Spoon - Lucifer on the Sofa
Rock – Released February 11, 2022 – 10 songs, 38 mins
ROZ
Ah, Spoon. Now that’s a band name that I haven’t heard in a long, long time. The year was 2005: The Way We Get By sat neatly between various Bloc Party and Death Cab For Cutie tracks on my shitty MP3 player as I strutted my way towards the school bus. Now, way too many years later, I get the pleasure of spending a week listening to their 2022 release Lucifer on the Sofa. Whatever happened to that MP3 player anyway? I’m pretty sure it doubled as a wristwatch…
Exceptionally bluesy riffs with killer rhythmic elements and catchy vocals from frontman Britt Daniel; Spoons 2022 venture is chock full of all the things that make rock music great. The chugging guitars throughout The Hardest Cut, the saloon-like piano progressions in Wild and On The Radio, the slower melodic pacing and unique guitar performances on Satellite - LOTS has (pardon the pun) lots to be proud of itself for. Other than a few slight hiccups along the way (Astral Jacket reminding me of a Flight of the Conchords-esque parody track more than anything), there wasn’t much else to criticize - just an easy listening, fun-as-hell time.
Spoon, where have you been all of my adult life? This album absolutely rocks and was a complete joy to listen to. In a timeline where it seems like the world is going to utter shit in a hurry, Lucifer on the Sofa allowed me to drown out the negativity - even for a moment - and put a big ol’ smile on my big ol’ face. Thanks fellas.
Overall Rating: 8.7/10
Favourite Song: The Hardest Cut
LUNDI
Oh the days of pressing play on The Underdog to give that sweet release of serotonin. The song which is fitting for a house party, for sunset driving, or really any occasion you want was the proper introduction for Austin band Spoon. Frontman Britt Daniel and drummer Jim Eno have been mainstays since formation in 1993 and despite the rotating cast around them they’ve quietly gone about their business to produce quality rock record after quality rock record. After 5 years on the shelf, Spoon return with their 10th studio album Lucifer on the Sofa.
Well damn. From the second the needle drops on Held, Lucifer on the Sofa grabs you with that patented Spoon formula. For what amounts to an overproduced and often hectic music industry, Spoon continue to keep it simple with straightforward drum beats, layered pianos, and ear worm guitar riffs led of course by Britt Daniel’s amazing, unique vocals. It’s a formula that they rarely mess with yet they continue to produce fresh polished music over 30 years and 10 albums.
As an aside, Spoon always remind me so much of good Canadian boys Sloan. From the band members ability to rotate and play all the instruments to the long group relationship to the expansive music catalogue of just flat out kickass rock music these guys have a long list of similarities. While Spoon are no doubt larger in stature, a comparison to Sloan is not to be taken lightly. That’s Canadian music royalty folks.
Back to the matter at hand. Lucifer on the Sofa feels effortless for Spoon. They’re so good at what they do it’s now second nature. Every lyric and note across the 38 minutes has some purpose. Standout tracks Held, The Hardest Cut, and Wild give the album a climactic start but Sofa still keeps you intrigued until the last second. Even when it’s slowed down, it just feels right.
Sometimes you just have to sit back and let some guitar riffs fill your soul. When they are accompanied by Britt Daniel’s vocals you will never be left disappointed. Lucifer on the Sofa is classic Spoon and there ain’t nothing wrong with that.
Overall Rating: 8.2/10
Favourite Song: Held
REID
2023 will mark 30 years for American rock band, Spoon. Britt Daniel on lead vocals and guitar and drummer, Jim Eno, have been there from the start. They’ve said goodbye to nine members since they began but that doesn’t discount their longevity. If anything, it’s impressive they’ve weathered the storm and kept things moving. Lucifer on the Sofa is their tenth album but first for me.
First impression on band and album comes with Held. A super cool, bluesy track with a very tight guitar, bass and drum compilation. Daniel’s vocal style fits so well and the guitar solo at the end is a great touch. Next up is The Hardest Cut, the album’s first single. This can’t miss, catchy tune was released in late October of last year. Why is the date significant? The subject matter is world war and its relevance hits hard with the ongoing situation in Ukraine. This music blog is meant to be fun, informative and a welcome distraction from the outside world. But as I scroll nervously on Twitter daily, the lyrics ‘We live on a knife’ hold so much weight. The Devil & Mister Jones offers a welcome subject change and is simply a fantastic, groovy rock song. What is it with those Jones men getting tangled up with drugs? The album keeps up the excellent momentum with My Babe and Feels Alright but hits a bump in the road at On The Radio and takes a different course with the songs relying less on the guitar. While diversity is always welcome, it’s unfortunate in this case as the strength of the first half of the album was so high.
On Lucifer on the Sofa, Spoon flex 30 years of chemistry with an excellent brand of rock n’ roll. This experience is a perfect example of why TSR exists. Two of my best friends, Lundi and Blanch, are longtime fans of the band but I had not heard of them until now. They assure me I have multiple great albums to dig through. Let’s talk music people! Let’s share the wealth.
Overall Rating – 8.0/10
Favourite Song – The Devil & Mister Jones