Album Of The Week: Spoon's Transference

It's not like Spoon is a new band or a band that has been completely unknown until recently, but for some reason they slid under my radar. It wasn't until their most recent album Transference was released and a coinciding article in Rolling Stone was penned that I even took notice of the alternative group. After I read the article, I decided to give the samples a try and found the album on sale so I grabbed it and I'm willing to admit that this record was a pleasant surprise, offering some typically alternative sound with some very catchy hooks and clever songwriting.

Transference pulled me in from the very first listen. I was expecting… well, I'm not sure what I was expecting. I was thinking I'd get some interesting songs that could pass the time while at work, but instead I got an engrossing album that found a way to sneak into my head throughout the entire day. I'll find myself singing little snippets of the songs and getting weird looks from people, which turn to even weirder looks when I try to explain what I'm singing.

Spoon isn't really obscure. Metacritic named them the best band of the decade based on their consistently high critical rankings for their albums, and they've been somewhat of an indie darling for the past 12 years or so. But, of course, I'm just finding them. Because I'm hip like that. In any case, Transference has really given me the desire to track down their other offerings and I haven't been disappointed with any of them yet.

As always, there are a few particular songs to pay attention to: Is Love Forever, The Mystery Zone, Trouble Comes Running, and Out Go the Lights. If you had to skip a few tracks (I wouldn't recommend it, but if for some reason you just couldn't listen to it all) I'd pass on: Goodnight Laura, Got Nuffin, and Who Makes Your Money. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.