A thoroughly enjoyable career-spanning conversation with Britt Daniel of US indie rock legends Spoon, on the eve of another fine album Lucifer On The Sofa (number 10) and extensive US tour. Not Europe though! Well, next year is the band’s 30th year in the biz, so we’re working on it…listen in!
Having become obsessed by a song, there is a certain trepidation that comes with asking the creator of that song just where it came from. In the case of Spoon, that song would be ‘The Ghost Of You Lingers’, an album track from the band’s highly successful 2007 LP Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. The creator of course, Spoon’s singer and ‘front person’ Britt Daniel. When I spoke with Britt for the Art of Longevity podcast, I had to ask him about the song that’s haunted me (sic) for 15 years, in a good way.
I found to my delight, it’s one of his own favourites too, and it made total sense to learn that the song was born of frustration, such as it is with its pounding keyboard and visceral, almost shouted lyric. With Britt, there was no danger of unravelling the song’s mystery however. Instead, his insights simply add another layer of depth to a song already fathoms deep. Some of our favourite songs just seem to come from another place entirely - a place even the creator doesn’t fully understand.
After the release of a ‘best of’ collection Everything Hits at Once in 2019, Spoon are back at long last with brand new material - the album Lucifer On The Sofa - a raw, rollicking rock album (with some fine melodic touches and complete with new players on lead guitar and bass) recorded as near-as-dammit live. It is an antidote to Spoon’s previous (superb, but far more produced) Hot Thoughts (2017).
In 30 years, the band has come full circle in the best possible way. Their first record (“not my favourite” says Britt) Telephono was released on indie label Matador, yet Spoon soon found themselves in a dalliance with a major label for the second outing A Series of Sneaks (1998). While that did not end well, it turned out to be the making of the band, Spoon’s true beginning. The bitter experience of ‘being dropped’ gave the band its first big song, the naming-and-shaming ‘Laffitte Don’t Fail Me Now’ (featured heavily in our collection ‘Stick It To The Man’), the second song we discuss on the podcast.
Almost two decades later the band was back on the Matador label and in a happy place - having consolidated their unique sound on a run of brilliant LPs. The most indie of bands was somehow destined to make their best work while signed to an iconic indie label.
I’m glad to say that Spoon’s hot streak doesn’t end with Lucifer. The album is a fine addition to an outstanding catalogue, already receiving those glowing 4 & 5 star reviews. “It fits perfectly as number 10” in Britt’s own economic language. It does indeed. Not only that but the title track and album closer (which we discuss in some depth on the pod) is something different entirely, an inspired (by the pandemic in part) and momentous stroke of genius from a band at the peak of its powers.
The only downer on a thoroughly enjoyable career-spanning conversation is the fact that poor old blighty is losing out big time, yet again. Spoon is touring Lucifer extensively in the USA but has no immediate plans to come to Europe. It doesn’t stop me trying however. In concluding our chat with the suggestion that Spoon comes over to London in 2023 (the band’s 30th anniversary year) to do not just a show but a residency, I’ve set to work on the very idea…watch this space.
Meantime, check out the impressive new record and back catalogue of my favourite - and your new favourite - indie band. Ladies & gentlemen this is…Spoon, as brought to you by Britt himself.
The Art of Longevity is produced by Audio Culture in partnership with Project Melody. Original music is by Andrew James Johnson.
Lucifer On The Sofa is out now buy it on Bandcamp to enjoy the amazing artwork by Edel Rodriguez and, the music dudes!