Spoon: Telephono/Soft Effects/Girls Can Tell The Spoon we’ve come to know and love did not emerge fully formed. Read More
Spoon: Hot Thoughts In parts of Hot Thoughts it seems like Spoon are angling to write the title theme for the next James Bond flick. Read More
Top 20 Albums of 2014 20. Lykke Li I Never Learn [LL Recordings/Atlantic] I Never Learn is Lykke Li’s Blood on the Tracks. That is to say, this is the album on which the Swedish songwriter has abandoned any pretenses and surrendered to pure, unvarnished pain through her music. While her previous two albums were riddled through with earworms like “Dance Dance Dance,” I Never … Read More
Top 25 Songs of 2014 25. Lykke Li – “Never Gonna Love Again” [Atlantic] The product of a catastrophic breakup, I Never Learn contains the saddest music Lykke Li has recorded to date, making it one of the most heartbreaking records of the year. Yet despite the specter of loss that casts black and lovely shadows over all of these songs, I Never Learn is … Read More
Monthly Mixtape: August 2014 1. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “American Dream Plan B” (Reprise) Petty is one of the more consistent musicians in rock, and his 13th album, Hypnotic Eye, is another focused effort. With a title like “American Dream Plan B,” Petty could have easily gotten preachy with his new album’s leadoff track and first single. Instead, he offers snarling vocals … Read More
Spoon: They Want My Soul [xrr rating=4.25/5]They’ve done it again. Eight albums in (and only one subpar release in the whole lot), They Want My Soul illustrates that Spoon’s remarkable consistency isn’t showing signs of slowing down. They Want My Soul feels like a natural progression, an indie release steeped in soul, funk and southern rock ‘n’ roll. It’s a brilliantly catchy album that proves … Read More
Monthly Mixtape: June 2014 1. Crystal Fighters – “Love Alight” (Zirkulo/PIAS) Since the debut of their 2010 debut LP, London’s Crystal Fighters have continued a gradual transition from their folktronica roots to something much more dance-y. As their newest single, “Love Alight,” has all the elements needed for a massive summer push, we figure we would share before you grow tired of the track’s … Read More
Revisit: Spoon: Girls Can Tell Revisit is a series of reviews highlighting past releases that now deserve a second look. Spoon has always flexed remarkably pragmatic arms in its approach to music – muscular concoctions with few frills, scraped-knuckle affairs owing to accumulated layers of rock ‘n’ roll grit peeled hastily away by astringent guitar lines, buoyed by a steady output through the aughts and … Read More
Five Years Later: The Best Albums of 2007!! Five years is an eternity in the life of a record. When coming up with this feature, the question the Spectrum Culture staff pondered was this: “How well do these albums play NOW!” Not five years ago, but how have they aged in our memories. While some acclaimed albums of ’07 remain strong on our list, some critically-lauded ones didn’t … Read More
Top 20 Albums of 2010 It has been a great year for music. This Top 20 list reflects the tastes of all the music writers here at Spectrum Culture. We appreciate your support this year and look forward to seeing you again next year when we return from break on Wednesday, January 5, 2011. Enjoy the list! 20. Robyn Body Talk [Konichiwa/Interscope] In 2010, it … Read More