Biography
Boise, Idaho's indie community long regarded Caustic Resin as a core act, although the outfit frequently remained eclipsed by the city's leading export, Built to Spill. Their history reached back further and stayed more detached from Seattle influences. Departing from much of the prevailing Northwest texture, the group's sound fused heavy metal, psychedelia, and space rock into a murky, hallucinatory mix. Fronted by guitarist and vocalist Brett Netson, they specialized in thick, deliberate extended pieces laced with anguished vocals and warped noise eruptions, interrupted at times by restrained interludes or blues inflections. Most press attention highlighted connections to Built to Spill—Netson appeared often as a guest and the two acts once issued a shared EP—yet Caustic Resin sustained an independent career that stretched past a decade.
The band formed in Boise in 1988 with guitarist and singer Brett Netson, formerly of local punk band the Pugs, bassist Tom Romich Jr., and drummer Pat Perkins. They began performing in heavy metal clubs before sharing stages with Treepeople, the pre-Built to Spill group led by Doug Martsch. By the early 1990s James Dillion, also known as James Manny, replaced Perkins on drums and locked in the lineup most identified with the band. In 1993 Netson joined the newly assembled Built to Spill as their first bassist and played on the C/Z debut Ultimate Alternative Wavers. With the resulting visibility and Martsch's public endorsement—he listed Caustic Resin among his own influences—the group signed to C/Z and delivered their proper first album, Body Love Body Hate, the same year.
Caustic Resin followed Built to Spill to Up Records for the next release. Their 1995 album Fly Me to the Moon, produced by Phil Ek—who would also guide much of Built to Spill's strongest work—shifted away from some of the earlier metal leanings toward more open, still demanding territory. In 1996 the two acts combined for the four-song joint EP Built to Spill Caustic Resin. Afterward Netson directed the band to California's Alias label, although he continued contributing guitar to Built to Spill recordings and performances.
The Alias debut arrived with 1998's The Medicine Is All Gone, which sharpened their established approach while drawing parallels to electric Neil Young and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd. The 1999 album Trick Question further softened their attack, introducing greater variety and detail through several guest musicians and an alternate rhythm section of bassist Mike Johnson (Dinosaur Jr., Mark Lanegan) and drummer Joe Plummer behind Netson on multiple tracks. The Afterbirth surfaced in 2000, the third record in consecutive years, restoring some of their earlier rawness and closing the Alias chapter before an eventual return to Up. Netson meanwhile continued playing and touring with Built to Spill. Caustic Resin resurfaced in 2003 with Keep on Truckin, which reunited original drummer Pat Perkins and split bass duties between Romich and Johnson.
The band formed in Boise in 1988 with guitarist and singer Brett Netson, formerly of local punk band the Pugs, bassist Tom Romich Jr., and drummer Pat Perkins. They began performing in heavy metal clubs before sharing stages with Treepeople, the pre-Built to Spill group led by Doug Martsch. By the early 1990s James Dillion, also known as James Manny, replaced Perkins on drums and locked in the lineup most identified with the band. In 1993 Netson joined the newly assembled Built to Spill as their first bassist and played on the C/Z debut Ultimate Alternative Wavers. With the resulting visibility and Martsch's public endorsement—he listed Caustic Resin among his own influences—the group signed to C/Z and delivered their proper first album, Body Love Body Hate, the same year.
Caustic Resin followed Built to Spill to Up Records for the next release. Their 1995 album Fly Me to the Moon, produced by Phil Ek—who would also guide much of Built to Spill's strongest work—shifted away from some of the earlier metal leanings toward more open, still demanding territory. In 1996 the two acts combined for the four-song joint EP Built to Spill Caustic Resin. Afterward Netson directed the band to California's Alias label, although he continued contributing guitar to Built to Spill recordings and performances.
The Alias debut arrived with 1998's The Medicine Is All Gone, which sharpened their established approach while drawing parallels to electric Neil Young and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd. The 1999 album Trick Question further softened their attack, introducing greater variety and detail through several guest musicians and an alternate rhythm section of bassist Mike Johnson (Dinosaur Jr., Mark Lanegan) and drummer Joe Plummer behind Netson on multiple tracks. The Afterbirth surfaced in 2000, the third record in consecutive years, restoring some of their earlier rawness and closing the Alias chapter before an eventual return to Up. Netson meanwhile continued playing and touring with Built to Spill. Caustic Resin resurfaced in 2003 with Keep on Truckin, which reunited original drummer Pat Perkins and split bass duties between Romich and Johnson.
Albums
