Saying that Spoon are popular is an understatement. Their latest album, Transference (TMT Review), was released earlier this year, and not only has it led to widespread critical acclaim, but it’s also been met with the adoration of millions of fans. Tonight, they’re set to play Jimmy Fallon, and tomorrow, they’ll finish off their summer tour, including dates with Arcade Fire. They’ve even booked shows taking us through November, all of which will probably sell out before the night of the show.
But for a band as loved as Spoon, I’m surprised how many fans and critics overlook their hateful lyrics. On Transference, Spoon promote the most frightening, despicable subject matter with barely a whimper from the critical community. “Fuck you, and fuck your stupid ugly mom/ Yeah, that’s right/ Fuck you all to hell as I put your mom in a mighty spell,” sings Britt Daniel on the album’s opening track, “Before Destruction.” Later, on “I Saw the Light,” he screams, “Oh, you think you’re tough? You think you’re rough? Well, I saw the light, and I’ll skull-fuck your fuckin’ wife, you stupid dyke!” His attack goes well beyond sexism on “Trouble Comes Running,” where Daniel yells, “I want to get a piece of that sexy-looking niece or, hey, maybe even that male state police/ But yo, I’m not misanthropic: I love the deceased!”
Okay, the lyrics are not that bad, and yes, bands like Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene also thrive off these hateful sentiments, but you’d think critics would at least address some of these issues. Or am I asking too much?
08.04.10 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden *
08.05.10 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden *
08.06.10 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion *
08.07.10 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
08.09.10 - Columbus, OH - LC Pavilion Outdoor Amphitheatre
08.10.10 - Covington, KY - Madison Theatre
08.11.10 - Atlanta, GA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre *
09.11.10 - Harrisburg, PA - The Forum
09.12.10 - Clark, NJ - Union County Music Festival
09.30.10 - Los Angeles, CA - The Palladium with Cold Cave
10.01.10 - San Diego, CA - SOMA
10.02.10 - Las Vegas, NV - Matador’s 21
10.04.10 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre with Dale Watson
10.05.10 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre with Dale Watson
10.06.10 - El Paso, TX - Club 101 with Dale Watson
10.08.10 - Austin, TX - ACL Festival
11.10.10 - Rockefeller, Oslo Norway
11.11.10 - Tradgarn, Gothenburg Sweden
11.12.10 - Vega, Copenhagen Denmark
11.13.10 - Rolling Stone Weekender, Germany
11.15.10 - Elysee Montmartre, Paris
11.16.10 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London
11.17.10 - Cockpit, Leeds
11.18.10 - Academy, Dublin, Ireland
11.20.10 - Crossing Border Festival, The Hague Holland
11.21.10 - Crossing Border Festival, Antwerp Belgium
* Arcade Fire
• Spoon: http://spoontheband.com
• Merge: http://www.mergerecords.com
