Spoon, "Gimme Fiction"

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now that its leaked to p2p networks, im sure a few of us have listened to it.

me -- i think it rules, but im biased. i unabashedly love anything spoon puts out.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

you complain of my diction..

i'll have to check this out later tonight

― 6335, Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't really loved anything Spoon's done since Telephono, and even that had weak spots. So I've got no idea whether the fact that I'm liking Gimme Fiction so much means they've changed again or that what they do finally clicked with me.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

oh, they've changed things around again. this record isnt as deconstructed as KTM -- in fact, the production's quite slick but without sounding overly commercial.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I like Spoon better when they are more like early Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson. This record is nice, but the songs aren't as strong. Still a lot better than the pre-Girls Can Material, though. I figure this one may be a grower, but I doubt I'll ever love any of this stuff like I love "Take The Fifth," "Anything You Want," and "Something To Look Forward To."

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

err, "Girls Can Tell material"

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:41 (twenty-one years ago)

That said, there's nothing on the record that I dislike.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Gimme Fiction is the Squeeze to Girls Can Tell and Kill the Moonlight's Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson? Perhaps.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:47 (twenty-one years ago)

You think so? Classic Squeeze is so much catchier than any of this stuff. How do you figure it's like Squeeze?

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

It's hard for me to conceive of a better Spoon record that KtM, so I'll try not to expect it.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

No, this is like Sweets From A Stranger Squeeze, not Cool For Cats.

x-post

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:49 (twenty-one years ago)

"I Turn My Camera On" sounds a bit like "Emotional Rescue." "Sister Jack" sounds like Wilco when Wilco is alt-country and dull rather pretentious and catchy.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

So it's not full of catchy hooks, spare, perfectly arranged guitar/keyboard parts and amazing sounding drums?

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

"I Summon You" is awesome.

― darin (darin), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, I guess that makes a bit of sense. I rarely listen to Squeeze after East Side Story. They fall off pretty dramatically from Sweets From A Stranger onward.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:54 (twenty-one years ago)

matt, it sounds like you dont like the record.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:54 (twenty-one years ago)

catchy hooks - not so much

spare - yes, but less so than the last two

perfectly arranged guitar/keyboard parts - too much guitar for my taste, but the keyboards sound good

and amazing sounding drums? - they've still got that covered, but the guitars are more prominent in the mix of some songs

Maria - I like the record, just not a whole lot. It's still kinda early, it might click with me later. I've heard it about three times now, so that's pretty reasonable to expect.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

The songs that are immediately working for me are "The Beast And Dragon Adored," "My Mathematical Mind," "I Turn My Camera On," "The Infinite Pet," and "Was It You?"

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Sister Jack isn't working for you? I don't hear Wilco in that at all. Maybe this is a weird comparison, but it reminds me of the Flamin Groovies.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Wilco is probably not the best comparison I could come up. How about just generic "boring roots rock"? I usually like Wilco, even when they do the boring roots rock stuff.

Just listened to "The Two Sides Of Monsieur Valentine," and do hear the late-Squeezeness in that song.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

i think the drumming's just as prominent on this record as it has been on previous records. eno picks the perfect time to start it up in "sister jack". i was worried that without some sort of backbeat, the sound would drag and sound awful, but its totally not the case.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

matt - i dont want to argue semantics with you but when you use the phrase "boring roots rock" but then say you like it, im a bit unsure as to what your feelings really are.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, "Sister Jack" is definitely my least favorite song on the record. I wouldn't characterize the other songs as being boring. The guitars in "Sister Jack" just make my eyes glaze over. I can imagine liking that song if the guitars were different or maybe removed entirely.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:07 (twenty-one years ago)

well, thats what im saying. i heard the "SJ" demos, which were only guitar and i thought to myself, oh man, this sounds like its going to be dull. eno's drumming saves the song from being a mid-shuffle disaster.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

"Two Sides...," "Sister Jack" and "I Summon You" are probably my top picks thus far. I can see myself spending a lot of time with this record, though.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

oh wait, im sorry. im thinking of "i summon you". i hate titles.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Did you hear the demo version of "Sister Jack" that was floating on their website for the better part of the year? I think right now I prefer that version, though I'm willing to give this time.

x-post

― alex in montreal, Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Sounds like they still haven't finished mixing or mastering these.

― darin (darin), Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope that is true. It could stand to be a bit cleaner than this.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

holy shit how can you not love "They Never Got You"? it's that one instantly GREAT song you always get on spoon albums.

― drew, Thursday, 17 February 2005 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

cleaner? i think the productions pretty sharp on it. might have to do with us listening to MP3's more than anything else.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

i have listened to it, on-off, for the best part of the last 24 hours, and i'm of the opinion that it is an almighty shuffle forward and their best record yet. now, bear in mind that i have a 100% record of thinking the most recent Spoon is the best, since Sneaks, but that's because it has been true every time! to paraphrase myself elsewhere, without losing the Spoon-y spartan essence, the songs are somehow more musical and substantial. i love 'Mathematical Mind' - seriously a contender for best Spoon track to date.

― fsharp (fsharp), Thursday, 17 February 2005 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Heartening!

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 17 February 2005 21:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I keep reading this as "Grime Fiction"

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Thursday, 17 February 2005 21:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Spoon should go on tour with Stephen Malkmus and the can call it either the "Face the Fiction" or "Gimme the Truth" tour.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Hi, thanks for stealing my joke. :-)

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 17 February 2005 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, maybe just the TRUTH AND FICTION Tour would work, sorta like that DCFC/D-Plan tour a few years back called the DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT Tour.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 17 February 2005 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Thumbs up to the LP, thumbs down to its cover...

http://www.matadorrecords.com/images/fullsize/ole-660.jpg

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:08 (twenty-one years ago)

yes indeed, that is more than somewhat crappy. is that really the cover, or did you cook that up in photoshop in a random act of boredom?

― fsharp (fsharp), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Check the url. It's straight from Matador.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Or they could do a split with the Fake Fictions and call it "Gimme Fake Fiction".

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I like that cover!

The Truth & Fiction tour should be set up like those Billy Joel/Elton John tours - they should play together, do each other's songs - it'd be great!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the photo, but the font and font color are horrendous.

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:16 (twenty-one years ago)

They should have at least ironed the hood.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:19 (twenty-one years ago)

i think the cover's just fine. its just as minimal as kill the moonlight or girls can tell were. britt seems to gravitate towards what i can only refer to as "duotone" images, meaning its black plus one color.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:20 (twenty-one years ago)

it looks like an advert for cosmetics or something. my thumbs are also firmly down, too.

― fsharp (fsharp), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:20 (twenty-one years ago)

jaymc -- im sorry! i knew someone said it but i couldnt remember just who.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I've got no real reservations about the composition of the cover (black + 1), but not a fan of the image itself.

That font and the font colors over another image would be just dandy.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:22 (twenty-one years ago)

(xpost) heh.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Johhny Fever and I are in opposite mode on this record in every aspect of its being! I like the photo and think the text looks a bit half-assed.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the cover, too, actually. At first glance it reminded me simultaneously of this Gerhard Richter painting:

http://www.kunsthalle.nuernberg.de/ausstellung/1999/artistsproof/richter.jpg

and this Katharina Fritsch sculpture:

http://www.artic.edu/aic/programs/images/2000_49.jpg

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:27 (twenty-one years ago)

they should try for something more like:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drg400/g404/g40453v02cv.jpg

― fsharp (fsharp), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:30 (twenty-one years ago)

beautiful

― fsharp (fsharp), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:31 (twenty-one years ago)

i wouldnt be surprised if its a part of some work, like how that balla painting was used on the series of sneaks cover.

in the end, it looks like a spoon record should look like: minimal and slightly ambiguous.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I think a Spoon album with Phil Collins on the cover would be grebt!

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:32 (twenty-one years ago)

That photo of Phil Collins is actually quite good.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

i was gonna mock up a pic of Britt staring moddily, with the band and album names in a similar style, but even i'm not that bored.

but tomorrow i have to work, so who knows?

― fsharp (fsharp), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:46 (twenty-one years ago)

moodily, naturally

― fsharp (fsharp), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:47 (twenty-one years ago)

"i turn my camera on" is the best song on this album.

britt's falsetto, jerky off beat, awesome lyrics.

― cutty (mcutt), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:52 (twenty-one years ago)

The cover totally reminds me of some ads for a building society. Scottish Widow, but red.

― Suedey (John Cei Douglas), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Or they could do a split with the Fake Fictions and call it "Gimme Fake Fiction".
-- Jordan (jordan...), February 17th, 2005 4:14 PM. (Jordan)

Yes.

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:55 (twenty-one years ago)

i was gonna mock up a pic of Britt staring moddily, with the band and album names in a similar style, but even i'm not that bored.

Looks like I am.

http://www.notempo.com/jpg/spoonfake.jpg

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Suedey, you have called it. that's totally what it's like.

i like it less and less. it's going to be one of those i put in the case backwards. unless the other side is worse, of course.

but let me reiterate, great album.

― fsharp (fsharp), Thursday, 17 February 2005 22:59 (twenty-one years ago)

dude that's awesome!!! can we send this to the band? maybe they haven't gone to press on the sleeves yet.

― fsharp (fsharp), Thursday, 17 February 2005 23:00 (twenty-one years ago)

frustration. i'm at work, trying to find a leaked copy on an archaic mac with an obsolete version of soulseek.
but no. can't find it.
but later, with my own fancy, high-powered computing machine, and the newest versions of the p2p favourites, i will hear this album.
and i don't mind the rumoured cover.

― Bruce S. Urquhart (BanjoMania), Thursday, 17 February 2005 23:06 (twenty-one years ago)

That's not a rumored cover, it's from the Matador site!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 17 February 2005 23:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Is this the same album that's been appearing on "upcoming releases" lists under another title for about a year and a half?

(And what was that abandoned title, anyway? I forget...)

― MV, Thursday, 17 February 2005 23:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Album cover looks like a lead photo for a feature in Vogue or something. Sounds like no drop in quality from comments here.

― PiersT, Thursday, 17 February 2005 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

"romeo's apprentice" was one of the titles. i believe "the beast and dragon are adored" was another.

romeo's apprentice is funny because:

spoon's booking agent is jim romeo at ground control. jim romeo has a nephew i went to high school with. [apparently jim is from my hometown as well.] his nephew is his assistant, er, apprentice at GCT. hence, this is as close as metuchen nj will ever get to be referenced in a song/title/etc.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 17 February 2005 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

so -- what does everything think the single off this thing will be?

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Friday, 18 February 2005 16:29 (twenty-one years ago)

"Turn My Camera On" if they want to be interesting, "Sister Jack" or "Monsieur Valentine" if they want to pander to their indie rock base.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 18 February 2005 16:38 (twenty-one years ago)

if it were two minutes shorter "They Never Got You" would be the single -- it's got the hookiest beat. But a record label would never go with the best song, right? My guess is "Sister Jack." -- and I see exactly what Matthew is talking about in terms of Wilco. It sounds like it could've squeezed in between AM and Being There.

The album is very strong, but not amazing. I felt the same way about KtM. Girls Can Tell is my favorite of theirs.

― robot mark (robot mark), Saturday, 19 February 2005 04:49 (twenty-one years ago)

i just can't get into this album.
kill the moonlight was much better.

― Aerodynamic (Aerodynamic), Saturday, 19 February 2005 04:53 (twenty-one years ago)

i think i just figured out why.
they sound like the stereophonics on this one.
anyone agree with me?.

― Aerodynamic (Aerodynamic), Saturday, 19 February 2005 05:00 (twenty-one years ago)

OK. i heard from someone over the weekend that the sequencing isnt correct on various websites. i was wondering this too, because "the beast & dragon, adored" is a weird opener.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, you think? I can't imagine sequencing "The Beast and Dragon Adored" on that album as anything other than the first song. That song screams "first song on the album" to me.

"They Never Got You" ought to be the final song, not "Merchants of Soul."

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 21:28 (twenty-one years ago)

That said, "The Beast And Dragon Adored" should be the last song in their main set, and "My Mathematical Mind" should be the first song of every night on the tour. That would be ideal.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 21:29 (twenty-one years ago)

lyrics don't resonate as strongly as they did on Girls Can Tell, but this album is their most groove-based to date and is probably my favorite. I think the single should the "I Took my camera off" one.

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't have liner notes so hell if I know what they're actually called. I thought they were saying "Sister Jay" on that one song.

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 21:33 (twenty-one years ago)

they still sound like Billy Joel meets Wire.

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 21:35 (twenty-one years ago)

The leaked version tracklisting is

1) The Beast & Dragon, Adored
2) The Two Sides Of Monsieur Valentine
3) I Turn My Camera On
4) My Mathematical Mind
5) The Delicate Place
6) Sister Jack
7) I Summon You
8) The Infinite Pet
9) Was It You?
10) They Never Got You
11) Merchants Of Soul

The record has grown on me a lot. I'm really into "They Never Got You," which has snuck up on me from out of nowhere. I still think "Sister Jack" is boring, but I'm fond of everything else. I like it more than Kill The Moonlight, but not as much as Girls Can Tell.

Wow, you are so incredibly OTM about them sounding like Billy Joel meets Wire. That's perfect!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I prefer Johnny Fever's cover to the real one.

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 21:39 (twenty-one years ago)

now the spoonies can rank their albums from most favorite to least! wee!

Gimme Fiction
Girls Can Tell
Telephono
Series Of Sneaks
Kill The Moonlight

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 21:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Girls Can Tell > Gimme Fiction > Kill The Moonlight >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>A Series Of Sneaks > Telephono

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 21:49 (twenty-one years ago)

"beast & dragon" sounds like a total closing track to me. those opening piano just sounds like its summing up the action of the record, even the lyrics reference the other songs.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 22:07 (twenty-one years ago)

That makes sense. It would be really awkward if it wasn't the first or last song in the sequence. I think it seems more like an opener to me because of the first few seconds, and how it builds up to that chorus - the way it is recorded and performend, it feels more like a beginning to me. If it's not the first song, I would hope that "My Mathematical Mind" is.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 22:13 (twenty-one years ago)

my mathematical mind: you are 100% OTM, matt.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 22:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the real cover~ Neatly references Little Red Riding Hood (Gimme Fiction, eh? Eh?), as for the font, it seems classic, if just a little of step, which is how I think of Spoon, kinda classic songwriting elements, but just a little off-kilter, weird noises, structures and such.

Thumbs Up~

― Yoshinorimike (Yoshinorimike), Friday, 25 February 2005 08:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Avec un peu de recul, this album has definitely grown on me now that I listen to it for the first time in a week. I love "The Beast and The Dragon, Adored" as the opener, as it sets the tone for the rest of the album. There are no *peaks* per se, which is always hard to deal with on first listens, but I really like the prevailing mood of this album. I still think that "The Infinite Pet" is a relative clunker though.

― alex in montreal, Friday, 25 February 2005 14:41 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't get the Telephono hate AT ALL - that album has been a touring van staple for us for years

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Friday, 25 February 2005 22:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Sister Jack should be a hit

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 25 February 2005 22:13 (twenty-one years ago)

for all those that don't think that "beast" should not be the opener:

when he says "UH HUH, ALRIGHT" if feels like the album is starting!

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 25 February 2005 22:21 (twenty-one years ago)

The official Spoon site says that the running order that has leaked is the real one.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 25 February 2005 22:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Yay for that. I think it's perfect.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 25 February 2005 22:31 (twenty-one years ago)

when he says "UH HUH, ALRIGHT" if feels like the album is starting!

the same thing happens on the first constantines record. or is it "we're rolling"? eh, i cant remember.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Friday, 25 February 2005 22:34 (twenty-one years ago)

absolutely love this record. much better than Kill The Moonlight, IMO.

― teekay, Friday, 25 February 2005 23:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree. I like it. Did anyone else notice maybe a 'speeding up' of Britt's voice on the first track, though, or is it just my copy? sounds kinda weird...

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Friday, 25 February 2005 23:23 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah i noticed that too. the change in pitch from the first to second track is ... noticable. at first i didn't think it was him, and then track two came in and i was like oh yeah, there's Britt.

― teekay, Friday, 25 February 2005 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

There are no *peaks* per se

OTM, which makes it a first for Spoon. but it maintains a fantastic level of quality throughout that makes the record itself a peak. i think it's a step forward.

― Lee (fsharp), Saturday, 26 February 2005 00:09 (twenty-one years ago)

sister jack is a peak.

― cutty (mcutt), Saturday, 26 February 2005 00:16 (twenty-one years ago)

They Never Got You pretty much hits it out of the park for me.

― erv (Abe Froman), Saturday, 26 February 2005 03:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I would definitely say that this is a record with peaks - "My Mathematical Mind," "Beast And Dragon Adored" and "They Never Got You" are clearly the tall trees in this little forrest.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Saturday, 26 February 2005 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

au contraire, mon frere!

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 26 February 2005 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

au contraire, indeed!

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 26 February 2005 15:23 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

FUCKING. BRILLIANT.
"The Two Sides Of Monsieur Valentine" is unfortunately hitting way too close to home for me right now, but like a car crash I am drawn to it. A car crash with piano

― Morley Timmons (Donna Brown), Saturday, 19 March 2005 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

i'd argue that this record peaks early - i have such a hard time getting into "i turn my camera on" after the first two songs.

― blackmail.is.my.life (blackmail.is.my.life), Saturday, 19 March 2005 16:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Really? 'Cause that's a great song- it's just different, that's all. I can see where it would appear to peak early, though- that's prob'ly my favorite song on the album right now

― Morley Timmons (Donna Brown), Saturday, 19 March 2005 16:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Monsieur Valentine = dead ringer for early Auteurs. Cello riffs and sparse piano / guitar stuff. Spoon escape being awful as a result because the guy's voice is better than Luke Haines. Or maybe it's just that an American accent sounds more exotic.

― alext (alext), Sunday, 20 March 2005 21:41 (twenty-one years ago)

So that cover is straight Andres Serrano, right.

― Zed Szetlian (Finn MacCool), Monday, 21 March 2005 02:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh man I just listened to this for the first time today, and I'm waaay disappointed.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 21 March 2005 03:21 (twenty-one years ago)

ps that cover is straight-up Irving Penn and it RULES

― Morley Timmons (Donna Brown), Thursday, 24 March 2005 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

jaymc, I felt the same way! It has grown on me like goose barnacles! SPOOON!

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 24 March 2005 20:56 (twenty-one years ago)

finally listened, not thrilled. Heavy on the classic-rock tributes a la Elvis Costello of recent years (though to be sure it's more consisitently appealing). May be a grower... I thought the last couple songs were pretty strong. New order of Spoon release goodness:

Kill the Moonlight
Soft Effects
Series of Sneaks
Gimme Fiction
Girls Can Tell
Love Ways

(still haven't heard Telephono)

― These Robust Cookies (Robust Cookies), Thursday, 24 March 2005 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Spoon to Tour North America in June

Chris Rediske reports:
So before you get all uppity about it, let us just say: We know we just reported Spoon tour dates last Friday. But here's the thing-- those shows, aside from one SXSW date (which already happened) and the Coachella date in April, are all taking place in Europe. Where you, most likely, are not. But you know Spoon loves the native North American-dweller just as much as the next deified indie rock band, which is why they're planning on spending their summer with you and you and you.

Yes, it's true-- Spoon will be marching quickly through the U.S. and Canada for the better part of June in support of their upcoming fifth full-length Gimme Fiction, hitting both coasts before ending up in their hometown of Austin. The Clientele will be along for the ride, and because we're cool like that, we've even reprinted the European dates from last week. Turn your camera on:

04-06 Dublin, Ireland - Olympia *
04-08 London, England - Brixton Academy *
04-11 Hamburg, Germany - Grosse Freiheit *
04-12 Koln, Germany - E-Werk *
04-13 Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle *
04-15 Treviso, Italy - New Age *
04-16 Firenze, Italy - Sasch Hall *
04-17 Modena, Italy - Vox *
04-19 Bordeaux, France - Le Krakatoa *
04-20 Nantes, France - Halle de la Trocardiere *
04-21 Paris, France - Le Zenith *
04-24 Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz *
04-25 Madrid, Spain - La Riviera *
04-30 Indio, CA - Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
06-01 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse #
06-02 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle #
06-03 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club #
06-04 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts #
06-05 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace #
06-06 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street #
06-07 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club #
06-08 New York, NY - Webster Hall #
06-09 New York, NY - Webster Hall #
06-10 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom #
06-11 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre #
06-12 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue #
06-13 Lawrence, KS - Granada #
06-14 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater #
06-16 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom #
06-17 Vancouver, British Columbia #
06-18 Seattle, WA - Showbox #
06-20 San Francisco, CA - TBA #
06-21 Los Angeles, CA - TBA #
06-22 Tempe, AZ - TBA #
06-24 Dallas, TX - TBA #
06-25 Austin, TX - TBA #

― Morley Timmons (Donna Brown), Thursday, 24 March 2005 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, im pretty psyched about this. i think im even going to get tickets to shows in other cities!

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 24 March 2005 21:25 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/Suedey/valentinecoloursmall2.jpg

― Suedey (John Cei Douglas), Saturday, 30 April 2005 12:05 (twenty-one years ago)

i said this over at fluxblog, but that should be the cover art for the 7". please make this happen merge.

― blackmail.is.my.life (blackmail.is.my.life), Sunday, 1 May 2005 12:26 (twenty-one years ago)

guided by voices

― Dr. Gene Scott (shinybeast), Sunday, 1 May 2005 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

GODDAMN ME. Ok, while I'm here, Britt Daniel gets x free passes whether or not this album isn't any good.

But it will be good...naysayers should recall that both the last two were big-time sleepers. You have to let those songs grow into all the empty spaces...

― Dr. Gene Scott (shinybeast), Sunday, 1 May 2005 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

It has definitely grown on me, though there's some sagging in the middle ("Sister Jack," "I Summon You"--and wtf, Daniel sounds like Beck on "Was it You," who needs that...).

― These Robust Cookies (Robust Cookies), Monday, 2 May 2005 05:29 (twenty-one years ago)

who is responible for that graphical depiction?

― Aaron Ef. (aaron ef.), Monday, 2 May 2005 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

A fellow named John Cei Douglas.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 2 May 2005 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

John Cei Douglas = Suedey

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Monday, 2 May 2005 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

oh haha i hadn't noticed that! good work john!

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 2 May 2005 15:28 (twenty-one years ago)

i said this over at fluxblog, but that should be the cover art for the 7". please make this happen merge.
-- blackmail.is.my.life (blackmail.is.my.lif...), May 1st, 2005.

Yeah, please make this happen merge! The back cover could look something like this...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/Suedey/valentinebackcoverpos2.jpg

I am unemployed.

― Suedey (John Cei Douglas), Monday, 2 May 2005 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

wow! who do we have to talk to to make this happen?

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 2 May 2005 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/Suedey/covertestbigletterscopy.jpg

― Suedey (John Cei Douglas), Monday, 2 May 2005 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, thanks jaymc! I probably should have mentioned who I was upthread, silly me!

― Suedey (John Cei Douglas), Monday, 2 May 2005 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

hey it's ok! at first i was just like, oh, he nicked that from fluxblog!

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 2 May 2005 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)

send email to merge xpost

― blackmail.is.my.life (blackmail.is.my.life), Monday, 2 May 2005 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

spoon played a secret show in chicago tonight. (it was a jack daniels promotional event.) they were great. i found gimme fiction to be mostly boring when i heard it a month ago, but they were so tight and energetic on stage, i'm looking forward to listening to the album again.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 04:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Spoon make some of the catchiest, most confident rock 'n' roll of any group around. Their fifth full-length is nothing short of a dizzying, soulful masterpiece, easily the most expansive work in their career. "Gimme Fiction" is a sprawling, exhilarating, filler-free album of keenly focused artistic vision and ambition.

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 07:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh... wait. That was from the publisher...

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Tuesday, 3 May 2005 07:47 (twenty-one years ago)

for those in philly...

http://photos8.flickr.com/12381307_81a791d9fa.jpg

we're giving away concert tickets and other promotional swag.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 21:51 (twenty-one years ago)

this has become a must-buy for me. there's a picture in the liner from a show at philly's rotunda back in april '03!

the sound was so bad, i think i called for "waiting for the kid to come out" after they played it.

― blackmail.is.my.life (blackmail.is.my.life), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 00:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Bought this album today and it is so great.

That's all I have to say.

― Mickey (modestmickey), Wednesday, 11 May 2005 02:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Album of the year so far.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Saturday, 14 May 2005 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

No, The Woods is the album of the year so far.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Saturday, 14 May 2005 18:30 (twenty-one years ago)

No, that would be Final Fantasy.

― Sean M (Sean M), Saturday, 14 May 2005 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I had never heard a note of Spoon's music, but after going head to head with one of the Spoon guys at the Staremaster contest at the Slint ATP I thought I'd check out the new record- and I think it's really great. It's funny, I don't hear the connection between them and a lot of the bands/influences people name drop- to me I hear a really T-Rex/Nick Gilder thing going on, and personally I love it. Yay for Spoon.

― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), Saturday, 14 May 2005 18:43 (twenty-one years ago)

With all the talk of comparing this album with their older ones, I realized I never owned Telephono, just lived with somebody who had one or borrowed it. Now it's out of print, and even just the CD is going for $50 (?!). I'm not on slsk or anything at the moment. Can someone please just Gmail it to me?

― c@md3n (c@md3n), Thursday, 19 May 2005 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

T-Rex/Nick Gilder

completely. Strong 70's sound to the writing and the production on this. I love how they can sound so muscular and spare at the same time.

― dan. (dan.), Thursday, 19 May 2005 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

eleven months pass...

Listened to this album yesterday on big honking headphones while walking through midtown Manhattan, carrying two moderately heavy bags, on my way to Penn Station, to Newark Airport, for to carry me home to LA. Getting my body, my feet on the pavement into rhythm with the bags, navigating through and around the crowds, checking out a few New York women, watching the New Yorkers reading and talking and smoking in their parks. The fact that half of the resulting awesomeness came from the album informs you, reader, that it is awesome, and deserving of praise, and that it disproves the shadowy, gray, lifeless fears about the disappearance of the vital impulse in art that have been troubling you.

― Lukas (lukas), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 19:42 (twenty years ago)

still a great record, i still think there's an alternate sequencing.

― mts (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 19:56 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

Hah - that's a great post from Lukas. Does he still post here?

― Baaderonixx immer wieder (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 12:21 (nineteen years ago)

Still their best album.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 12:34 (nineteen years ago)

you left out a "has nothing on" before "their best album"

(that being KtM, obv)

― bernard snow (sixteen sergeants), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 13:29 (nineteen years ago)

GcT > SoS > KtM > dried up dog dookie > GF

― Mallory L . O'Donnell (That Bitch Camille), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 14:52 (nineteen years ago)

SoS > GF > GCT = KTM > Telephono

― a.b. (alanbanana), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 15:20 (nineteen years ago)

Girls Can Tell = Gimme Fiction = Kill The Moonlight >> A Series of Sneaks > Loveways >>>>>>>>>>>> Telephono

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 18:16 (nineteen years ago)

did i write that purple stuff? o well, it was a gorgeous day.

― Lukas (lukas), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:38 (nineteen years ago)

Album of the year so far.
-- Jim Reckling (Jreckli...), May 14th, 2005 2:06 PM. (Jim Reckling) (link)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No, The Woods is the album of the year so far.
-- The Brainwasher (bornliveddie...), May 14th, 2005 2:30 PM. (Twilight) (link)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No, that would be Final Fantasy.
-- Sean M (sea...), May 14th, 2005 2:38 PM. (Sean M) (link)

Haha.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 21:40 (nineteen years ago)

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00082ZRN0.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5226/village030kh.jpg
http://www.whalefish.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/monster%20pics/village.gif

― gear (gear), Tuesday, 1 August 2006 23:45 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.vulcanproductions.com/Images/clips/hard_candy_clip4.jpg

― Telephonething (Telephonething), Wednesday, 2 August 2006 00:50 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

Where's the Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga thread?

― Scik Mouthy, Monday, 6 August 2007 21:21 (eighteen years ago)

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

― kenan, Monday, 6 August 2007 21:29 (eighteen years ago)

four years pass...

for years somehow i was missing the mp3 for 'delicate place'. now that i have it the whole album is fucked up! what a way to ruin the momentum from 'mathematical mind' > 'sister jack'. :/

― j., Sunday, 12 February 2012 00:50 (fourteen years ago)

i might delete that track and go for a run tomorrow and see if you're onto something

― desperado, rough rider (thomp), Sunday, 12 February 2012 01:10 (fourteen years ago)

karma for stealing rather than buying maybe

― mookieproof, Sunday, 12 February 2012 01:47 (fourteen years ago)

six years pass...

I was in this drop D metal band we called Requiem

― Rhine Jive Click Bait (Hadrian VIII), Sunday, 2 December 2018 20:33 (seven years ago)

We listened to Gimme Fiction so much when it came out when I was working at Tower Records. Me and a couple coworkers had a choreographed dance routine for the first part of 'Sister Jack.' Haha.

― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Monday, 3 December 2018 00:18 (seven years ago)

Pretty classic mid-2000s album.

― underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Monday, 3 December 2018 00:43 (seven years ago)

one year passes...

Haven't listened to this in years, but man, was this band in a groove. Girls, Moonlight, this, G5 ...

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 8 October 2020 02:16 (five years ago)

Took me a bit to get into this one because it was so different from the crisp clean sounds of Girls and Moonlight but I came around eventually.

At this point my fav might be "Merchants of Soul", Eno is just beating his brains out on that one

― turn the jawhatthefuckever on (One Eye Open), Thursday, 8 October 2020 13:23 (five years ago)

Still not huge on "The Infinite Pet" or "The Delicate Place" but the rest is wall to wall bangers

― it bangs for thee (Simon H.), Thursday, 8 October 2020 13:30 (five years ago)

yeah aside from the first few spins I think I've skipped "The Infinite Pet" every time I've listened to this album since then. On my playlist I replace it with b-side "Monkey Feelings" which works way better imo

― turn the jawhatthefuckever on (One Eye Open), Thursday, 8 October 2020 13:49 (five years ago)

Their best album.

― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 8 October 2020 13:50 (five years ago)

nah but definitely their best album from their popular festival-band era

― na (NA), Thursday, 8 October 2020 14:07 (five years ago)

After its predecessors it feels like an awesome victory lap. Like, "now that you guys have caught up, check this out." And then G5 is like "now that we still have your attention ..."

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 8 October 2020 14:13 (five years ago)

I like that "Beast and Dragon" and "Don't Make Me a Target" are essentially the same song yet don't make each other redundant, somehow

― it bangs for thee (Simon H.), Thursday, 8 October 2020 17:30 (five years ago)

"I Turn My Camera On" should be having a comeback in the zoom era

― Indexed, Thursday, 8 October 2020 19:31 (five years ago)

i turn my camera on
i take my PC mic off mute

― turn the jawhatthefuckever on (One Eye Open), Thursday, 8 October 2020 19:33 (five years ago)

the best ever drop-d metal band called Requiem outta Denton

― the burrito that defined a generation, Thursday, 8 October 2020 19:38 (five years ago)

listening now, "sister jack" and "i summon you" are all-time great spoon songs

― na (NA), Thursday, 8 October 2020 20:36 (five years ago)

I think "My Mathematical Mind" is the coolest.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 8 October 2020 20:38 (five years ago)

five years pass...

"I Turn My Camera On" at the Starbucks in Taipei airport terminal 2

― disco stabbing horror (lukas), Friday, 17 April 2026 00:38 (one month ago)

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