List Up: Spoon Albums

I'd like to be able to tell people who my favorite band is, but I can't settle on any one. I've certainly tried, even ranking them using all kinds of different categorical methods, but no clear-cut winner has ever presented itself. In reality there are probably about 5 or so acts that rotate, depending on who has released an album most recently (unless it's a dud). But however large that group of artists is, Spoon is definitely in the top tier of said group. And if you pressured me to pick a band/artist, I might actually go with them. Of all my favorites, and as varied as my tastes are musically (if it's got a melody, I can probably dig it on some level), Spoon probably tugs at my heartstrings the most, likely because they hearken back to the Beach Boys Pop/Classic Rock/New Wave that I was raised on before being converted to an Indie Rock kid towards the end of high school.  No band does so much with so little. They cut it down to the necessary essentials and strip away all the gimmicks that have been employed by so many over the years to hide a lack of what it takes. It's all about the rhythm and the melody with these guys, and they rarely swing and miss. Britt Daniel doesn't need to trick you, and he's not even going to try.

They've taken the long road over the years - landing a major record deal, getting kicked to the curb (despite releasing an awesome album), and then spending the next 20 years working their way back up the food chain. And now here they are, having their latest release featured on iTunes' "First Play" and playing The Tonight Show. It's hard not to love these guys. Their story is great and their music might be even better. And it's pretty much the general consensus that "They Want My Soul", which was officially released this past Tuesday, only adds another chapter to their greatness (anyone who follows my twitter feed knows I've thrown my hat in that ring as well). And so the question that begs to be answered, and which others have already attempted to answer, is where does Spoon's most recent offering rank amongst their best? Bands with a catalogue as consistently good as Spoon make it extremely difficult to answer this question, and in fact it probably is just a matter of personal preference. Ask a random die-hard Spoon fan what the band's best album is, and you're fairly likely to get any of their last seven releases as an answer - and justifiably so. But if you're reading this, either you aren't super familiar with Spoon and are looking for a bit of guidance (more likely), or you're just interested in what I think (probably less likely). Regardless, here's my take; share yours below if you have the energy after you're done berating me for my ignorance.

8. Telephono

Some people compare Spoon heavily to the Pixies (there's even an unsubstantiated rumor that they originated as a Pixies cover band); this album is why. A quality example of early 90s indie rock, but there's nothing trend-setting here. Probably the only Spoon record that I would define as for the die-hard fan only.

7. Transference

Up to this point, Spoon's highest debut on the Billboard Charts (#4). Undoubtedly a strong record, but for me it has the markings of Britt Daniel blowing off some steam and cutting loose after releasing their most precisely-crafted, poppy (and popular) release. Off-beat, backwards, and (seemingly) intentionally unfinished in some places.

6. Gimme Fiction

This is a tough one. Gimme Fiction contains some of the most beloved work in Spoon's entire catalogue ("I Turn My Camera On", "Sister Jack", and "I Summon You"). However, it's final third also contains some of their weaker moments (for them, anyway), which is what keeps it out of the "best of" conversation. Doesn't help it's sandwiched between the band's two greatest releases, either.

5. Girls Can Tell

From here on out, it's a total crapshoot. Yeah, Spoon is that good. Lots and lots of huge Spoon fans will tell you GCT is really their best record. Who knows, they might be right. I would definitely say it's in the running for their most overlooked effort. It's a quiet comeback record following a fallout with a major label that probably would have killed off bands not made of the same stuff as Daniel and company. It's also Spoon's coolest, chillest, most sneaky-good album, and one that would probably appeal to just about anyone.

4. They Want My Soul

I struggled with where to put this guy. It's only been out there for a little over a week. Realistically, there's a good chance it won't end up at #4 on my final list, even if Spoon never releases another record. But there's no doubt it's great. If I had to pick a record that best re-captures the perfect quirky/catchy balance of Kill the Moonlight, I'd probably have to go with TWMS. The random explosions of sound, the sparseness of the instrumentation, the heart and soul involved. All were essential ingredients to KTM, and all are present here, albeit through a different lens ten years and 4 albums later. Astounding they're able to still turn out such inspired material after 20 years.

3. Series of Sneaks

An album that is sort of legendary for all the wrong reasons. Spoon's lone major label release prior to TWMS (sort of) also happens to be a flat-out great album. It's the band's most straight forward record, and their most "Rock" oriented. It's resided atop this list for me on many occasions, but, having said that, it's pretty rough around the edges and probably not for everyone.

2. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

If there were such a thing as a consensus "Greatest Spoon Record", my guess is that this would probably be it. And there's plenty of solid reasons for that. 10 of them to be precise. Not a track here is without an exact purpose, and nothing goes to waste. It's the most meticulous, catchy, and accessible of Spoon's albums, and "Finer Feelings" is one of my all-time favorite tracks by any band. If you're a first time listener, this, along with Girls Can Tell, would be the place to start.

1. Kill the Moonlight

Can't think of any other way to explain why KTM sits on top of this list other than it is the most "Spoon" of any Spoon record. It takes the best elements of all the aforementioned albums and incorporates them together seamlessly. It's quirky and off-beat, but catchy and accessible. It's cool, but it rocks pretty hard, too. Immediately, it may not be for everyone, but it can be if they only let it sink in. It's the Spoon record that found me, and to this day I think it remains their magnum opus.

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