Spoon - Transference

By way of Austin, Texas, Spoon are back with their brand new album, Transference. The follow up to 2007's "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" finds the quartet sticking to their original sound that they have perfected over the years and through their vast array of albums they have released over the years, have shown the evolution of a band that makes whatever music they feel like playing and does their own thing.

The album starts off with "Before Destruction", an acoustic laden track that showcases frontman Britt Daniel's strong and distinct vocals permeating throughout the whole song and adding a distinct layer of authenticity to the track. "Is Love Forever?" is a melodic and upbeat number that shows the versatility of songs that they are capable of creating with each and every album that they make. Another example of that bursting of creativity is "The Mystery Zone", another melodic tune with intricate guitar riffs and an excellent drum pattern spread throughout.

The album's first single, "Written In Reverse" is a melodic, piano infused number with Britt's vocals echoing throughout the song with distinct clarity and precision. "I Saw the Light" is a mid-tempo tune that brings down the energy a notch to deliver a song that is ambient and soothing at the same time. Other standout tracks include "Trouble Comes Running" with its standard issue guitar riffs and cooing background vocals, and "Out Go the Lights" with its simple melody and well synced instrumentation.

My favorite song off the album is "Got Nuffin", a mid-tempo number and perhaps the catchiest song on the album with its thumping guitar riffs and pulsating drums making this song stand out on its own, and one you shouldn't be afraid to dance to. One distinct quality that I noticed about this album is towards the end of some of the songs, the song doesn't fade out naturally, but just has a cold ending, meaning the song just stops playing instantly before moving on to the next track. A very unusual method of ending a song, but it's just one of the trademarks that make Spoon so special and unique.

All in all, a well thought out and executed album that continues to show Spoon's growth as a band. While they have been together for quite some time, there's always room for them to grow and experiment with different sounds and arrangements that have never been combined before. The bands that aren't afraid to take chances are those that will get noticed first and will also be around for a little while longer than most other bands.

                                                                                                                               Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Before Destruction
2. Is Love Forever?
3. The Mystery Zone
4. Who Makes Your Money
5. Written In Reverse
6. I Saw the Light
7. Trouble Comes Running
8. Goodnight Laura
9. Out Go the Lights
10. Got Nuffin
11. Nobody Gets Me But You