Spoon – Transference Album Review
In 2007 Spoon got the top 10 spot on Billboard 200 with Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga – and as far as indie rock goes – it’s safe to say they’ve ‘made it’. With Transference – perhaps due to recent commercial success – Spoon’s gone back & done what any band would if they could: anything they want. It’s also happens this is their 1st self-produced album – the result is what I can only describe as more ‘authentically spoon’. You get the same clever lyrics, plenty of hooks, & usual oddities – but with fewer studio novelties. You could call it: Spoon Light™ – same sound as the original but with ½ the calories.
The first track – Before Destruction - is a good example of old-school Spoon and is reminiscent of 2001 release – Girls Can Tell. The rest of the album is more daring, with Is Love Forever?’s echoing vocals; The Mystery Zone’s tight rhythms & sweet keys; and my personal fav – Who Makes your Money – with it’s loopy vocals, catchy bass riffs & song writing that brings to mind recent documentary Zeitgeist: Addendum. But Transference isn’t just clever song writing, they’ve thrown in a few love songs too – so you can rock the sheets & screw the system all in one evening. Amen to that…
Transference is intimate & insightful – almost (dare I say) enlightening? Topics range from existentialism, to psychology, & even political economy. Britt Daniel ‘knows’ – and he isn’t afraid to put it out there for the masses. This is a wake up call: “Dear America, please… put down your Big Mac – shut up – and listen.”
Other than Radiohead – there isn’t another (current) indie rock band that has experimented as often, and quite so successfully, while staying true to their particular brand of music. This is the holy grail of rock & what ultimately distinguishes the best from the rest. Not an easy feat.
FYI – Spoon’s on tour & they’ll be at the Sound Academy at the end of March.
Best track – “Who Makes Your Money”
Second best(s) – “Is Love Forever?” + “The Mystery Zone” + “Got Nuffin” + “Nobody Gets Me But You”
Overall rating – “B” for ‘Better than most’
MP3s removed by request.
Spoon – Written in reverse
Spoon – Mystery Zone
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