The Album Review Club - *** Christmas Break Playlist (next album 7/1/26) ***

[Barcon]

Sorry for not getting back earlier, crazy day at work.

"Don't it feel like Friday night?"

That's a hard question as I like most/all of their albums, but I chose this because it was:

1. when their sound changed/matured with new band personnel as noted in the write-up
2. it's hard for me NOT to like a song on this selection
3. it's when I went from liking many songs on an album of theirs to nearly all, which is the case here.

I will agree with threespires that I like Hot Thoughts a whole lot that came right after this as that was the tour I first saw them on. Fantastic show live and I don't think I probably emphasized that enough in their live performance being quite impressive to an amazing sound.

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga and Transference (Coatigan's initial guess) are also big favourites, but if I was going around Europe and could only have one of theirs, this would be it. "Rainy Taxi" and the songs in that middle stretch of the album are just songs I couldn't do without. "Got Nuffin" is another from Transference, but I had to pick one...

Gimme fiction is a good listen also.
As is Britt Daniel’s other band, Divine fits album from 2012.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

I'm also enjoying this. Spotify is throwing up auto plays of Atlas, My Morning Jacket and Broken Bells, all of which I've enjoyed.

Atlas doesn't show up on Spotify in the US, but being from NZ, I know why it chose that artist for you. ;-)

You already know you can't go wrong with MMJ or BB, so I'm glad you are enjoying your "indie" influenced selections this week. ;-)

It's also played a couple of tracks from Spoon's Hot Thoughts album, both of which were a decent listen.

Yes, released right after this and probably a close 2nd for me to this.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

Gimme fiction is a good listen also.

Yeah, I added that right afterwards, agreed on Gimme Fiction, an impressive first 4 tracks to start it off.

As is Britt Daniel’s other band, Divine fits album from 2012.

I need to give Divine Fits more of a listen than I have (enjoying now, btw), which of course was made in between Transference and this one while Spoon was on that hiatus.

(feel free to give this week's selection a review and score too, as we often have guests in other weeks when other selections are nominated. I'd hate for anyone to think we are just stuck on a treadmill with our same ole' reviewers! ;-) )

 

[Barcon]

Yeah, I added that right afterwards, agreed on Gimme Fiction, an impressive first 4 tracks to start it off.

I need to give Divine Fits more of a listen than I have (enjoying now, btw), which of course was made in between Transference and this one while Spoon was on that hiatus.

(feel free to give this week's selection a review and score too, as we often have guests in other weeks when other selections are nominated. I'd hate for anyone to think we are just stuck on a treadmill with our same ole' reviewers! ;-) )

Cheers mate. I’m not great at getting my thoughts down but I do enjoy reading the thread.

 

[RobMCFC]

It was more with the bands you mentioned. Very indie, some of them.

But without the whining?

Of course, Spotify knows I’m listening and will be tailoring its selections, filtering out the whiny stuff :)

 

[threespires]

Cheers mate. I’m not great at getting my thoughts down but I do enjoy reading the thread.

'Top album 9/10' and 'bag of shite 1/10' are both regularly employed in these parts so I wouldn't be too worried about that!

 

[Mr Grumpy]

But without the whining?

Of course, Spotify knows I’m listening and will be tailoring its selections, filtering out the whiny stuff :)

I'm going to have to start using my YTP in incognito mode.

Last week my feed was filled with some very interesting cover art which would certainly cause a raised eyebrow in the Mr G household.

This week, It's pulling in tweeny indie rock which is, er, challenging lol.

 

[RobMCFC]

I'm going to have to start using my YTP in incognito mode.

Last week my feed was filled with some very interesting cover art which would certainly cause a raised eyebrow in the Mr G household.

This week, It's pulling in tweeny indie rock which is, er, challenging lol.

Yeah, you have to be prepared to have your algorithms messed with when you join this club.

 

[BimboBob]

Brilliant album Bimbo.

I'm not falling for that. What does Lisa think?

 

[journolud]

Pleasantly underwhelmed is the initial response 2 plays in

 

[Barcon]

I'm not falling for that. What does Lisa think?

She’s a big fan.

 

[GornikDaze]

Pleasantly underwhelmed is the initial response 2 plays in

Interesting take - I’m currently whelmed… it’s neither an under or over for me

 

[BimboBob]

She’s a big fan.

Good to know, but what about spoon?

 

[GornikDaze]

Going to struggle to listen to this weeks offerings any more over the next few days. If it looks like a 5 and sounds like a 5 I guess it must be a 5/10 for me.
It’s not bad, but I’m not getting much that really stirs me. Vocals are okay, the keyboard and drums really annoying. The Let’s Dance tribute Outlier is weird.
The whole sound just left me feeling that wanted something extra - some crunchy guitar or some non programmed drum fill.
Apologies @BlueMoonAcrossThePond I will have a listen to some of their other stuff to see if I’m missing something. You mentioned enjoying them live, which is can be a different experience to recorded studio work. I love The Icicle Works but I never listen to their albums - however, live they’re just amazing and create a much bigger sound.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

Going to struggle to listen to this weeks offerings any more over the next few days. If it looks like a 5 and sounds like a 5 I guess it must be a 5/10 for me.
It’s not bad, but I’m not getting much that really stirs me. Vocals are okay, the keyboard and drums really annoying. The Let’s Dance tribute Outlier is weird.
The whole sound just left me feeling that wanted something extra - some crunchy guitar or some non programmed drum fill.
Apologies @BlueMoonAcrossThePond I will have a listen to some of their other stuff to see if I’m missing something. You mentioned enjoying them live, which is can be a different experience to recorded studio work. I love The Icicle Works but I never listen to their albums - however, live they’re just amazing and create a much bigger sound.

I wonder if BlueMoonAcrossThePond is now asking who Spoon is? ;-)

No worries, that autofill after the @ can be difficult when it pops up all those options.

I'm not too surprised that this is one that our overall genre preferences don't exactly overlap. And as Britt once noted:

If you miss the meaning this time
Well here comes another one

Cheers

 

[GornikDaze]

I wonder if BlueMoonAcrossThePond is now asking who Spoon is? ;-)

No worries, that autofill after the @ can be difficult when it pops up all those options.

I'm not too surprised that this is one that our overall genre preferences don't exactly overlap. And as Britt once noted:

If you miss the meaning this time
Well here comes another one

Cheers

Ah well spotted!! @BlueMoonAcrossThePond my apologies!! :)

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

So this is number 5. What does that mean, you ask? It’s the fifth record I’ve heard on this thread that was both new to me and rates as a really great listen — which is precisely why I participate here. Spoon joins the ranks of Bad//Dreems, Lucinda Williams, Drive-by Truckers and Fatima Mansions and I’m grateful for it.

A lot of good stuff has come from UT Austin in my experience, including the films of Richard Linklater, and this is a near soundtrack to that generation roughly five to ten years younger than I. There’s a lot of consistency song to song on “They Want My Soul”. Little touches like bluesy chords and seemingly out-of-place octave lifts add flavo(u)r. And it didn’t surprise me to find out the drummer has been a part of this project for a long while — that snare and that high hat (acoustic or electronic) are high in the mix and I really like the contrast with the floating guitar and periodically loopy keyboards and stray sound effects. And back to my oft-used sit-and-listen vs. get-up-and-move trope — I found this record offered a nice mix of either/both — it was consistently toe-tapping while I was comfortably driving a stretch of road or on a United Airlines 777 over Omaha on my way to NYC. In fact, I even found it soothing, this being a stressful work week for me, so the aural appeal works on a lot of levels.

Sure it’s derivative. I already brought up a Fountains of Wayne vibe on songs like “Do You”. “Rent I Pay” rips off Wire’s “Strange; “Rainy Day Taxi” rips off the bass line from Adrien Belew’s “Big Electric Cat”. “Outlier” sounds vaguely like late-career New Order. And just try to tell me “Knock Knock Knock” doesn’t sound like up-tempo Pink Floyd. Just try. Well, if you tried and you disagreed, you’re wrong. Thing is, I like if not love all that shit — and while Belew is a mush-head as a lyricist and thin as a singer, Britt Daniel is sharper and more earnest in those categories, respectively.

The one that really stuck in my head is “Inside Out” with those gentle but spot-on chord changes and 70s dreamy synths. The record might lose a little bit of steam towards the end (the cover is the weakest thing here IMO) but there’s not a bad nor indifferent tune on the record, and it finishes I think rather nicely with “New York Kiss”. Look, it’s hard to write ten good ones that sound enough the same to link to each other, but different enough to recall each distinctly, I think — and these guys pull it off.

This is a very solid 8/10 and I plan to check out some more Spoon eventually, but TBH I’m happy to keep playing this one too. And here’s hoping a number 6, 7, 8 etc. get added to my new discoveries list from this thread in short order. Well done, @Black&White&BlueMoon Town — you’ve scored a cracker.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

So this is number 5. What does that mean, you ask? It’s the fifth record I’ve heard on this thread that was both new to me and rates as a really great listen — which is precisely why I participate here. Spoon joins the ranks of Bad//Dreems, Lucinda Williams, Drive-by Truckers and Fatima Mansions and I’m grateful for it.

I was hoping this would hit with just one poster here, but given you had already nominated The Strokes, I was pretty sure you had already heard (of) Spoon even though they are based in the middle of our two respective coasts. Count me not shocked, but pleasantly surprised.

Sure it’s derivative. I already brought up a Fountains of Wayne vibe on songs like “Do You”. “Rent I Pay” rips off Wire’s “Strange; “Rainy Day Taxi” rips off the bass line from Adrien Belew’s “Big Electric Cat”. “Outlier” sounds vaguely like late-career New Order.

I like the comparison, you got the rhythm in that song led by the keys.

And just try to tell me “Knock Knock Knock” doesn’t sound like up-tempo Pink Floyd. Just try. Well, if you tried and you disagreed, you’re wrong.

I haven't placed the song exactly, but I'm not going to argue. I like how the percussion starts it off and then where the guitars and then bass takes it.

Thing is, I like if not love all that shit — and while Belew is a mush-head as a lyricist and thin as a singer, Britt Daniel is sharper and more earnest in those categories, respectively.

The one that really stuck in my head is “Inside Out” with those gentle but spot-on chord changes and 70s dreamy synths.

Yeah, that what I like about it too, the dreamy synths that Alex Fischel brings. I don't recall a song they did to this degree prior. He's amazing in concert too.

The record might lose a little bit of steam towards the end (the cover is the weakest thing here IMO) but there’s not a bad nor indifferent tune on the record, and it finishes I think rather nicely with “New York Kiss”. Look, it’s hard to write ten good ones that sound enough the same to link to each other, but different enough to recall each distinctly, I think — and these guys pull it off.

I agree on those points too, but I feel the ending works well and I've been appreciating "Let Me Be Mine" a lot more in the re-listens up to nominating this, certainly more than before than I ever gave it credit for, especially in the lyrics.

This is a very solid 8/10 and I plan to check out some more Spoon eventually, but TBH I’m happy to keep playing this one too. And here’s hoping a number 6, 7, 8 etc. get added to my new discoveries list from this thread in short order. Well done, @Black&White&BlueMoon Town — you’ve scored a cracker.

Thanks mate! Again, I wasn't sure who might like this, but I was hopeful for maybe one.

We've talked here on many other releases of theirs to sample, and @Barcon had me enjoying Britt's side project of Divine Fits over the weekend more than I thought, so I'd recommend any of the ones mentioned, with Hot Thoughts being right up there after this, and the tour I first saw them live on.

Here was my vantage point on that show too as I should have included this in my write-up:

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

I was hoping this would hit with just one poster here, but given you had already nominated The Strokes, I was pretty sure you had already heard (of) Spoon even though they are based in the middle of our two respective coasts. Count me not shocked, but pleasantly surprised.


I like the comparison, you got the rhythm in that song led by the keys.

I haven't placed the song exactly, but I'm not going to argue. I like how the percussion starts it off and then where the guitars and then bass takes it.


Yeah, that what I like about it too, the dreamy synths that Alex Fischel brings. I don't recall a song they did to this degree prior. He's amazing in concert too.


I agree on those points too, but I feel the ending works well and I've been appreciating "Let Me Be Mine" a lot more in the re-listens up to nominating this, certainly more than before than I ever gave it credit for, especially in the lyrics.


Thanks mate! Again, I wasn't sure who might like this, but I was hopeful for maybe one.

We've talked here many other releases of theirs to sample, and @Barcon had me enjoying Britt's side project of Divine Fits over the weekend more than I thought, so I'd recommend any of the ones mentioned, with Hot Thoughts being right up there after this, and the tour I first saw them live on.

Here was my vantage point on that show too as I should have included this in my write-up:
View attachment 149260

Great pick. Just to clarify, I definitely had heard of Spoon but I couldn't place any of their tunes; same as the DBTs. I knew of Lucinda's record and had read reviews but not heard it. I had never heard of B//D or FM before though, band-wise or music.

 

[GornikDaze]

So this is number 5. What does that mean, you ask? It’s the fifth record I’ve heard on this thread that was both new to me and rates as a really great listen — which is precisely why I participate here. Spoon joins the ranks of Bad//Dreems, Lucinda Williams, Drive-by Truckers and Fatima Mansions and I’m grateful for it.

A lot of good stuff has come from UT Austin in my experience, including the films of Richard Linklater, and this is a near soundtrack to that generation roughly five to ten years younger than I. There’s a lot of consistency song to song on “They Want My Soul”. Little touches like bluesy chords and seemingly out-of-place octave lifts add flavo(u)r. And it didn’t surprise me to find out the drummer has been a part of this project for a long while — that snare and that high hat (acoustic or electronic) are high in the mix and I really like the contrast with the floating guitar and periodically loopy keyboards and stray sound effects. And back to my oft-used sit-and-listen vs. get-up-and-move trope — I found this record offered a nice mix of either/both — it was consistently toe-tapping while I was comfortably driving a stretch of road or on a United Airlines 777 over Omaha on my way to NYC. In fact, I even found it soothing, this being a stressful work week for me, so the aural appeal works on a lot of levels.

Sure it’s derivative. I already brought up a Fountains of Wayne vibe on songs like “Do You”. “Rent I Pay” rips off Wire’s “Strange; “Rainy Day Taxi” rips off the bass line from Adrien Belew’s “Big Electric Cat”. “Outlier” sounds vaguely like late-career New Order. And just try to tell me “Knock Knock Knock” doesn’t sound like up-tempo Pink Floyd. Just try. Well, if you tried and you disagreed, you’re wrong. Thing is, I like if not love all that shit — and while Belew is a mush-head as a lyricist and thin as a singer, Britt Daniel is sharper and more earnest in those categories, respectively.

The one that really stuck in my head is “Inside Out” with those gentle but spot-on chord changes and 70s dreamy synths. The record might lose a little bit of steam towards the end (the cover is the weakest thing here IMO) but there’s not a bad nor indifferent tune on the record, and it finishes I think rather nicely with “New York Kiss”. Look, it’s hard to write ten good ones that sound enough the same to link to each other, but different enough to recall each distinctly, I think — and these guys pull it off.

This is a very solid 8/10 and I plan to check out some more Spoon eventually, but TBH I’m happy to keep playing this one too. And here’s hoping a number 6, 7, 8 etc. get added to my new discoveries list from this thread in short order. Well done, @Black&White&BlueMoon Town — you’ve scored a cracker.

It’s now my mission to get on your exclusive list… hopefully time is on my side ;)