They Want My Soul

I was a religious buyer of monthly music magazine CMJ in the late 90’s and early 00’s. It came with a free cd every month and was an easy way to keep up with new music in the pre-internet era.

“Did you check out that Spoon track?” -Carl   

“Um, no. Should I?” -Me

“Probably.” -Carl

I did. It was Lines In The Suit. Minimal, infectious rock and roll. I bought the album Girls Can Tell later at a record shop in Asheville, NC. Great stuff that stayed in the rotation for a long time.

Everyone loved, loved, loved the follow up record Kill The Moonlight. Everyone but me. I couldn’t (and still can’t) see how anyone thought it was good or even an improvement on Girls Can Tell. But it made tons of year end best of lists and is still highly regarded today. To each their own.

I felt like Get Fiction was definitely a move in the right direction and Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga was incredible. A track from that actually made our wedding cd. Transference was another slightly off record despite having a stellar track in Out Go The Lights.

We come to this year’s They Want My Soul. Wow. Every track could be a single (somewhat like last year’s world beating Arctic Monkeys album AM.) 17 or so years after forming, Spoon has delivered their best album in my humble opinion. This one’s got piano, distorted guitar, and doo wop back up vocals. Radio friendly without sacrificing edge. My album of the year. Full disclosure: Elizabeth loves it too. I'd list a standout track but i think they all are. I'm fully aware that sounds ridiculous. 

"Educated folk singers want my soul,"

Well played Spoon. Well played.