2014’s “They Want My Soul” was supposed to be the last Spoon album ever. The Austin, Texas-based band’s leader Britt Daniel had announced it, and Spoon was to call it quits at the height of their indie rock trajectory. Many fans felt it was a shame, since Spoon was easily one of the top 5 indie rock bands of the last decade with its one-two guitar punches and brilliant songwriting. At least, there would be a Britt Daniel solo career ahead, we all thought. Like Frank Black or Dave Grohl, he could show there was life after a successful band like these guys did after The Pixies and Nirvana…. Surprise on March 17, 2017: here comes the band’s ninth studio album, entitled “Hot Thoughts”, released through Matador label, on which the band was for their first-ever album, “Telephono”, published way back in 1996. A way of coming back home? All the other albums have been released on Merge Records, except for the great “They Want My Soul”, which was a Loma Vista album. Spoon is a band that constantly evolves. “They Want My Soul” had rock’n’roll guitars and soulful singing on each track. “Hot Thoughts” is more focused on big beats (Do I Have to Talk You Into It) and disco-based beats that target the dance floor users more than the rockers (First Caress, which features folk singer Sharon Van Etten). There are more electronics and even some instrumentals on this new album, which sometimes makes Spoon sound a bit like Radiohead with a Damon Albarn singing style, like on the cool Pink Up, more than the previous Spoon material. Its not a bad album; but its probably not what Spoon rock fans expected. There are some excellent Spoon-style songs on “Hot Thoughts”, scattered throughout the album. On Can I Sit Next To You, Britt Daniel’s singing is grittier, like it was in 2014. Guitars are funkier than average, and totally fit with Rob Pope’s basslines and Jim Eno’s cool beat. This track should become a chill bar favourite soon. The only other remaining member since its foundation, Jim Eno, is still on drums, while Alex Fischel is on keyboards and Rob Pope on bass. Everybody in the band plays percussion. Eric Harvey, who handled many instruments on all albums since 2002, has left the band after Spoon’s world tour, and is not featured on “Hot Thoughts”. SPOON Hot Thoughts (Matador, 2017) -Genre: indie rock -Recommended if you appreciate Damon Albarn, Foals Listen and buy the album on Google Play Follow the band via their Facebook page Listen to videos on the band’s YouTube channel Réagissez à cet article / Comment this article commentaires / comments
