Transference

Spoon started losing that choppy, melodic, bluesy swagger on their last album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. The band lost that beat that dominated previous albums like Kill The Moonlight. The beat that made me slap the steering wheel while singing along in my car.

Transference has me convinced that the band is incapable of returning to what they once were. What made Spoon so good was that up-tempo, unforgiving beat mixed with Britt Daniel's raspy vocals. The opening songs on Transference blend and get lost in a wall of reverb. Daniel sings instead of letting that gravelly voice pelt the listener through the speakers.

As the album progresses, there are moments when Spoon shows signs of its former self. Songs such as “Written in Reverse,” “Got Nuffin,” and “Out Go the Lights” are examples of the band finding their stride. “Goodnight Laura” shows that Daniel and Spoon can still switch it up, from faster upbeat songs to ballads. Transference is good, not great, if you are dedicated to the band's earlier sound. It sure won’t make you act like a fool driving down the freeway.

• Album title: Transference (2010)
• Artist: Spoon
• Label: Merge
• Songs: (1) Before Destruction, (2) Is Love Forever, (3) The Mystery Zone, (4) Who Makes Your Money, (5) Written In Reverse, (6) I Saw The Light, (7) Trouble Comes Running, (8) Good Night Laura, (9) Out Go The Lights, (10) Got Nuffin, (11) Nobody Gets Me But You