Spoon - Transference poill

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http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2009/11/britt-transference.jpg

this month is the two year anniversary of this album.

we have done:

Spoon: A Series of Sneaks poll
Spoon - Kill The Moonlight
Spoon: Gimme Fiction Poll
the Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Poll

Poll Results

OptionVotes
4. Who Makes Your Money 7
9. Out Go the Lights 6
6. I Saw the Light 4
3. The Mystery Zone 4
5. Written in Reverse 4
7. Trouble Comes Running 4
11. Nobody Gets Me But You 1
8. Goodnight Laura 0
2. Is Love Forever? 0
10. Got Nuffin 0
1. Before Destruction 0


Bee OK, Friday, 13 January 2012 01:06 (twelve years ago) link

oill lol

Bee OK, Friday, 13 January 2012 01:07 (twelve years ago) link

so the original Transference title was screwed up, so why not the poll itself. i see my hands were over to the left one key stroke.

Bee OK, Friday, 13 January 2012 04:54 (twelve years ago) link

anyways, i think i'm voting "The Mystery Zone" but going to play this week and see

Bee OK, Friday, 13 January 2012 04:54 (twelve years ago) link

mystery zone but this record is still pretty disappointing

iatee, Friday, 13 January 2012 05:21 (twelve years ago) link

holy fuck this was two years ago?

never really listened to it, which is the first spoon record i can say that about.

BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, 13 January 2012 05:52 (twelve years ago) link

Before Destruction 61
Is Love Forever? 66
The Mystery Zone 64
Who Makes Your Money 52
Written in Reverse 78
I Saw the Light 69
Trouble Comes Running 76
Goodnight Laura 74
Out Go the Lights 71
Got Nuffin 57
Nobody Gets Me But You 54

hm, my playcounts seem pretty accurate. except that 'nobody' is way better than that. maybe i'll vote for 'out go the lights' though.

j., Friday, 13 January 2012 06:08 (twelve years ago) link

There's a moment on Mystery Zone where it feels like the song should end, but then they just keep going for a minute or two. Bothered me a lot when the record was new but I don't mind it now. That said, it's still not my favorite on the record. Voted "Who Makes Your Money" because if all his cooing.

scott pgwp (pgwp), Friday, 13 January 2012 06:10 (twelve years ago) link

This is as good as Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. seriously.

Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 13 January 2012 06:58 (twelve years ago) link

i will have to disagree, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is their best record while Transference is possible their worst since Girls Can Tell

Bee OK, Friday, 13 January 2012 07:28 (twelve years ago) link

that being said it's still a great album, it is just the Spoon bar has been set so high

Bee OK, Friday, 13 January 2012 07:30 (twelve years ago) link

http://devonrecordclub.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/spoon-–-waiting-for-the-kid-to-come-out-transference-–-round-8-nick’s-selection/

I voted for Who Makes Your Money, btw; but it could have been any one of several; Written In Reverse, I Saw The Light, Trouble Comes Runnin', Out Go The Lights, Before Destruction, The Mystery Zone. I love this record.

Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 13 January 2012 07:58 (twelve years ago) link

Was all set to rep for Nobody Gets Me But You, then I realised I was thinking of They Never Got You :/

ledge, Friday, 13 January 2012 09:32 (twelve years ago) link

i think this is my second fav spoon album after series of sneaks.
Trouble Comes Running

mizzell, Friday, 13 January 2012 15:49 (twelve years ago) link

easy vote for who makes yr money

congratulations (n/a), Friday, 13 January 2012 16:01 (twelve years ago) link

Mystery Zone - although recently Trouble Comes Runnin' has been my go-to track.

Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 13 January 2012 16:29 (twelve years ago) link

just remembered this album a couple days ago, still like the tossed-off, polished demo aspect of it.

the third kind of dubstep (Jordan), Friday, 13 January 2012 16:49 (twelve years ago) link

hey, someone kind of fixed the title

thanks whoever it was

Bee OK, Saturday, 14 January 2012 03:13 (twelve years ago) link

Played this again over the holidayzzzzzzzz.

"Got Nuffin."

lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 14 January 2012 15:36 (twelve years ago) link

Love this, voted for Trouble Comes Running. Hidden track Mean Red Spider might've been my 2nd choice.

nate woolls, Saturday, 14 January 2012 15:39 (twelve years ago) link

i just watched this game on DVR as i was out looking for a new place to live

Bee OK, Sunday, 15 January 2012 02:48 (twelve years ago) link

haha, wrong thread

Bee OK, Sunday, 15 January 2012 02:48 (twelve years ago) link

i thought the name of this album was QUOTE Transference UNQUOTE

occupy mobb deep (some dude), Sunday, 15 January 2012 03:51 (twelve years ago) link

I saw the light. It's about the piano chords. But so pleased this poll exists because this album ha so many great deliberate little moments that sound like brilliant mistakes

I want your nose, your shoes and your unicycle (dog latin), Sunday, 15 January 2012 04:18 (twelve years ago) link

I love this album and I'm having a real hard time picking one song. I've listened to it twice now and every time a song finishes I'm thinking, "okay I'll vote for that one" but then thirty seconds into the next track I'm changing my mind.

jon /via/ chi 2.0, Sunday, 15 January 2012 04:45 (twelve years ago) link

this is the best spoon album fyi

call all destroyer, Sunday, 15 January 2012 05:13 (twelve years ago) link

i voted Trouble Comes Running

i have to say, tho, i am shocked at some of the comments here. best Spoon album? worst Spoon album? to me, this is squarely in the middle of the pack, a welcome return to the sloppy brilliance of Sneaks and a strong effort after the twin shit sandwiches of Gimme and Ga Ga. I'd rank it behind LPs 1-3 but ahead of 4-6.

alpine static, Sunday, 15 January 2012 07:12 (twelve years ago) link

you don't make any sense.

j., Sunday, 15 January 2012 07:21 (twelve years ago) link

'out go the lights' is wonderful

ciderpress, Sunday, 15 January 2012 08:28 (twelve years ago) link

My Mathematical Mind is better than all of these.

billstevejim, Sunday, 15 January 2012 09:13 (twelve years ago) link

I'd rank this below all their albums apart from Gimme Fiction and the first one but there are still three tracks I love unconditionally:

The Mystery Zone
Out Go the Lights
Goodnight Laura

That little effect on the rhythm guitar in 'Mystery Zone' is so great, with the echo/reverb on the upstroke of the chord (or something, I'm terrible at describing stuff like that). Love those sorts of details.

Gavin, Leeds, Sunday, 15 January 2012 15:16 (twelve years ago) link

good lord there are some awful opinions itt

tyga mother (J0rdan S.), Sunday, 15 January 2012 15:18 (twelve years ago) link

takes a serious set of stones to swoop in and say that without offering your own opinion.

alpine static, Monday, 16 January 2012 07:03 (twelve years ago) link

not really, you just have to type a sentence and click post

mh, Monday, 16 January 2012 13:49 (twelve years ago) link

Yeah, this is the internet. It takes no stones to do anything.

Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 16 January 2012 14:29 (twelve years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 00:01 (twelve years ago) link

"Out Go the Lights"4life.

"I know its hard to hear but I'm a Realest." (rennavate), Tuesday, 17 January 2012 01:32 (twelve years ago) link

Written in Reverse

Darin, Tuesday, 17 January 2012 07:25 (twelve years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Wednesday, 18 January 2012 00:01 (twelve years ago) link

wow, some insane zeroes here

Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 18 January 2012 00:12 (twelve years ago) link

2. Is Love Forever? 0

travesty.

Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 18 January 2012 02:46 (twelve years ago) link

sad turnout on this one

Bee OK, Wednesday, 18 January 2012 03:07 (twelve years ago) link

fits the record

iatee, Wednesday, 18 January 2012 03:08 (twelve years ago) link

surprised at high finish for the two light songs

call all destroyer, Wednesday, 18 January 2012 03:24 (twelve years ago) link

I went through a phase for a while where I COULD NOT STOP LISTENING TO THIS ALBUM, and it was the first Spoon album I "got"

And then suddenly nothing about it worked for me anymore, the manic was gone.

Raymond Cummings, Wednesday, 18 January 2012 06:11 (twelve years ago) link

i'm surprised no one had a deep pure love for 'goodnight laura'

j., Wednesday, 18 January 2012 06:21 (twelve years ago) link

I went through a phase for a while where I COULD NOT STOP LISTENING TO THIS ALBUM, and it was the first Spoon album I "got"

And then suddenly nothing about it worked for me anymore, the manic was gone.

You're doing this in reverse.

lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 18 January 2012 11:57 (twelve years ago) link

seven years pass...

I was disappointed by this album when it first came out; I warmed to it over time but still rarely put it on when there are at least three other Spoon albums I like more.

Today I put it on and am surprised how much I like it. In retrospect it feels like the last truly excellent Spoon album, concluding the run that began with Girls Can Tell. The albums after this one are all good too but not at the level of their 00s material.

sctttnnnt (pgwp), Tuesday, 18 June 2019 15:35 (four years ago) link

Some ex-girlfriend, call her Heather...

a large tuna called “Justice” (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 18 June 2019 15:55 (four years ago) link

I like it better than I did nine (!) years ago when it struck me as desiccated, but Hot Thoughts is my favorite Spoon since 2005. It's sexy.

recriminations from the nitpicking woke (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 18 June 2019 16:02 (four years ago) link

i'm seeing them next month with Beck...interestingly i did both the Spoon artist poll and the Beck artist poll on ILM and Spoon got more ballots. not sure what that means but threw it out there as i just looked. Beck is obviously way bigger.

Bee OK, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 00:07 (four years ago) link

"New York Kiss" is amazing, sounds great in the car and on the radio.

recriminations from the nitpicking woke (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 00:13 (four years ago) link

The sexiest song Spoon has ever released:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUSdDIspy_A

recriminations from the nitpicking woke (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 00:14 (four years ago) link

^^Great song.

frustration and wonky passion (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 00:17 (four years ago) link

Girls Can Tell has the sexiest overall vibe/sound imho

Simon H., Wednesday, 19 June 2019 00:28 (four years ago) link

it's like the soundtrack for a never-made neo-noir

Simon H., Wednesday, 19 June 2019 00:29 (four years ago) link

and wtf this is the best part of the song and why it's the best song on it

― global tetrahedron, Tuesday, June 18, 2019 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I recanted that opinion

sctttnnnt (pgwp), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 05:18 (four years ago) link

any New Pornos comp would have to heavily favor the first few records. Not a problem with Spoon.

― Simon H., Tuesday, June 18, 2019 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

New Pornos dipped for a couple albums but Whiteout Conditions is super excellent. They have five outstanding albums and two decent ones. Spoon’s batting average slightly higher but both are probably my favorite rock bands of this century and especially the aughts.

sctttnnnt (pgwp), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 05:23 (four years ago) link

They would have a ridiculously strong greatest hits. Also New Pornographers and TV On The Radio too.

― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, June 18, 2019 7:52 PM (yesterday)

Et voilà:
https://pitchfork.com/news/spoon-announce-greatest-hits-album-share-new-song-no-bullets-spent-listen/

Everything Hits at Once tracklist::

01 I Turn My Camera On
02 Do You
03 Don’t You Evah
04 Inside Out
05 The Way We Get By
06 The Underdog
07 Hot Thoughts
08 I Summon You
09 Rent I Pay
10 You Got Yr Cherry Bomb
11 Got Nuffin
12 Everything Hits at Once
13 No Bullets Spent

willem, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:16 (four years ago) link

They would have a ridiculously strong greatest hits.

― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, June 18, 2019 12:52 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

You spoke it into existence!

https://pitchfork.com/news/spoon-announce-greatest-hits-album-share-new-song-no-bullets-spent-listen/

old cloud yells at man (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:16 (four years ago) link

Excellent.

In the streaming era, though, do we need greatest hits compilations? Serious question. Maybe for another thread.

recriminations from the nitpicking woke (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:18 (four years ago) link

Don’t love “Got Nuffin” as the Transference choice, and there’s one too many from They Want My Soul

old cloud yells at man (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:18 (four years ago) link

that's got at least 3 songs in common with what I'd come up with so good job i guess

ciderpress, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:18 (four years ago) link

xp I imagine this is mainly for vinyl purchasers

old cloud yells at man (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:18 (four years ago) link

Not sure they're taking advantage of the CD format here LOL. and where is Jonathon Fisk, The Beast and Dragon, Adored, Sister Jack and Trouble Comes Running?

kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:21 (four years ago) link

I could've sworn "They Want My Soul" and "New York Kiss" were singles.

recriminations from the nitpicking woke (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:21 (four years ago) link

also bummer that they're not acknowledging the real early stuff, 'metal detektor' would at least make the cut on my POXII

ciderpress, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:25 (four years ago) link

Looks like one of those comps where 'greatest hits' = 'songs that have been licensed the most'

One Eye Open, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:36 (four years ago) link

the new song sounds like a ga ga ga ga ga outtake. it's alright

ciderpress, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:41 (four years ago) link

i'm seeing them next month with Beck...interestingly i did both the Spoon artist poll and the Beck artist poll on ILM and Spoon got more ballots. not sure what that means but threw it out there as i just looked. Beck is obviously way bigger.

― Bee OK, Tuesday, June 18, 2019 8:07 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

thinking about checking out this tour too in August, let us know how it goes.

Evans on Hammond (evol j), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:43 (four years ago) link

I always rate their classic album run as starting with A Series of Sneaks, shame they couldnt find a slot for one of those tracks.

I think at one point in time they would have been served well by a comp of their EPs & non-album singles, I rate the Soft Effects EP pretty high. But it seems like they stopped doing those after a certain point, and the moment's probably passed for people who would be interested in hearing pre-Gimme Fiction material from them.

One Eye Open, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:47 (four years ago) link

I imagine this is mainly for vinyl purchasers

Yup. It would have been nice to have a more substantial CD version (or 2LP option). I don't have any Spoon on vinyl but I'd consider shelling out for a decent comp; this is a little too skinny.

Simon H., Wednesday, 19 June 2019 15:28 (four years ago) link

not to mention "The Underdog" and "Got Nuffin'" wouldn't have made my cut.

Simon H., Wednesday, 19 June 2019 15:29 (four years ago) link

They couldn’t do a greatest hits without The Underdog

old cloud yells at man (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 15:38 (four years ago) link

This is great and probably how a lot of us come to love The Cure and New Order.

The idea of doing a best-of came to us a couple times,” Britt Daniel said in a statement. “First I wasn’t sure how I felt about it but at some point I remembered that when I got my first Cure record it was Standing on a Beach. When I got my first New Order record, it was Substance. That was how I met those bands, and I moved backwards from there but I still listen to those comps. I love a greatest hits LP when it’s done well. It can be a thing unto itself.”

Later this year, Spoon are heading out on tour with Beck and Cage the Elephant.

Bee OK, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 16:50 (four years ago) link

They should have called it Got Any Coke? The Very Best of Spoon

Consider the coconut (morrisp), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 20:51 (four years ago) link

Found an old "Best-Of" tracklist I proposed back in 2014 (hey, I matched the first track):

https://i.imgur.com/oh9PuhD.jpg

Consider the coconut (morrisp), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 20:59 (four years ago) link

mine would be something like

metal detektor
everything hits at once
jonathon fisk
paper tiger
the beast and dragon adored
you got yr cherry bomb
finer feelings
out go the lights
inside out
do you
can i sit next to you
tear it down

ciderpress, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 21:26 (four years ago) link

I'm listening to old Spoon now on headphones, just heard "Metal Detektor" -- it's such a f'in good song...

Consider the coconut (morrisp), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 21:28 (four years ago) link

it's a lot simpler than what came after but so effective

ciderpress, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 21:31 (four years ago) link

same goes for 'advance cassette'

ciderpress, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 21:33 (four years ago) link

Circling back to the thread topic -- Transference is actually my favorite Spoon album, though I don't think many of the tracks work so well in isolation (except "Trouble Comes Running" -- which is something of an atypical Spoon song, and an all-time rocker, IMO ).

Consider the coconut (morrisp), Wednesday, 19 June 2019 21:47 (four years ago) link

yeah agreed it's not much of a singles record

ciderpress, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 21:52 (four years ago) link

so:

Girls Can Tell - 1
Kill the Moonlight - 1
Gimme Fiction - 2
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - 3
Transference - 1
They Want My Soul - 3
Hot Thoughts - 1
New Song - 1

Bee OK, Thursday, 20 June 2019 00:28 (four years ago) link

they should have spread it out or had a second CD/Record like other have said. way too much is missing, like only one song from Kill the Moonlight really?

Bee OK, Thursday, 20 June 2019 00:29 (four years ago) link

"Got Nuffin" is great, full of hooks, don't get the indifference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhS7OS1WcmU

Bee OK, Thursday, 20 June 2019 00:36 (four years ago) link

We should poll this.

the future is now, Thursday, 20 June 2019 03:49 (four years ago) link

I haven't really kept up since Telephono -- is it wrong to think "Don't Buy the Realistic" should have been included?

geoffreyess, Thursday, 20 June 2019 14:55 (four years ago) link

This thread revival sent me back on a Spoon kick, revisiting most of their stuff. For me, they're one of those bands that have a few great tracks per album (see my above playlist!), and the rest I can do without... the exception is Transference. There's something about this album that makes it extremely "sticky" for me... every track keeps me hooked in. It's full of all these pleasurable moments and musical ideas -- in particular, terrific guitar parts throughout.

I remember playing the CD for the first time, and snapping to attention when that gtr lines comes in in "Who Makes Your Money" (at around 1:38; you know the one) -- I was like, "Oh damn... this is gonna be one of those albums."

Also, "The Mystery Zone" is their only "funky" song where the "funkiness"really works for me... I've already praised "Trouble Comes Running" to the rafters (above)... etc.

It really has a different sound from all their other Merge albums. I can't really put my finger on why -- many of its elements appear elsewhere, as well -- but even the usual "stiffness" and not-quite-"rock" feeling of Eno's drumming doesn't become tiring to me on this one. It's almost like Transference was recorded by a somehow better, cooler, more interesting band than the other albums... or there was just something special in the water this time, I dunno.

Consider the coconut (morrisp), Monday, 24 June 2019 05:31 (four years ago) link

Transference, to me, feels like a return to the Spoon of A Series of Sneaks. More restless, noisier, stranger production choices. A little more of a sketchbook feel. I don't think it's a coincidence that it's their first self-produced album, and their first without Mike McCarthy to reign in their weirder tendencies.

That's the Spoon I like. To me, it'll always be: 1/2. Sneaks/Telephono, 3/4. Girls Can Tell/Kill the Moonlight, 5. Telephono ... then everything else.

So to answer xpost's question: No, not at all. Same goes for "All the Negatives" and "Plastic Mylar"

alpine static, Monday, 24 June 2019 07:48 (four years ago) link

Did you mean 1/2. Sneaks/Transference? If you did I totally agree

nate woolls, Monday, 24 June 2019 08:40 (four years ago) link

Ga Ga and Transference are where I amicably parted ways with Spoon, I like them both fine but they seemed to have pushed their sound as far out as it could go with Gimme Fiction imho, everything after that has seemed like variations on a theme.

One Eye Open, Monday, 24 June 2019 14:02 (four years ago) link

Dunno why hot thoughts is so underrated here. Album effing grooves imo

Ornette is blowing bubblegum spiderwebs (outdoor_miner), Monday, 24 June 2019 14:45 (four years ago) link

It's one of my favourites of theirs. Never listened to A Series of Sneaks and Telephono though.

willem, Monday, 24 June 2019 14:53 (four years ago) link

Did you mean 1/2. Sneaks/Transference? If you did I totally agree

― nate woolls, Monday, June 24, 2019 1:40 AM (six hours ago)

No, sorry, I typo'd. I meant: 1/2. Sneaks/Telephono. 3/4. Girls/Kill. 5. Transference.

Admittedly, I should probably revisit Telephono. It's been a long time.

alpine static, Monday, 24 June 2019 15:25 (four years ago) link

six months pass...

hard to believe the last "beginning of a new decade" was ten years ago.

this album is great, the problem is it followed the three headed beast.

Bee OK, Saturday, 18 January 2020 06:22 (four years ago) link

three years pass...

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/shoegaze-cult-heroes-drop-nineteens-discuss-5-albums-that-influenced-their-first-lp-in-30-years/

Greg Ackell – 5 Albums that helped shape Drop Nineteens’ Hard Light

Spoon – Transference

Spoon. Could have picked any one of their albums as an inspiration for Hard Light. I also could have made this list five Spoon albums, because there’s no band I listen to or study more. But then I’d have to leave five Spoon albums out. Britt sounds a little exasperated on this one, coming down from heights of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga probably. And it’s his least favorite Spoon album. He does seem a little lost. But it’s a very honest album (as a result?). It’s still the only album they self-produced. That line “Times that we met before we met”-just smart as hell. “Out Go the Lights” and “Nobody Gets Me But You” have the kind of outros that make outro heavy bands (like my own) British racing green with envy. It’s hard to make a great album, not sure I’ve made one yet. Now imagine making TEN albums without any being the slightest bit short of great. They didn’t even slip one mediocre one in. Spoon.

Bee OK, Saturday, 4 November 2023 01:26 (five months ago) link

I think I own a Drop Nineteen album but never really warmed up to them too much. Anyways, found this and agree with his take.

Bee OK, Saturday, 4 November 2023 01:27 (five months ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdMI5w_RVLI

Bee OK, Saturday, 4 November 2023 06:18 (five months ago) link


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