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Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

by Kathryn Durfee
07/26/2007

In the fall of 2005, I saw Spoon perform at the 40 Watt and was lucky enough to get a spot right against the stage. Having Britt Daniel look at me and smile while singing "Something To Look Forward To" ensures that I will die a happy woman. Though I had heard only a handful of their songs before attending the concert, I fell in love with the Austin, TX band and have been a faithful fan ever since.

One of the many reasons I love Spoon, aside from the dreamy front man/songwriter, is that they are not afraid to experiment. Each album has been different from the last, but they still manage to maintain a signature sound that says "I just threw this together in the studio, but it sounds great." Their "what if?" attitude towards crafting albums results in completely original works.

With 2002's Kill the Moonlight, the band stripped away all superfluous aspects of rock and alternative music leaving a bare skeleton from which to create the album. 2005's Gimme Fiction put meat back on the bones with a more rock and roll feel. The album still had a strong studio production feel, with sound effects such as the sprinklers in "My Mathematical Mind," but got them a boost into the mainstream. "That's the Way We Get By" (off of Kill The Moonlight) was featured on The O.C., "I Turn My Camera On" (from Gimme Fiction)was used in a Jaguar commercial, and several songs formed the soundtrack to last year's film Stranger Than Fiction starring Will Ferrell.

Their newest album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, released July 10, is another successful experiment. Like their previous albums, Ga Ga is laden with studio and sound effects, but they never sound forced or clunky. Everything seems to fit, and I don't know how they do it.

Behind the original instrumentals featuring pianos, horns, and sound effects are Daniel's heartfelt and emotional lyrics. The opening track, "Don't Make Me A Target," is reminiscent of "Camera" in that the lyrics are obscure, but the beat is so good that you don't care. Most of the tracks are signature Spoon ventures, cool beats and thoughtful lyrics that are sometimes hard to follow, but are at times as simple and straightforward as the stripped-down tunes.

Songs such as "Rhythm and Soul" and "The Underdog" feature brass instruments, giving the album a slightly jazzy feel. "Finer Feelings" incorporates maracas, recalling the playful feel of Moonlight. A few songs, well, with only 10 tracks, a few quickly becomes 30% of the album, are slow and a touch melancholy. These tracks showcase Daniel's talent for heartbreaking lyrics. In "The Ghost of You Lingers," he asks "If you were here would you calm me down or settle the score?" By the final track, "Black Like Me," Daniel has removed all pretense and plainly states his case in the first line: "I'm in need of someone to take care of me tonight." Talk about honesty.

At only 36 minutes, Ga Ga flies by. I've had it in my car for about 3 days, and I think it's rolled over about 14 times. But, worry not, dear Spoon fans! They have been generous enough to include a bonus disc entitled Get Nice! which features 12 additional tracks. Most of these are instrumental musings, but there are a few notable tracks. Get Nice! includes a more ambient and delicate reworking of "You Got Yr Cherry Bomb," along with a jazzy/bluesy version of "I Summon You" from Fiction.

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga doesn't stray too far from the typical Spoon album, but also showcases their ability to go out on a limb. If it ain't broke...

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