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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Gimme Fiction is Spoon's loosest, most eclectic effort yet. While still sounding like themselves, the Austin-based band manages to evoke a number of other artists on their fifth full-length. (It's a neat trick.) On proto-glam opener "The Beast and Dragon, Adored," Britt Daniels channels the David Bowie of The Man Who Sold the World. Then there's slinky jam "I Turn My Camera On," where he conjures up Prince or Mick Jagger, circa "Miss You," by singing in a higher register. As indicated by the title, "Sister Jack" sounds like early Who (i.e. "Happy Jack"), while "They Never Got You" sounds like Plastic Ono Band-era John Lennon. Do all these different styles hang together? For the most part: yes. After the triumph of Kill the Moonlight, Spoon could have easily rested on their laurels and issued another album just like it, but Gimme Fiction proves they would rather evolve than stagnate. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Product Description
Spoon make some of the catchiest, most confident rock 'n' roll of any group around. Their fifth full-length is nothing short of a dizzying, soulful masterpiece, easily the most expansive work in their career. "Gimme Fiction" is a sprawling, exhilarating, filler-free album of keenly focused artistic vision and ambition. Merge. 2005.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Spoon is one of the best, and also the most underappreciated, bands in the wide world of indierock. And after the twin masterpieces of "Girls Can Tell" and "Kill the Moonlight," they had a lot to follow up on. They could have easily rested on their laurels, and produced a new album full of nothing new at all.
But they didn't. And the result is worth waiting for.
Their newest album, "Gimme Fiction," actually takes that kind of rock and builds on it. Nowherer is it more obvious than in the opener, "The Beast and Dragon, Adored," where lead singer Britt Daniels sounds eerily like John Lennon. If I didn't know that it was actually Daniels, I might have thought that someone found a lost Lennon song that happened to sound like Spoon.
It's followed up by a stream of slow-burning rock, with angular guitars and sharp percussion. But Spoon gets to experiment with those different styles too. There's a deep funk vibe in "I Turn My Camera On," but it instantly switches to some piano and drums in "My Mathematical Mind" and the blasts of guitar rock in "Sister Jack."
In other words, Spoon has taken the time to experiment. "Gimme Fiction" is more musically lush than "Kill the Moonlight," which was wonderfully stripped-down. But unlike many bands who try to evolve their work, Spoon hasn't lost their edge. There's still a lo-fi, angular sound to their music; it's not quite on the same level as their prior albums, but even "only good" Spoon is the stuff of retro-rock dreams.
Since it's Spoon, it's dark and rather dismal. But those lo-fi grooves are so much fun that it's virtually impossible to actually think of them as dark. The riffs are sharp and complex, with lots of little hooks to draw listeners in. They can burn slowly, then rev up into brief blasts.... Read more ›
But they didn't. And the result is worth waiting for.
Their newest album, "Gimme Fiction," actually takes that kind of rock and builds on it. Nowherer is it more obvious than in the opener, "The Beast and Dragon, Adored," where lead singer Britt Daniels sounds eerily like John Lennon. If I didn't know that it was actually Daniels, I might have thought that someone found a lost Lennon song that happened to sound like Spoon.
It's followed up by a stream of slow-burning rock, with angular guitars and sharp percussion. But Spoon gets to experiment with those different styles too. There's a deep funk vibe in "I Turn My Camera On," but it instantly switches to some piano and drums in "My Mathematical Mind" and the blasts of guitar rock in "Sister Jack."
In other words, Spoon has taken the time to experiment. "Gimme Fiction" is more musically lush than "Kill the Moonlight," which was wonderfully stripped-down. But unlike many bands who try to evolve their work, Spoon hasn't lost their edge. There's still a lo-fi, angular sound to their music; it's not quite on the same level as their prior albums, but even "only good" Spoon is the stuff of retro-rock dreams.
Since it's Spoon, it's dark and rather dismal. But those lo-fi grooves are so much fun that it's virtually impossible to actually think of them as dark. The riffs are sharp and complex, with lots of little hooks to draw listeners in. They can burn slowly, then rev up into brief blasts.... Read more ›
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By BookNerd
Format:Audio CD
Let me put this as clearly as possible: I'm an avid music fan who tries to listen to anything that makes a blip on the critical radar. With this in mind, I'm here to tell you that "Gimme Fiction" is not only Spoon's best cd, and that it will surely hold the top spot on many best of the year lists, but that its first seven songs (count `em) are so insanely good, so packed with pleasurable hooks and grooves, so smart, so delicious, so intricately designed and performed, that it will, I predict, achieve the rank of a classic. BUT...this isn't a cd that reveals itself on the first, second, or third listen. Only with multiple listens does it become clear that each song is comprised of a multitude of perfect choices: the prefect riff or beat, the perfect lyric, the perfectly-chosen little guitar growl or half-buried answer-back chorus. (You'll hear a similar high-standard and perfect knack for arrangement in the music of Wilco). "Gimme Fiction" is the sort of crafty, buoyant, deeply satisfying cd you hope for every summer but rarely find. It is a great rock and roll record.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By yocorro
Format:Audio CD
This album is a near-masterpiece, earning four stars in my book only because it does not quite reach the pinnacles of Spoon's undeniable masterpiece, 2001's "Girls Can Tell" (if you are new to the band, I might start with that one, but "Fiction" would serve as a good introduction, as well). "Gimme Fiction," like most of the band's other records, succeeds so well because you have that constant tension between the catchy pop of the melodies and the sexy, dangerous edge of Britt Daniels' voice (as well as the vicious drumming). It doesn't even matter what he's singing in a song like "I Turn My Camera On"......the song as a whole just sounds so f*cking amazing, you can get lost inside it. Also, I must give highest praise to the band for keeping the total run-time on this album mercifully short, in the style of, say, a classic Beatles album. Spoon clearly are craftsmen, recognizing that "less is more;" that just because a CD allows for 80 minutes of music doesn't mean you must utilize all 80. I look forward to playing this album all summer and singing along, loudly.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By B. Niedt
Format:Audio CD
It appears that Spoon has jumped the fence over to mainstream success with this release. The band has borrowed liberally from the classic rock of the 70's and 80's (their formative years, I presume), from the ominous Bowie-esque glam-rock opener, "Beast and Dragon, Adored", to the falsetto Stones-funk of "I Turn My Camera On". The first half of this CD is especially impressive, laden with hooks, the catchiest being in "Sister Jack", an upbeat number that evokes so many "Jack" songs of yore (The Who's "Happy Jack"; the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash", even Spirit's "Uncle Jack"). Once we pass that song, memorable tunes are harder to come by, though they're consistently competent and entertaining. Their pop-tradition sensibilities remind me of Fountains of Wayne, albeit with a harder edge. And now and then Britt Daniels' guitar cuts loose on a "noisy" solo that reminds us they still consider themselves an alternative band. Overall, it's a worthy effort, as Spoon joins groups like Modest Mouse and the Shins in gaining a well-deserved wider audience.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Since this is my first outing with Spoon, I have no way to compare it with their previous works. However, if Gimme Fiction is any indication of the quality of previous albums, I am eager to hear more of them.
My intro to Spoon came via an English music magazine, despite the fact that they are based a mere hundred miles from where I live. I chose Gimme Fiction as it seemed as good a CD with which to acquaint myself with their music than any other. One facet of the music I came to enjoy is the way the guitar is deftly used to underline or accent a musical sequence, rather than as a mere accompaniment to the lyrics.
My favorites are The Beast and the Dragon, Adored with its Beatlesque vocals and blistering guitar licks, Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine with its steady and appealing beat, the snappy pop of Sister Jack, and the relentlessly driving and Beatlesque They Never Got You.
On Gimme Fiction, Spoon sounds fresh and exciting. In popular music, the most danceable music generally is so vapid lyrically that those with elevated taste dismiss it out of hand. On the other hand, those who prefer dance music often dismiss quality "listening" music as elitist.
With Gimme Fiction, you'll find that Spoon has managed to locate that rare intersection of quality and danceability. Check it out and you'll hear what I mean!
My intro to Spoon came via an English music magazine, despite the fact that they are based a mere hundred miles from where I live. I chose Gimme Fiction as it seemed as good a CD with which to acquaint myself with their music than any other. One facet of the music I came to enjoy is the way the guitar is deftly used to underline or accent a musical sequence, rather than as a mere accompaniment to the lyrics.
My favorites are The Beast and the Dragon, Adored with its Beatlesque vocals and blistering guitar licks, Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine with its steady and appealing beat, the snappy pop of Sister Jack, and the relentlessly driving and Beatlesque They Never Got You.
On Gimme Fiction, Spoon sounds fresh and exciting. In popular music, the most danceable music generally is so vapid lyrically that those with elevated taste dismiss it out of hand. On the other hand, those who prefer dance music often dismiss quality "listening" music as elitist.
With Gimme Fiction, you'll find that Spoon has managed to locate that rare intersection of quality and danceability. Check it out and you'll hear what I mean!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Album
This is a good album. I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said, so I'll leave it at that.
Published 4 months ago by Woodthegr8
4.0 out of 5 stars
SPOON's CD Gimme Fiction
SPOON's "gimme fiction" CD came to me very quickly in very good condition and has been enjoyed immensely. Listen to this CD as often as possible.
Published 8 months ago by W. H. G.
5.0 out of 5 stars
great album
This is a great album. Every song is worth owning. I like pretty much everything else Spoon has released, but this is their best album in my opinion.
Published 9 months ago by R. M. Peterson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spoon, adored
It was December of 2004 and it was a Saturday night. The Christmas tree was up and lit and my wife and two daughters were asleep. Read more
Published 15 months ago by J. Hubner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome from the start... all the way to the end!
Great CD thru and thru... give it a listen... you will be glad you did!
Published on September 4, 2009 by For the Sun and Moon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gimme Some Spooned Out Satisfaction
So here's my Spoon River Anthology: I saw this little band in Salt Lake City after this album came out, maybe late summer 2005. Read more
Published on August 23, 2009 by M. Swinney
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spoon's Best
Spoon's best album so far, content even beter than Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. You won't be disappointed!
Published on May 13, 2009 by Y. Robeson
2.0 out of 5 stars
A disappointment. Skip it and get Ga Ga Ga instead.
This record has the foundation of good music, but lacks good hooks, melodies, transitions and quality production. Read more
Published on February 19, 2009 by Khyber900
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spoon's Finest
Unlike a lot of indie bands out there, Spoon doesn't always have to be an acquired taste. Many of the songs on this album are so catchy and accessible that you'll be hooked the... Read more
Published on February 16, 2009 by Andrew
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Album
Strong, diverse album. Almost as good as later "Ga, Ga, Ga...." which in my book is saying a lot. By the way I'm 60 and I really enjoy Spoon. Read more
Published on January 11, 2009 by Russ Weiss
