Sp0on - Transference (2010)

I grew a bit bored of Spoon’s back catalog, so this new album gives them a fresh slate and I like this. Their style is distinctive, refreshingly simple, and generally pretty catchy. They really revel in this simplicity, and are a better band when they keep it simple, as they do on this album. They play melodies that everyone’s heard a thousand times before, but inject their own flavor into the music. I think it helps that most vocalists don’t sounds quite like Britt Daniel, and his singing style really does define the band. He can sing falsetto without making me want to turn the volume down (“Who Makes Your Money”), but I like when his voice best when it has a wailing sort of quality on the verses of “Written in Reverse” and “Trouble Comes Running.” “The Mystery Zone” is my favorite here, with a catchy beat and nice little flourishes of guitar appearing here and there. I don’t think there is a monumental difference in quality between their best albums and their worst, and the trend continues here.

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