Photo by: MySpace.com

Spoon is that band all your friends rock out to.

Spoon is that band that plays as the soundtrack to every summer party.

Spoon is that band on the radio you tap your fingers to as if you were the drummer. And with the release of Transference, Spoon’s latest album, you’ll be hearing Spoon everywhere more and more often.

Since its major-label debut in 1998, Spoon has been gathering more and more momentum and fans. With each album release, Spoon builds on its successes, sound and subsequent sales figures. Transference is no exception.

The members of Spoon’s current lineup – Britt Daniel on vocals and guitar, Jim Eno on drums, Rob Pope on bass and Eric Harvey on everything else – see themselves evolving from mere indie rock fledglings into full-fledged indie rock icons, particularly apparent in the piano-pounding party jam, “Written in Reverse.”

However, “Written in Reverse” is not the only reason for Spoon’s success thus far with Transference, which sold 53,000 copies in its first week.

Luckily for listeners, the album plays strongly from start to finish, with 11 radio-ready rock songs.

Though Transference starts slowly but firmly with “Before Destruction,” the momentum picks up by track No. 2, “Is Love Forever?,” with its layered beats, layered vocals and staccato guitar perfect for dancing along the shoreline of a beach on a summer night.

Love may or may not be forever, but you’ll hear this song once and wish the fun will never have to end.

“The Mystery Zone” is equally bouncy and fit for a block party.

Daniel’s vocal is enchanting with its nod to nonchalance and the slow groove makes your cares simply float away.

“Got Nuffin” also provides an escape, as you could easily lose yourself in the fast riffs of the guitar.

 

 

The most interesting track, however, is not any of these. Instead, it is “Nobody Gets Me but You,” with manic piano interjections and a base line that would stand up against Queen’s best.

Make no mistake, though. Spoon’s Transference is not glamorized rock and roll like Queen’s back catalogue.

Instead, Spoon’s indie rock is catchy but credible, uniquely grimy but interestingly shiny, like a favorite piece of silverware. And that’s one Spoon that everyone needs in their collection.