Now You Know is the debut solo album by American musician Doug Martsch of indie rock band Built to Spill. Unlike Martsch's rock-oriented work with Built to Spill, the album touches on blues and folk in addition to rock. Now You Know was released in 2002 on Up Records label.[1]

Now You Know
Studio album by
Released2002
RecordedFall 1999–spring 2000
StudioThe Manhouse, Boise, Idaho
Genre
Length40:13
LabelUp
ProducerDoug Martsch (recording)

Track listing

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All tracks composed by Doug Martsch; except where noted. Karena Youtz contributed lyrics.

  1. "Offer"
  2. "Dream"
  3. "Gone"
  4. "Window"
  5. "Heart (Things Never Shared)"
  6. "Lift"
  7. "Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind on Jesus)" (Fred McDowell) uncredited
  8. "Instrumental"
  9. "Sleeve"
  10. "Impossible"
  11. "Stay"

Personnel

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  • Doug Martsch - vocals, all other instruments
  • Travis Ward - bass
  • Daren Adair - drums
  • John McMahon - cello

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
Austin Chronicle    [4]
Blender     [2]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[5]
Magnet     [2]
Mojo     [2]
Pitchfork Media7.3/10[6]
Rolling Stone     [7]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide     [8]
Stylus Magazine6.7/10[9]

Pitchfork Media says the album has [6] "a Delta blues sound-- a style closer to the point in musical evolution where country/western and blues went their separate, segregated ways" and also called it "Blooze for Dummies." The reviewer also noted that most of the songs begin "with bluesy intentions, but only a handful (... "Offer"... and... "Stay") stick with that dynamic for their duration." The reviewer seemed mostly not to enjoy the departure from the Built to Spill sound, remarking that "the more familiar-sounding material is what really sticks amongst these eleven tracks."

Rolling Stone calls the album [7] "bare-bones folk blues that recalls O Brother, Where Art Thou? more than anything by... Built to Spill." The reviewer sees the album as being influenced by "such Delta bluesmen as Fred McDowell" as well as by "Ralph Stanley and J Mascis."[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Up Records: Ten Years of Fabulous Independent Music". 2011-07-18. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  2. ^ a b c d "Critic Reviews for Now You Know". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  3. ^ Bregman, Adam. "Now You Know – Doug Martsch". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  4. ^ Hess, Christopher (October 18, 2002). "Review: Doug Martsch". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  5. ^ Brunner, Rob (September 20, 2002). "Now You Know". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Pitchfork Media review". 2008-04-02. Archived from the original on 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  7. ^ a b "Rolling Stone review". Rollingstone.com. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2012-06-01.[dead link]
  8. ^ "The New Rolling Stone Album Guide". p. 118. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  9. ^ Martin, Tyler. "Doug Martsch: Now You Know (Warner Brothers)". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved July 1, 2016.