Hot Thoughts
Spoon
Recommended for:
Spoon fans
Indie-rock lovers
Midnight drives
Pros:
Impressive production
Veteran songwriting
Cool sounds
Awesome cover art
Cons:
A couple of lackluster tracks
Not always memorable
Hot Thoughts is the NINTH studio album from Austin-based indie rock band, Spoon. It was released on March 17, 2017, through Matador Records and is the followup to 2014’s They Want My Soul, a personal favorite of mine. This album also marks the return of multi-instrumentalist Eric Harvey, who has been away from the band since 2002’s Kill the Moonlight.
“Hot thoughts all in my mind and all of the time”
The lyrics to the opening title track (and lead single) of this album actually perfectly describe this record’s recent presence in my mind. Since its release, I have been flipping this album over and over again, as well as researching and reading about the band’s recording process to try and get a feel for how they put this thing together. This single is one of the clear highlights of the album and displays Spoon’s ability to create dynamics unmatched in their genre. The rhythm is upbeat, the lead guitar riff is haunting, Brit Daniel’s vocals are delightfully strained and the lyrics are poetic and vague as ever. The use of glockenspiel and strings add the extra flare that we so knowingly love and expect from a Spoon track.
If you're a fan of this band, or if you've just discovered them and want to learn more, I highly recommend checking out Lior Phillips’ interview with frontman Brit Daniel through Consequence of Sound. They break down each of Spoon’s albums chronologically and below I will wrap up their progression as I see it.
While I would say Spoon has impressively progressed and matured as songwriters throughout their tenure, the path hasn't always been linear. Through their first 6 albums, from 1996’s Telephono through 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, their trajectory is relatively easy to follow from grungy, garage punk band to indie rock all-stars. Classic Spoon tracks like “The Underdog”, “I Turn My Camera On”, and “Don’t You Evah” still get regular plays on my Spotify account.
That being established, 2010’s Transference displayed a sidestep for Brit Daniel & Co. The album still had Spoon’s signature touch but the production seemed less polished. The tracks felt grittier, and while songs like “Got Nuffin” and “The Mystery Zone” were the reason I fell in love with the band, this album represented a change in direction. It was after this record when the band decided to take a break. Brit Daniel started working on a side project with some other artists called Divine Fits, which you should check out if you are a fan of Spoon.
When the clan got back together to record in 2014, the results were mystical. They Want My Soul represented not only another step to the side stylistically but also two steps forward in terms of songwriting capability. I personally felt emotionally connected to each and every track on that record. “Inside Out” is one of their top 3 songs, if not the best.
So where does Hot Thoughts fall in their trajectory? I would describe it as Spoon picking up where they left off after Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, but produced with the songwriting and experimentation developments they learned from They Want My Soul and influence from the Divine Fits.
Hot Thoughts is everything we expected and wanted from Spoon, nothing more and nothing less. This band has carved out its path in indie rock persistently and relentlessly. They stand out with bands like The Strokes as having a truly “cool” sound. This record would actually be a good one to start with for a new fan who wanted to know what the essence of Spoon is.
“WhisperI’lllistentohearit” is a darker, groovy track with analog synths and thundering bass rhythms that begs to be soundtracked to movie montages. “Do I Have to Talk You Into It” easily could have been the third single off the record. Scattered, smooth piano parts somehow clash and blend at the same time against the distorted synths and bouncing bass. Daniel does what he does best as his vocal performance on this track is at its peak.
“First Caress” lightens the mood, but only slightly. Debatably the most danceable song on the album, I hope to see this song performed live one day soon because the energy is intoxicating. “Pink Up” displays some true experimentation, with layer after layer of bells, shakers, bongos, bass, and synths creating an eerily enticing soundscape that blends organic and fabricated sounds in a fascinating manner.
The second single, “Can I Sit Next To You” is funky and full of life. It combines their sound with orchestral music and stadium rock to create what is the closest thing to an anthem the band has created. “I Ain’t The One” strips things down to the bone, the larger part of the song consisting of just Daniel belting and pounding away at his electric keyboard. Layered vocal tracks give the song depth and ambiance oozes in as the song progresses to a big finish.
“Tear It Down” and “Shotgun” felt a little more underdeveloped. The tracks were enjoyable and well-produced but lacked the unique flavor of Spoon’s best work. Not bad songs in any sense, but alas… forgettable.
Definitely not forgettable is the finale, “Us”. This song comes out of left field. This instrumental is deep and delicate. The brass section takes the lead over waves of ambiance and instrumentation to create a very experimental piece, and a strong statement to end the record with.
All and all, this record probably won’t be talked about as revolutionary or particularly progressive for the genre. But it did display this very above-average band at their best. In true indie fashion, the influences from so many different places like hip-hop, classic rock, jazz, blues, and electronica all share the stage on Hot Thoughts. After listening to an interview with Brit Daniel, it’s fun to see how he pulled ideas from Dr. Dre, Bruce Springsteen, and other strange places to create his own style.
Favorite tracks: “WhisperI’lllistentohearit”, “Do I Have to Talk You Into It”, “Hot Thoughts”
8/10
