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Spoon
Eventually, all bands either break up or are dropped by their label. Some groups may forestall the inevitable but it comes nonetheless. It's almost always 'death' when a group, lacking a track record, gets released. They generally dissolve in despair or retool. Band members get switched out (which happened with Spoon) and the name is changed to avoid any association with failure. Rarely does a group move on with the same moniker, then turn around and jab the label that let them go.
Spoon started (with Daniel and Eno) in Austin naming themselves after a song by the German avant-garde band, Can. Four years down the road, in '98, Spoon signed with Elektra Records. They released "A Series Of Sneaks" and were then dropped. In response, Spoon released an EP titled, "The Agony Of Laffitte," a dig at Elektra A&R man Ron Laffitte. The group then went the indie route with Merge Records.
'01 effort, "Girls Can Tell," got them off to a strong start. The following year Spoon did even better with "Kill The Moonlight."
Spoon contributed tracks ("The Book I Write," "The Way To Get By" and "My Mathematical Mind") to the Will Ferrell vehicle Stranger Than Fiction. Daniel and composer Brian Reitzell (Redd Kross drummer) provided additional music for the film.
"Gimme Fiction," an '05 album, earned the group some late night TV appearances (Dave Letterman, Craig Ferguson and Carson Daly) and a stint on PBS' Austin City Limits. With this album Spoon tunes (especially "I Turn My Camera On") found their way into the TV shows - Veronica Mars, Bones, How I Met Your Mother, Numb3rs and Chuck, to name a few.
"Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga," with "Don't Make Me A Target" and "Rhythm And Soul," landed two years later. The album made its debut at #10 on the Billboard 200 and led to another round of late-night TV appearances. Next up was the group's seventh studio album, the '10 release "Transference."
"Transference" bounces between classic mainstream Rock ("Out Go The Lights" and "The Mystery Zone") and driving Punk ("Is Love Forever?" and "Got Nuffin") with a couple ballads dropped in. "Who Makes Your Money" is a reverb-drenched effort but the more basic piano ballad "Goodnight Laura" has far more impact. Working the angst, "Written In Reverse" is a surprise mid-tempo gem.
"Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" has the sense to keep things moving and avoid the shoe gazing emo drivel that so often plagues acoustic leaning groups. Though a relatively low-key effort, the songs are sharp and the performances resonate around clever arrangements. "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb," "Rhythm And Soul," "Eddie's Raga" and "The Underdog" with sassy horns, all lock on catchy grooves and don't let go. "My Little Japanese Cigarette Case" has a quirky rhythm that's practically irresistible as are the "stylish" lyrics.
Earlier efforts are strong but not as cohesive as "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga." "Small Stakes" is the highlight of "Kill The Moonlight" while the thumping "I Turn My Camera On," featuring Daniel's near-falsetto, gets the nod on "Gimme Fiction."