Spoon
Girls Can Tell
(Merge)
Austin, Texas's Spoon should be huge.
But, like Dancing About Architecture, they will toil in indie label semi-obscurity adored by the
chosen, smart few. And they'll probably be better off for it. Forgive the businessspeak, but
through "Q1," Girls Can Tell is the best record I've heard this millennium. A straight ahead power pop trio, Spoon are led by singer-guitarist-songwriter Britt Daniel
whose has a voice on the good side of thin, not in the annoying Jeff Tweedy kind of way. And
don't let Texas scare you off, Spoon are not twang. He has a sack full of boy-and-girl songs in
his repertoire that cut right to the chase. (Sample lyric: "Things everybody should know/The end
will come slow/And love will break your heart" from "Believing is Art.") My favorite on Girls
Can Tell might be "Fitted Shirt," in which the narrator laments things ain't how they used
to be and offers the quality craftsmanship of his father's dress shirts as exhibit A. For those
lamenting the diminishing talents of the Rolling Stones, give a listen to "Take the Fifth" a
bluesy stomp only missing a cowbell that I can see Jagger prancing down an arena stage wagging
his finger to. It's no secret that the music business is unfair so earn your merit badge by investing a
little in Spoon. It'll improve your rep. Girls can tell.
Rating: 8
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