Transference

Spoon - Transference
Critic Score
Based on 30 reviews
2010 Ratings: #128 / 924
Year End Rank: #43
User Score
Based on 229 ratings
2010 Rank: #128
Liked by 21 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

80
Drowned in Sound

Spoon are a pretty consistent bunch. Consistent in sound and pretty darned consistent in quality. Since their 1996 debut Telephono they have gradually refined the Pixies-indebted indie rock of that record into something simultaneously more pop-savvy and complex with their neat use of production tricks an increasingly distinctive trait. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, from 2007, saw Spoon reach their apex in this regard; a record where auditory adventurousness (see 'The Ghost of You

Lingers') and pop nous ('The Underdog') not only sat comfortably side by side, but where the former actually served the needs of the latter, as on the modernised Motown of 'You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb'.

50
musicOMH

For a while there - from the mid '90s to 2010 - the old turkey lover was right. Austin's Spoon, with Britt Daniel at the helm and Jim Eno as first mate, could always make rock and roll sound fun. They transitioned from the rough, raw edges of Telephono and A Series

Of Sneaks to the comfortable, rounded perfections of Gimme Fiction, delivering rock with swagger, but constantly oriented on catchy, pop-oriented melodies.

ElectricMess
88

tl;dr: i love it

In a discography defined by sharp production, tight grooves, and songs that, off-kilter as they are, always go for the jugular with pop hooks, the album with all of this attributes thrown out the window that stands out to me most. Go figure. While it’s true that Transference is the by far the most obtuse and rough around the edges entry in Spoon’s catalogue, the underlying emotions and heartbreak are so fascinating to me. It reminds me of R.E.M.‘s Monster in ... read more

Doofy
73

'Transference' is an intriguing follow up to 'Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga' because it marks a retreat from attempting to release an even more pop focused or catchy set of songs. There's an argument this is their least immediate record and more so, it revels in atmospheric touches and slippery arrangements.

Highlights like 'The Mystery Zone' and the slow motion 'Out Go the Lights' are most memorable for mood ahead of melody, but equally, they still class as two of the band's finest songs partly for that ... read more

SnowyFighter
82

What a solid release. This album is underrated as HELL. Spoon just came off from making their most successful record yet, so they wanted to do something new and different to get their creative juices flowing again. This has probably the most experimental tracks from Spoon, with some really unique ideas across this whole thing, while still sounding like Spoon. At first I wrote it off, but yeah it's a grower for sure. I've always loved the song Out Go The Lights though, with it feeling really ... read more

kattenbroekcom
97

Transference sees spoon try and experiment with their formula, pinning down songs that have experimental touches to down while also being more emotional in the end. It's for sure their most experimental up to this point, but one of their very best with amazing songs that don't try to be popped indie rock studio works like on ga ga ga ga ga. The only two things are that the snare on Is Love Forever? drives me nuts and kinda distracts it from being fantastic and goodnight Laura is good but ... read more

60

Thought i would like it more. Also thought it would be more experimental as people have claimed so.

Iwush
96

listened on 1/25/22

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