AOTY #13: Spoon - They Want My Soul

When Metacritic announced that Spoon was, by the numbers, the #1 music artist of the '00s, over groups like Radiohead or Outkast, it was a wakeup call to many about the Austin-based rock outfit's quiet rise to the top. Sure, they may not have been flashy or subversive, but they were consistent, and deserved the heaps of praise they received. And, over the course of the past 20 years, Spoon has created a vast discography that rocks hard and smart, with tough guitar lines and a barroom swagger that would slug you in the jaw and then flash a pearly white grin afterward

So the fact that They Want My Soul, Spoon's eighth album, has landed on this list—among many others—is no surprise, but the record is by no means going through the motions. Sure, there's that same bruising bar rock on tracks like "Rent I Pay" or "Rainy Taxi," but They Want My Soul doesn't find the band placated with their sound; there are some experiments on here that absolutely pay off. Who would've ever predicted that Spoon would try their hand at synth-drenched psychedelia, as on "Inside Out"? "Inside Out" is both unlike anything Spoon has done thus far and completely sublime, a trip through time, space, and love featuring a harp solo, of all things. And while the below lyrics seem innocuous, there's a lot to read into:

Time's gone inside out
Time gets distorted when
There's intense gravityA huge part of Spoon's charm is their accessibility; sure, the aforementioned song is an extended metaphor depicting lovesickness on a scale that transcends the time-space continuum, but the lyrics themselves are simultaneously easy to understand and dense. You get out of them what you want to. Looking to delve into some deep musings about the universe? You got it! But, if you suddenly decide you want to listen to something fun and easy, you don't even have to touch that dial. The music of They Want My Soul keeps to that same layered vibe: do you want straightforward alt-rock, or do you want to get lost in intricate layers of xylophones, flutes, barbershop quartet harmonies, whistling, and Spanish guitars? Because they're all there, hidden throughout the record, but only calling to you if you look for it. These elements are like easter eggs: they're always fun if you find them, but not necessary to get enjoyment from the experience. The same thing goes with references in their lyrics. For example, what do you find in the bridge from "Rainy Taxi"?

Put on your red shoes, sing it to me, lover-girl
When you do, my love, I forget the world
And if you say "run," I may run with you
Spoon is by no means a simple band, but they manage to take their past 20 years of activity, their underdog ethos and experiences, and exemplify it all in three-and-a-half minutes for the album's title track. It's rambunctious in spirit but clean in sound, with crunchy, dueling guitars and lyrics about things that get lead singer Britt Daniel down. The chorus is essentially a list of people who piss Daniel off, but it's not mopey in the slightest; in fact, it's actually pretty upbeat. That's Spoon for you!

Card sharks and street preachers want my soul
Upsellers and palm readers want my soul
Post sermon socialites, park enchanters and skin tights
All they want's my soul, yeah, they want my soul
Clearly someone's been gunning for Spoon's soul for a long time, but, if there's any benefit to this persistent soul-sucking, it's that it inspired a record that's thumping, proud, and wickedly well done

- Alt-Weakling

Come back tomorrow for album #12 and follow along with the list here!