"Back to cowtown and the fish shop and the POLL" Spoon: Girls Can Tell

only just recently learned that eleanor friedberger is the subject of that song

Britt on Girls Can Tell in this Pitchfork feature from 2014

I remember seeing an old picture of my dad going to work in a dress shirt and tie—it was a look that I didn't see too much anymore. For “The Fitted Shirt”, I must have asked someone to bring in a harpsichord because of how into the Kinks I was in that moment. I found this website right when online sales of music were starting—maybe it was called CD Universe—but there was a flaw in their system, so as long as I entered a different address every time, I could order a free CD. So I ordered, at various addresses, the entire Kinks catalog. If it wasn't for that website, Girls Can Tell might have had a different attitude and sound.

On "Anything You Want"/Friedberger (I did not know this!)

Pitchfork: I find that one line in "Anything You Want"—“You know you’re the one, and that hasn’t changed since you were 19 and still in school, waiting on a light on the corner by Sound Exchange”—so moving. Did it actually happen?

BD: Yeah, it was a song about Eleanor (Friedberger). It was a big-picture song, and at the end it zooms way into this specific moment. I could definitely see her standing on that corner.

Pitchfork: Part of the power of that line comes from the way the syllables get crammed in there at the end. It's like you have to rush the words out.

BD: And that's what's great about it, right? It originally wasn't like that. It was just regular syllables at the end, and the lyric was, "This is a song called fuck or fight, it's the same thing every night," but Jim suggested it didn't fit the mood. So I came up with that other idea, and (then-bassist) Josh (Zarbo) told me it ruined the song. But I thought it really made everything personal and unexpected. When we recorded, (co-producer) Mike (McCarthy) had me fade off the mic at the end of the line. It's totally personal and real. It rings true.

of all britts lifts from the kinks over the years "fitted shirt" has my fave. in the 2000s this would have been "anything you want" for me, today its a tough call btw that and "everything hits at once".

when i illegally downloaded this back in the day, i dont think it was a leak or anything but for some strange reason "lines in the suit" was an acoustic demo version? it had a really cool sound & i loved how they dropped this lo fi track in the middle of an otherwise clean-sounding album. then when i got the LP the album version was a shock and i never warmed to it. not the last time i got overly attached to a spoon demo vs the album version.

'Anything For You Want' for me. Just a perfect little earworm.

has anyone ever sussed out what record is spinning on the cover?

A Series of Sneaks.

voted believing is art

"lines in the suit" was an acoustic demo version?

Opener is a top 5 Spoon mainstay for me regardless of mood, so that one.

It was just regular syllables at the end, and the lyric was, "This is a song called fuck or fight, it's the same thing every night," but Jim suggested it didn't fit the mood. So I came up with that other idea, and (then-bassist) Josh (Zarbo) told me it ruined the song. But I thought it really made everything personal and unexpected. When we recorded, (co-producer) Mike (McCarthy) had me fade off the mic at the end of the line. It's totally personal and real. It rings true.

Wow, talk about dodging a bullet. (Then-bassist Josh Zarbo - yr a knucklehead)

Btw, Matador put up some old home demo recording (and is selling the album for 25% off).

"Everything Hits at Once" and the video is great too.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

it's crazy that this album is so consistently good and is so packed with smashes, and yet i knew what my vote would be without even thinking about it.

It’s tough to beat Everything Hits at Once. It’s so... I don’t know, multidimensional. It gives me so many feelings, and almost sensory overload. When it’s over I feel more like I’ve watched a really engrossing movie than listened to a song. The musical layers and the lyrical delivery are just so measured and careful and perfect. As good as this album is, I’m always disappointed that the rest of it isn’t as good as this song.

Anything you want

Think I would like to change my vote to either “me and the bean” or “Chicago at night”

man I completely forgot about the Love Ways EP, I jammed the hell out that 20 years ago

wait, not “me and the bean”, I meant “lines in the suit”!!

Everything Hits at Once. I think that was my number one in the Spoon poll. I love the drums on it

I just realized this album has a great Berlin-Bowie sequencing.

went “Me and the Bean”

ended up voting for "The Fitted Shirt," this album is top heavy. not that side 2 is not good but compared to side 1 it's hard to compete.

man I completely forgot about the Love Ways EP, I jammed the hell out that 20 years ago

yes. the tape I made Girls & Love Ways that dropped "This Book Is A Movie" & "Change My Life" to fit on one side is probably the best Spoon release, i should reach out to Matador about releasing it

Never understood the love for “The Fitted Shirt.” I prefer my Spoon lyrics more inscrutable.

if he was singing about food instead id dig it

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

https://www.stereogum.com/2116535/girls-can-tell-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary/

i should have thrown 1020 AM a pity vote just in honor of KDKA-Pittsburgh

1020am sounds like a ray davies song in structure and presentation to me

Also i cant believe take a walk is 0 votes the FUCK ppl?

It’s a bit reductive but woulda been #1 on a lesser album but

Strike the first clause

I think I voted for Lines. That "human resource clerk" section is one of my favorite Spoon moments - so Kinks-y.

the vocal harmonies and the.. crunchy-ish sound reminds me of like rubber-soul/revolver era beatles

how come i feel so washed up?