Kill the Moonlight

By Gabriel

ill the Moonlight is one of the best modern albums that I've known. Spoon managed to create this ultra-simple sound that still sounds aged and experimental. This album came about in a time when garage bands were "the thing" and Spoon was one of few bands that didn't use "The" in their name (i.e. The Strokes, The Hives, The White Stripes, The Von Bondies). I overplayed this album initially but the entire LP is perfectly solid. Britt Daniels' sometimes slurred and drunken voice coupled with his mostly undistorted guitar makes me think that this music would have fit in on the radio back in the "old days." (Not the best description, so excuse my lack of knowledge in music history. You get my point.) Daniels evokes Buddy Holly, a touch of Elvis Costello, and even a little bit of The Kinks. Very few singers can make "Oooo" and "Yeah" sound so fitting in every song. This album made me realize that Spoon has legitimate staying power that few bands have proven since the rise of popular music in the 90s. Every release may not have the punch and power-pop of this recording, but their work is reliable, catchy and meaningful. Spoon is on my Desert Island 10 list.

Kill also triggers fond memories of my time in Arlington, VA and Washington, DC: living with Jim, being on my own for the first time after school, driving about and visiting friends, shopping at DCCD, pining for the cute indie girl at DCCD, and other great albums that I bought there.