Spoon - Gimme Fiction
by Paul Waller
published: 8 / 3 / 2016
Label:
Select Label
Format: N/A
intro
Paul Waller examines Texan indie rockers Spoon's 2005 breakthrough fifth album, which has been given some thorough reissue treatment with a beautifully lavish new double CD edition
In coming back to this record ten years or more after the fact, one thing is crystal clear. The thing hasn’t aged a day. Back then I felt ‘Gimme Fiction’ presented me with a palate that contained all the parts I loved best about Teenage Fanclub mixed with a healthy dose of ‘Sea Change’-era Beck. And, after the disappointment of Beck’s ‘Guero’ LP in 2005, Spoon’s new offering seemed the perfect indie rock antidote. Today, tracks which I initially thought of as filler, such as album closer ‘Merchants of Soul’, really touch me. The maturity in the verses, the adultness here really hits. Listening to this in one sitting it becomes clear that ten years is a long old time. I can now hear a latter day Beatles influence creeping through, plus, of course, that special something that’s always been part of Spoon. That relentless rhythm, whether implemented by the drums or the keys, that propels their songs forward (Hold your hands up, ‘They Never Got You’) is really pushed to the forefront of the band's efforts on ‘Gimme Fiction’. It’s really rather impressive still, a decade on. The reason for this re-discovery is of course that the album has been lavishly repackaged by Matador Records. The bonus disc or LP depending on how you grab yours brings little new to the table, some home demos that hold interest to the fan but nothing amongst these offcuts matched the album proper, no matter what 'Rolling Stone' tells you. But, let me tell you, this is still worth you spending some of your-hard earned on thanks to the beautifully written book (Well, it’s larger than a booklet) that comes with it. It details the process of the creation of the record from beginning to end with some cool photographs and un-nerdy presentation. It’s worth the money alone. Fantastic job, Matador. Fantastic.
Track Listing:-
Band Links:-
http://www.spoontheband.com/https://www.facebook.com/spoontheband/
https://twitter.com/spoontheband
Picture Gallery:-
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
previous editions
Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the StairsHeavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
World Party - Interview
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Ain't That Always The Way - Alan Horne After The Sound of Young Scotland 2
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Dwina Gibb - Interview
World Party - Interview with Karl Wallinger
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Prisoners - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart