Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts

Sunday, January 10, 2010

SPOON - Transference



Let me preface this post by saying that I love Spoon. They are the band that I hear whenever I think of my freshman year of college. I fell in love with them that year and I was constantly listening to them. During my junior year of college I got to see them play in Austin, their hometown, at SXSW 2008. The crowd was huge, perhaps because it was a free show, but also no doubt because more and more people were discovering just how good Spoon is. And damn they are good.

Transference is the seventh studio full-length from Spoon. Spoon have been hailed as the kings of minimal rock 'n' roll, and this album has them maintaining that stance. The music isn't minimal like lo-fi music is often said to be; it is minimal because they don't heap on layers of unnecessary sounds. This results in more stripped down songs than you might normally hear from a 'rock band', but that doesn't mean it's not rock and roll. I don't see any of the songs on here being a breakout hit like "The Underdog" off of their last album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, was, but the 11 songs on here are still satisfying and show a band who is known for its consistency continue that trend. While I'm pleased with this release, after only a few listens, it doesn't knock things out of the park for me just yet.

www.myspace.com/spoon
www.spoontheband.com

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The Black and White Years - Self-Titled

The Black and White Years cover art
They are a quartet from Austin, Texas; this is their debut album. Jerry Harrison produced this and since the band didn't have a drummer for the recording, Steve Ferrone of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers rocked the kit for this album. They play upbeat rock that has post-punk, funk, and electro influences. Since Jerry Harrison is a fan, the Talking Heads comparisons are inevitable, but they have their own sound. And it's good.

www.myspace.com/theblackandwhiteyears
www.theblackandwhiteyears.com