http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.63230&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rssThe shift in power toward independent alt-rock labels is highlighted by the 2005 success of Austin's Spoon. Led by diabolically talented singer-songwriter Britt Daniel and his creative partner Jim Eno (drums), the band made a splash on respected Matador Records before moving to industry powerhouse Elektra, which didn't work out for them. Now they're celebrated as a jewel in the crown at the simpatico Merge label run by members of the North Carolina indie-punk outfit Superchunk. Ironically, Spoon's mainstream profile has risen despite Merge's off-the-radar image. <br></br>Spoon's early music recalled the "angular," pleasingly harsh sound of early Pavement and Archers of Loaf, with Daniel's impressionistic lyrics filling the empty spaces with an offbeat economy and the hint of a smirk. Matador issued <I>Telephono</I> and the <I>Soft Effects</I> EP before Spoon signed with Elektra for 1998's <I>A Series of Sneaks.</I> Their mightiest display of post-punk tactics, the record was nonetheless dead in the water before its release. Following this commercial disaster, the band's A&R champion at Elektra, Ron Laffitte, won himself the honor of a two-song CD single, "The Agony of Laffitte"/"Laffitte Don't Fail Me Now." (<I>A Series of Sneaks</I> was later reissued by Neil Young's Vapor imprint.) <br></br> Burned but game -- and seemingly determined never to release two similar albums in a row -- Spoon got back into the game with the Merge EP <I>Love Ways</I> and the subsequent <I>Girls Can Tell.</I> Named for a little-known Crystals/Dixie Cups number co-written by Phil Spector, <I>Girls</I> built on Spoon's reputation for literate, sophisticated, sometimes pounding rock. It became a staple at radio and scored high with critics, some of whom had no doubt missed out on the glories of the Elektra disc. <br></br> Branching out further, Daniel and Eno leaned more heavily on piano and even danceable grooves for 2002's <I>Kill the Moonlight.</I> Frequent airings of "The Way We Get By" made a slight erosion in the wall between alt pop and mainstream pop. Spoon achieved further renown with their third Merge long-player, 2005's <I>Gimme Fiction.</I> Agony? No more. - Jaan UhelszkiIndie/Alternativeen720Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:06:25 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.63230&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss The shift in power toward independent alt-rock labels is highlighted by the 2005 success of Austin's Spoon. Led by diabolically talented singer-songwriter Britt Daniel and his creative partner Jim Eno (drums), the band made a splash on respected Matador Records before moving to industry powerhouse Elektra, which didn't work out for them. Now they're celebrated as a jewel in the crown at the simpatico Merge label run by members of the North Carolina indie-punk outfit Superchunk. Ironically, Spoon's mainstream profile has risen despite Merge's off-the-radar image. <br></br>Spoon's early music recalled the "angular," pleasingly harsh sound of early Pavement and Archers of Loaf, with Daniel's impressionistic lyrics filling the empty spaces with an offbeat economy and the hint of a smirk. Matador issued <I>Telephono</I> and the <I>Soft Effects</I> EP before Spoon signed with Elektra for 1998's <I>A Series of Sneaks.</I> Their mightiest display of post-punk tactics, the record was nonetheless dead in the water before its release. Following this commercial disaster, the band's A&R champion at Elektra, Ron Laffitte, won himself the honor of a two-song CD single, "The Agony of Laffitte"/"Laffitte Don't Fail Me Now." (<I>A Series of Sneaks</I> was later reissued by Neil Young's Vapor imprint.) <br></br> Burned but game -- and seemingly determined never to release two similar albums in a row -- Spoon got back into the game with the Merge EP <I>Love Ways</I> and the subsequent <I>Girls Can Tell.</I> Named for a little-known Crystals/Dixie Cups number co-written by Phil Spector, <I>Girls</I> built on Spoon's reputation for literate, sophisticated, sometimes pounding rock. It became a staple at radio and scored high with critics, some of whom had no doubt missed out on the glories of the Elektra disc. <br></br> Branching out further, Daniel and Eno leaned more heavily on piano and even danceable grooves for 2002's <I>Kill the Moonlight.</I> Frequent airings of "The Way We Get By" made a slight erosion in the wall between alt pop and mainstream pop. Spoon achieved further renown with their third Merge long-player, 2005's <I>Gimme Fiction.</I> Agony? No more. - Jaan Uhelszki http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.28873443&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.28873443 alb.28873443 Spoon art.63230 2.99 Got Nuffin alb.28873443 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/5/3/7/1717359_170x170.jpg 2009-06-30 00:00:00.0 2009-06-30 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.28873443&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.28873443&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.19815618&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 8 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.19815618 alb.19815618 Spoon art.63230 6.99 Don't You Evah alb.19815618 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/9/7/1/1211794_170x170.jpg 2008-04-08 00:00:00.0 2008-04-08 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.19815618&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.19815618&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.15237727&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.15237727 alb.15237727 Spoon art.63230 8.99 Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga alb.15237727 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/8/3/1043871_170x170.jpg 2007-07-10 00:00:00.0 2007-07-03 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.15237727&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.15237727&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.10892030&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.10892030 alb.10892030 Spoon art.63230 8.99 Telephono / Soft Effects (Double E.P.) alb.10892030 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/7/0/4/864072_170x170.jpg 2006-07-25 00:00:00.0 2006-07-25 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.10892030&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.10892030&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.9057267&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 3 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.9057267 alb.9057267 Spoon art.63230 2.99 Rolling Stone Original alb.9057267 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/4/1/9/769142_170x170.jpg 2006-01-03 00:00:00.0 2006-01-03 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.9057267&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.9057267&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.8683991&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 8 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.8683991 alb.8683991 Spoon art.63230 2.99 Sister Jack alb.8683991 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/2/3/9/769321_170x170.jpg 2005-11-08 00:00:00.0 2005-11-08 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.8683991&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.8683991&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7269823&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Mon, 9 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.7269823 alb.7269823 Spoon art.63230 8.99 Gimme Fiction alb.7269823 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/4/3/3/703343_170x170.jpg 2005-05-09 00:00:00.0 2005-05-10 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7269823&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7269823&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.167892&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 20 Aug 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.167892 alb.167892 Spoon art.63230 8.99 Kill The Moonlight alb.167892 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/9/2/4/514293_170x170.jpg 2002-08-20 00:00:00.0 2002-08-20 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.167892&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.167892&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.313666&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 4 Jun 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.313666 alb.313666 Spoon art.63230 8.99 A Series Of Sneaks alb.313666 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/5/6/0/530655_170x170.jpg 2002-06-04 00:00:00.0 2002-01-01 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.313666&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.313666&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.112225&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 20 Feb 2001 00:00:00 -0800 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.112225 alb.112225 Spoon art.63230 8.99 Girls Can Tell alb.112225 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/7/2/1/541277_170x170.jpg 2001-02-20 00:00:00.0 2001-02-20 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.112225&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.112225&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.303840&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 17 Oct 2000 00:00:00 -0700 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.303840 alb.303840 Spoon art.63230 4.99 Love Ways alb.303840 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/1/7/4/754713_170x170.jpg 2000-10-17 00:00:00.0 2000-10-24 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.303840&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.303840&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.15331019&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 3 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.15331019 alb.15331019 Spoon art.63230 1.99 The Agony of Laffitte alb.15331019 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/5/7/1/1281750_170x170.jpg 2007-07-03 00:00:00.0 2000-06-01 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.15331019&variant=play&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.15331019&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.304527&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 5 May 1998 00:00:00 -0700 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.304527 alb.304527 Spoon art.63230 0.0 Series of Sneaks alb.304527 1998-05-05 00:00:00.0 1998-05-05 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.304527&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.304527&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.270858&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Tue, 5 May 1998 00:00:00 -0700 Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.270858 alb.270858 Spoon art.63230 0.0 Series of Sneaks alb.270858 1998-05-05 00:00:00.0 1998-05-05 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.270858&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.270858&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.322410&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss Indie/Alternative Spoon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.322410 alb.322410 Spoon art.63230 0.0 All the Negatives Have Been Destroyed alb.322410 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/1/5/9/199511_170x170.jpg null 1996-03-12 00:00:00.0 false false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.322410&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.322410&variant=data&rws=%2Fspoon%2Fdiscography.rss