spoon

in fact i know absolutely nothing other than the album is going to be released on the 9th of july on anti records, and against my expectations for an indie rock album, its a cracking way to spend 35 minutes.

opening with the albums best track, don’t make me a target, where a pounding piano riff thankfully avoids any keane-isms, and in fact gives the overall impression of a roughed up ben folds hanging out with liam gallagher after a few late night cigarrettes in a pub and just having a loose old time. the vocals have the same kind of raspy effect that liam seems unable to shift from his reportoire now, but far more interestingly the musical backing that spoon creates is a perfect slice of piano led indie rock that hits the spot, over and over again.

the rest of the album has a similar fm radio sanctioned vibe, but with some interesting production twists and turns to stop the formula wearing thin and keep the ears tuned in.

whether it’s the fractured stereo dub phasing of the piano during the ghost of you lingers, the hidden horn section in the mix of alternative universe number one hit smash, you’re got your cherry bomb ( i totally get shivers up my spine with this motown styled pop soul stomper), or the hand clapped swagger of dont you evah that will have you strutting around your living room like a demented bruce willis with its cooler than thou attitude streaming from the twanged up guitar and head stopping melody, this album never fails to deliver a wonderful 3 minute slightly unusual pop song.

even the punchy guitars in my little japanese cigarette case with unexpected spanish guitar break (seriously!) will have you smiling and singing along by the third listen, the hooks throughout are unavoidable.

so, all in all, even if this band are played to death on american college rock radio stations, as i would like to think they probably are, or if they are complete unknowns, it matters not one iota, as they have manged to create an album of pure old fashioned 70s pop brilliance that could only ever be made with the studied art of the genre in 2007.