Carry the Zero

The song's Wikipedia article does not name a writer; Martsch is the band's songwriter. The 1999 single or EP held "Carry the Zero", "Sidewalk", "Forget Remember When", "Now & Then" and live versions of "Kicked It in the Sun" and "Big Dipper", and was the first solo EP since the 1995 Caustic Resin split. Wikipedia, citing TODAY.com, says Martsch extends a mathematical metaphor to depict a disaffected relationship, and Stereogum's DeVille called it a lament for a once-interesting friend. The Washington Post's Brett Anderson called it a guitar manifesto in three movements and Pitchfork's Jason Josephes found it downright pretty. Setlist.fm counts 1,039 plays across Built to Spill's songs. We found no comment from Martsch on its meaning.