Carry the Zero

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Carry the Zero is a 1999 indie rock song by Built to Spill from their album Keep It Like a Secret. It was the album’s second single, released by Warner Bros. The same year, they issued an EP also titled Carry the Zero—their first solo EP since the 1995 split release. Many fans consider it the band’s best-known track. Lyrically, Doug Martsch uses a math-like metaphor to describe a strained relationship, and critics have called the song a guitar-driven, three-movement statement. It remains a concert favorite and has inspired other indie musicians; Frances Quinlan covered it in 2020, and Michelle Zauner has said it was the first song she learned on guitar. Critics widely praised the song for its lyrics and guitar work, with Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, SF Weekly, The A.V. Club, Stereogum, Consequence, and The Washington Post offering praise. Reviews highlighted its memorable core melody, wistful guitar tone, and the balance of heavy rock with bright, ringing guitar. The Carry the Zero EP includes two tracks exclusive to the EP (Forget Remember When and Now & Then) along with two tracks that originally appeared on Keep It Like a Secret; these EP tracks also appear as bonus material on the double-LP version of Live.