Album Review: Hot Thoughts, Spoon

Spoon's ninth studio album, Hot Thoughts, was released March 17th. I was initially excited to listen--their eighth album, They Want My Soul, is in my top 3 favorite albums by Spoon. Maybe it set the bar too high for Hot Thoughts, but as a whole this album doesn't cut it for me.

The title track, "Hot Thoughts", is a catchy and chill tune that blends seamlessly into the second track, "WhisperI'lllistentohearit". There's a definite tonal shift into "Pink Up", the nearly six-minute long song (that feels a bit too repetitive overall). However, the group switches back into an indie-pop feel with "Can I Sit Next to You". The last song, "Us", ends the album on the same tone as "Pink Up", and even mimics the same beat.

In a way, Hot Thoughts reminds me of The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour, with instrumentals mixed in among catchy-yet-trippy piano accented songs. I hear this specifically while listening to "Tear it Down", "Us", and "Pink Up".

Hot Thoughts isn't bad, per say. Simply put, it feels lackluster compared to the past albums Spoon has released. The songs sound too similar, and after a while I started getting bored listening to it. This one ain't the one for me.

Rating: 6/10

Favorite tunes: "Shotgun", "Do I Have to Talk You Into It"

Album Review: Ripe Dreams, Pipe Dreams; Cameron Avery

My first experience seeing Cameron Avery live was hearing him play bass with the rest of Tame Impala back in June of 2015. Imagine my surprise to find this same man opening for The Last Shadow Puppets, presenting a completely different sound than the psychedelic band I'd seen the summer before. I wanted an album then and there, but it was well worth the wait.

Inspired by voices like Dean Martin and Etta James, Avery has given his songs that same vintage, crooner-esque feel. This album uses melodic notes and beautiful lyrics to tell stories of love, heartbreak, and lust. "A Time and Place" has a soft start to the album, while "C'est Toi" brings a sense of pure, whole love at the end. However, not every song sounds as romantic and smooth as these. "Dance With Me" has a vampy feel; it's a song you'd expect to hear being played in a dimly lit jazz club. "Whoever Said Gambling's For Suckers" sounds like it could be narrating a Tarantino film filled with blood, sex, and adventure.

The variety keeps listeners interested in the voices Avery has written. This album will make you feel like you're in a black and white film every time you put it on--why not give it a listen?

Rating: 7.5/10

Favorite tunes: "A Time and Place", "An Ever Jarring Moment"