The song, along with the rest of Transference, the band’s latest album, is out now on Merge.

Spoon – “Written in Reverse”

The Austin indie rock emissaries take the old, new, borrowed, and blue approach on their seventh studio album, Transference—a record that’s not as preen or polished as previous efforts, but nonetheless stays true to the band’s trademark metronomi-rock sound. Spoon’s first LP sans producer, Transference is best described as an exploded view sort of record, with the quartet’s cumulative influences, vulnerabilities, and idiosyncrasies breaking through more than ever.

Winding up with “Before Destruction,” a heady, organ-propelled chamber-pop overture riddled with shower stall vocals and acoustic-only strumming, Transference doesn’t come right out and say exactly what it is or who it’s for, but nonetheless notifies the listener that this record is about the journey—not the destination. Unfortunately, the journey is temporarily detoured via “Is Love Forever?,” with all its air gun drum sounds and Reggaeton Strokes repetitiveness—and doesn’t continue until track three, with “Mystery Zone.”

Despite its name, the delightfully baroque “Mystery Zone” occupies well-traveled Spoon-iverse territory. It possess certain archetypal characteristics—a punchy bassline, some strings here and there, and straight-laced percussion—that have defined the band’s sound since Gimme Fiction, and like Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga’s “The Underdog,” this one has Nick Lowe’s influential stink all over it. “Mystery Zone” ends abruptly, like a bad digital rip or the last track on an overloaded CD-R, yet remains Transference’s most approachable track, even if it does sound like Daniel is singing “Miss Chorizo.”

“Who Makes Your Money?” is a subdued, “Was it You?”-reminiscent groover that, over and over again, asks the titular question (not where you make said money or where you get the accompanying kicks, mind you). Watch for falling Justin Vernon-style auto-tune traces here.

Album highlight, “Written in Reverse” is a disjointed, floor-stomping barrage of bar band attitude that showcases some of the album’s bolder guitar moments and some of Britt Daniel’s most memorable lyrical mutterings (see “And it feels so good/oh but only briefly/Like high school poppers would/where you lose a bit of yourself.”) After the near-destruction of Daniel’s vocal cords and a satisfying, crash symbol-heavy jam session, “Written in Reverse” spills seamlessly into the equally remarkable, “I Saw the Light,” a bound-for-fan favoritedom bedroom rocker with “Layla”-like presence—the second half of the song is a lyricless, heavily contrasting piano coda that will have listeners double-checking their liner notes indefinitely.

The raucous and infectious “Trouble Comes Running” features various lo-fi/hi-fi switchbacks, mom’s basement percussion, and a handful of Dark-Was-The-Night-variety “well-alrights.” The track builds up a more-than-palpable ’60s Brit-pop sound that’s very reminiscent of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich’s “Hold Tight” before crashing into the no-frills piano lullaby, “Goodnight Laura,” and the equally intimate power-pop ballad with post-punk aspirations, “Out Go the Lights.”

“Got Nuffin” is a straightforward, but powerful, wall-of-sound rocker complete with piano pounding and explosive guitar duels, on which Daniel confesses, “I got nothin’ to lose but darkness and shadows.” Transference’s final, and most mechanical, track, “Nobody Gets Me but You,” features a bassline that just might remind you of a certain Italian plumber’s dungeon descent, but ultimately evolves into a krauty end-of-album jam laced with digitally reversed piano rolls, seemingly random audience sound bytes, and mild reprises of some of Gimme Fiction’s poppier moments.

Transference ends in a carefully engineered abruption of noise that effectively makes sense of the album’s ornately fragmented mythos. Sure, it’s challenging, maybe a bit antsy or noncommittal at times, but, to paraphrase frontman Britt Daniel himself: This one is pure Spoon. For better or worse and all of it.

Sweden’s Shout Out Louds will warm up February by releasing their third full-length, Work. A lead single for the album has already been named, and “Fall Hard” recently got the video treatment as well, thanks to band bassist Ted Malmros and his brother Tom.

The two put together a colorful, fast-paced clip that Malmros describes as “a Belgian cigarettes inspired TV-show deja vú…” Check it below.

Meanwhile, the track “Walls,” also off the new album, is available for free download at the band’s site.

The “Fall Hard” single is out February 2. Work is out February 23 via Merge.

Main image by Christian Haag.

The Merge Records Companion

Celebrating 20 years of music is North Carolina’s Merge Records, home to artists like Lambchop, She & Him, Arcade Fire, Spoon, and dozens of others. As part of its ongoing anniversary celebration, the label has compiled this little volume, a visual look at its last two decades of releases. The covers of each and every album, EP, single, and DVD ever released by Merge are featured in the book, which also includes introductory essays by label founders Mac and Laura. Note that this is a limited edition item, so if you haven’t snapped it up by now, get thee to the Merge Records site.

Cost: $15.98
Buy

Bright Eyes – A Christmas Album

Back in the days when Bright Eyes was Conor Oberst plus a very large and ever-rotating cast of musicians, Saddle Creek released A Christmas Album, which saw the crew putting an indie-folk twist on traditional Christmas jams. The album, which originally dropped in 2002, has only ever been available on CD, but this year, the label repackaged it on 180 gram vinyl (that’s white, apparently) and is selling the record exclusively through its online store. Purchase includes the album and code for a high-quality MP3 version. All proceeds will benefit the Nebraska AIDS Project.

Cost: $15
Buy

Vinyl is Forever Apparel

Vinyl has undergone resurgence in the last 10 years, and whether you’re a longtime crate-digger that owns a battered copy of Hoyt Axton’s Road Songs or a newbie who simply knows that Arcade Fire sounds better on 180g, you’re hardly alone in your fetish. Soundscreen Deisgn—avid enthusiasts of the medium—have created an entire apparel line dedicated to the love of vinyl that features bright, bold designs on series of t-shirts, hoodies, and tote bags. Currently there are three editions to choose from. All garments are 100% Organic Alternative Apparel and limited edition.

Cost: $18 – $40
Buy

Wilco (the tote)

There are many tote bags in the world. None manages the affordable/efficient/hilarious combination quite as well as this one. I bought mine at a show this past summer and it’s been everything from a grocery bag to a piece of carry-on luggage to a conversation sparker. The tote is available as an individual item, or as part of Wilco (the bundle), which includes the bag, a vinyl copy of Wilco (the album), and a sticker. It’s worth noting that the entirety of Wilco’s online store right now is a music fan’s holiday shopping paradise, so take a look at some of the other fantastic packages up for sale.

Cost: $8 (bag only), $25 (bundle)
Buy

Portrait of a Young Man Trying to Draw

William Schaff is probably best known for creating the album art for bands like Okkervil River (The Stage Names) and Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven). Recently, he gathered 10 scratchboard images on linen paper and compiled them into a hand-bound book that’s signed and limited to a mere 500 copies. Needless to say, this one won’t last long in stores.

Cost: $34.99
Buy

Check Your Head Pillowcases

Most music-themed home decor is, admittedly, a cheesefest, but we wouldn’t be true enthusiasts without one or two items in the apartment. Tacky up the throw cushions with a set of these DJ-friendly pillowcases. (though if you’re out of college, you might want to relegate these to the man den.)

Cost: $24.99
Buy

OrgiAudio Speakers

This item grabbed Time Magazine‘s award for Best Invention of 2009. The eco-friendly folding speakers are made entirely from recycled material, require no batteries, are compatible with any device (so long as it has a headphone jack), and are nicely designed to boot. Available themes right now include Cityscape, Daydream, Lake, Flowers, Surf Break, and Canvas. Or go the extra step and create your own at the OrgiAudio website.

Cost: From $16
Buy