"Rock 'N' Roll is My Main Concern"

Is there a band out there right now that's better than Spoon?  If so, I'd sure like to hear who you think it is because if that's even possible, they would have to be pretty amazing.  I get into a lot of conversations with people about music and I often get asked what "I'm digging" right now.  Last year at this time, my answer would've been The Hold Steady, right now it's--without hesitation--Spoon.  Nobody sounds like them and I'd be hard-pressed to name any artist that they sound like.  That's a rare feat (and one to which The Hold Steady can also lay claim).

I'm a relatively late arrival to the Spoon bandwagon, when my first exposure began with the Girls Can Tell album which Carla had around the house.  The first time I heard "The Fitted Shirt" I was instantly hooked and proceeded to listen to it incessantly eventually getting around to the rest of the album.  When Kill The Moonlight came out, I was slightly worried because "The Way We Get By" was getting constant airplay and my 'secret' was getting out.  My adulation was forever cemented with the release of 2005's Gimme Fiction, my second favorite album of that year (Illinoise was #1) and probably among my Top 100 albums ever. Seriously, it's that good.  I bought that record four times in 2005: one for myself, two as gifts and then I bought it again for myself as I lost the original copy.  "The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine" is a work of pure genius.

I'm at that great period of 'getting to know' a record now with the new Spoon album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga where I still don't know the names of every song and have not yet passed judgement on the whole thing. I had been living with a few songs: "The Underdog" (video above), "Rhthm & Soul" [sic] & "Don't You Evah" from some advance mp3's I got from various sources but hearing this new album the first few times is a delight.  It's like the first few dates with someone new, you're not sure where it's going but it sure is fun.  There's a great interview in the most recent Onion A/V Club with Spoon's Britt Daniel in which he states that he thinks Spoon is "one of the best bands making records today" and it doesn't feel the least bit like bragadocio, like say one of the Gallagher Brothers or Kanye West. It's just a guy who is doing what he likes to do and happens to be really good at it.  Would you expect anything less from the lawyer about to defend you in court or the doctor who was about to perform surgery on you? No.  Why should a rock-n-roll singer/songwriter be any different?

So really, is there anyone better than Spoon right now?  Prepare to back yourself up.

 

Comments

[dj]

I'm with you on Gimme Fiction. That's a solid album from beginning to end. After listening to Ga Ga Ga Ga a few times I'm beginning to like it a bit more. At first it seemed like they were just trying to re-make Fiction again. Their sound didn't change much, but I'm still giving it a chance.

As far as anyone better than Spoon, I'd have to cast a vote for my buddy Sufjan Stevens or local-boy-done-good Andrew Bird. Both take chances with every CD they release and continue to nail it every time.

[mattbarr]

Spoon is certainly making great records (although i didnt love gimme fiction like you did) and you're right about no one sounding like them. As for anyone better, I'm waiting to see if Radiohead releases an album this year before making any bold statements.

[Robert]

I think my first exposure to Spoon was the song "Take the Fifth" three years ago. Then I heard "Gimme Fiction" and loved it. When I bought "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" at Borders on Saturday night, the guy at the checkout said he was looking forward to hearing it, and we agreed that Spoon is a solid, reliable band, which is an underrated quality these days. A lot of people seem to want bands to pull a Wilco or Radiohead on every album and change up their sound in dramatic ways, but that doesn't always pay off (I'm looking in your direction, "A Ghost Is Born"). I really like how Spoon keeps improving upon their basic foundation.

[justin]

I haven't heard the new one yet (should be arriving soon from lala.com) but I've been fairly disappointed by some other new releases recently (zeitgeist anyone?) so I'm holding out hope on this one.

I have to mention that I liked Separation Sunday much more than Boys and Girls in America, too...

[DW]

I'm with Justin on the Hold Steady- loved 'Separation Sunday', but very much disliked 'Boys and Girls in America'. They've taken the "we're working class midwesterners who love Springsteen" thing too far and ended up the indie rock Bob Seger.

But you asked about Spoon. Haven't heard the new one, but thought the 'Gimme Fiction' sounded a little bit too much like 'Kill the Moonlight' (brillant). Not that I wanted them to change their sound- maybe just work on putting in a bridge here and there?

Better than Spoon? Arctic Monkeys are current contenders. But then again they're only 2 albums into it...

[ken]

I made a slight amendment to my initial post to reflect that Sufjan Stevens' "Illinoise" record was indeed my fave of 2005 with Spoon a close second. I agree DJ, that Sufjan is almost peerless when it comes to making unique albums but I sure would love to hear something new (non-seasonal) from him as it's been over two years since Illinoise and Avalanche was just outtakes, so even if he abandons the whole state thing, a new record would solidify him in the firmament.

Robt./Matt - Radiohead have already peaked for me. They still put out consistent records but not on the same level they once did.

Justin/DW - I could see where Separation Sunday might be seen as better than B & G in America but I don't think The Hold Steady have gone downhill at all. And I do like Arctic Monkeys (despite the name). Also the more and more Franz Ferdinand pop up on my iPod, the more I realize they lived up to the hype like few Brit bands do.

And Justin, I may need to consult with you about lala, as much as I like it, I have yet to get sent a 'new' album. The most recent release I've gotten was about four years old, despite having a dozen or so 'wants' from the past year.

[justin]

I should have clarified... I bought it on lala.com, I didn't get it in a trade. The lala store has some good prices.

In looking back on my trade history, out of 58 discs that I've received, only 2 were newer than 2001: TRS-80's Mystery Crash and Depeche Mode's Playing the Angel. And I sent that Depeche Mode back out the next day.

I put my lala page in the URL box...

[scotty]

I have downloaded the latest Spoon offering and I do like it so far. I'm still on the Datarock high you started a few months back. I also like the new White Stripes disc. Catch Hell Blues stands out for me so far.

[Robert]

What's also amazing about Spoon is that "Get Nice!," the bonus CD that comes with "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" (someone let me know if there's an actual track listing somewhere besides CD DataBase's list that you see once you put the CD into your computer), should just be a throwaway of half-completed songs and ideas, but it's full of great tracks as well. Yes, the songs do sound half-complete, but Spoon accomplishes more here than most bands do on "proper" albums.

[Jordano]

Sorry, I know I'm once again late for posting this (which all too often happens to me on this blog) but where are the Kings of Leon fans? Lots of youthful vigor and solid guitar playing - like Franz Ferdinand's first album (the second was a coattails album with lots of filler) and what I was hoping Art Brut would turn out to be (clever lyrics, but the lilting vocals do get to me after awhile).

From Youth and Young Manhood's 11 tracks, I've got more than half with 4-5 stars, and only one with a 2 or below.