After disappearing for a few years, Built To Spill is back. Sure, Doug Martsch released a solo album in the interim, but it’s just not the same, is it? One of the few bands to keep one foot in the indie sphere while moving to a major label (in this case, Warner Brothers), Built To Spill is one of the best examples of anthemic college rock around: soaring riffs, great hooks and verses that beg to be sung aloud. While they haven’t found the kind of success Modest Mouse received based on “Float On,” it’s fair to say that the band has a devoted fanbase craving some new material.

Keep It Like A Secret is arguably the last great Built To Spill record. For some reason, Ancient Melodies Of The Future scaled back on the panoramic sound of their previous releases, and settled into an unfortunate mid-tempo slouch. What always drew me to Built To Spill wasn’t the fun guitar pop like “Big Dipper” and “Car,” though they’re great tracks as well. It’s always been the big, open-sky road trip sound of “Carry The Zero” and “Time Trap” I’ve loved the most. Hopefully when the next album comes around (slated for Fall 2005, with an east coast tour in May) the wandering anthems will be back; I’m desperately hoping to take a road trip this summer.