<p><span lang="en-AU">- A call of “</span><span lang="en-AU"><em>we’re rolling</em></span><span lang="en-AU">” and the general cacophony of a band in a recording studio brings us back into the world of venerable indie-rockers, Spoon. Anathema to their previous release, 2017’s </span><span lang="en-AU"><em>Hot Thoughts</em></span><span lang="en-AU">, which was studio marinated, </span><span lang="en-AU"><em>Lucifer On The Sofa</em></span><span lang="en-AU"> is very much a live, corporeal album. Where </span><span lang="en-AU"><em>Hot Thoughts</em></span><span lang="en-AU"> was saturated with synthesisers and drum machines, Spoon’s latest offering is unmistakably the work of a rock ‘n’ roll band. With their penchant for the purity of this aesthetic, it is a sagacious choice for the band. Owing largely to lead singer and guitarist, </span><span lang="en-AU"><strong>Britt Daniel</strong></span><span lang="en-AU">’s gravelly, born-for-rock voice and his signature telecaster guitar sound, it is a tone that suits Spoon down to the ground.</span></p>
<p><span lang="en-AU">Beginning with two high-octane numbers off-the-bat in </span><span lang="en-AU"><em>Held</em></span><span lang="en-AU"> and </span><span lang="en-AU"><em>The Hardest Cut</em></span><span lang="en-AU">, in fact the band hardly ease off the throttle from beginning to end. With the exceptions of </span><span lang="en-AU"><em>Astral Jacket</em></span><span lang="en-AU"> and the title track, each song seems to be catchier than the last. Third cab off the rank </span><span lang="en-AU"><em>The Devil & Mister Jones</em></span><span lang="en-AU"> is a smooth, foot-tapper that is greatly abetted by the inclusion of some acute brass. It is also a title that seems highly appropriate for a band’s most rock ‘n’ roll album. The devil is a ubiquitous character in rock ‘n’ roll mythology, while the enigmatic Mr. Jones has famously been referenced by the likes of </span><span lang="en-AU"><strong>Bob Dylan</strong></span><span lang="en-AU">, </span><span lang="en-AU"><strong>The Beatles</strong></span><span lang="en-AU"> and </span><span lang="en-AU"><strong>Counting Crows</strong></span><span lang="en-AU"><span>; look him up.</span></span></p>
<p><span lang="en-AU">Another standout is subsequent track, </span><span lang="en-AU"><em>Wild</em></span><span lang="en-AU">. The anthemic second single, built on the palpitating high-hat of drummer and engineer </span><span lang="en-AU"><strong>Jim Eno</strong></span><span lang="en-AU"> showcases Spoon’s innate ability to craft songs that find the elusive balance of catchy-pop and artistic integrity. Ultimately, </span><span lang="en-AU"><em>Lucifer on the Sofa</em></span><span lang="en-AU"> is an album that will sit comfortably in Spoon’s catalogue. It’s perfectly indicative of their general aura, notwithstanding their frequent forays into electronica and experimentation. Full of seamless transitions weaving through the infectious tracklist, it is an album that will please old fans and surely acquire new ones. </span></p>
<p><span lang="en-AU">- Jon Cloumassis.</span></p>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2961709274/size=large/bgcol=f…; seamless><a href="https://spoontheband.bandcamp.com/album/lucifer-on-the-sofa">Lucifer On The Sofa by Spoon</a></iframe>