Nelson and Plouf and recorded the album again. However, these tapes were destroyed by heat when Ek was driving from Seattle to Boise to record additional overdubs. The band rehearsed some more, then recorded the album a third time.

In September 2008, the band embarked on a three-month tour to perform the album in its entirety.

Reception
Perfect from Now On was released to widespread critical acclaim and is widely regarded as an indie rock masterpiece as well as Built to Spill's magnum opus. Pitchfork ranked this album at #22 on its "Top 100 Albums of the 90s" list. This album, along with 1999's Keep It Like A Secret, and 1994's There's Nothing Wrong With Love, is frequently cited as one of the greatest indie rock albums of all time, and has come to influence many modern alternative, rock, and indie acts.

Track listing
All songs written by Doug Martsch.
 * 1) "Randy Described Eternity" – 6:09
 * 2) "I Would Hurt a Fly" – 6:15
 * 3) "Stop the Show" – 6:26
 * 4) "Made-Up Dreams" – 4:52
 * 5) "Velvet Waltz" – 8:33
 * 6) "Out of Site" – 5:33
 * 7) "Kicked It in the Sun" – 7:32
 * 8) "Untrustable / Part 2 (About Someone Else)" – 8:53

Musicians

 * Doug Martsch - vocals, guitar, Moogs, bass on "Made-Up Dreams"
 * Brett Nelson - bass, Moog on "Untrustable / Part 2 (About Someone Else)", Optigan on "Kicked In The Sun"
 * Scott Plouf - drums, percussion, piano on "Randy Described Eternity", Moog on "Stop the Show" and "Kicked In The Sun"

Additional musicians

 * Brett Netson - guitar on "Randy Described Eternity," "I Would Hurt a Fly," "Stop the Show," "Velvet Waltz," and "Out of Site"
 * John McMahon - cello on "I Would Hurt a Fly," "Stop the Show," "Velvet Waltz," "Out of Site," and "Untrustable/Pt. 2 (About Someone Else)"
 * Robert Roth - Mellotron on "Made-Up Dreams," "Velvet Waltz," and "Untrustable/Pt. 2 (About Someone Else)"
 * Peter Lansdowne - drums on "Made-Up Dreams
 * Karena Youtz - "title and some words" on "Velvet Waltz", "Out Of Site", and "Kicked It In The Sun"; backing vocals on "Made-Up Dreams" and "Kicked It in the Sun"

Production

 * Phil Ek - producer, recording, engineer
 * Howie Weinberg - mastering
 * Kip Beelman, Sam Hofstedt - engineer assistant
 * Chris Takino - mixing assistant
 * Tae Won Yu - design, art direction

Sampling
Rapper Cage's song "Ballad of Worms" sampled "I Would Hurt a Fly". The song appeared on Eastern Conference All-Stars, Vol. 3 and Purple Rain Mix CD Vol. 1