Like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Spoon and their music have had a presence in my life as a song or two on a playlist here and there, in the background at a coffee shop, or in the bar where I used to work. Then “Everything Hits At Once” appeared in my life. I keep attributing it to the HBO show Barry for some reason, but I cannot find any proof of it. After that, I began to give them the time they deserve. So, when I heard Alt Revue was privy to an early listen of Lucifer On The Sofa, I jumped at the opportunity to review it.
In a recent Instagram story of mine and last night at Jimmie Kramer’s The Peanut Bar & Restaurant in Reading, Pennsylvania, I stated that musicians have been bringing their “A” game this year. Most of the albums I have listened to have been on fire, and Spoon’s Lucifer On The Sofa is no different.
To expand on the statement I made last night, I said, “Most music at the beginning of 2021 was very Pandemic introspective. The mood was reflective and heavy.” Ok, I have to interlude here to say that Brijean’s Feelings was released 2/8/21 and does not fit that mold. However, it was an exception. “This year, though,” I continued, “bands have attitude and confidence.”
These statements feel vague and lacking of proof. Yet, lately, I’ve learned that there are times when you have to be in the moment. My written words cannot describe the greatness of a feel. I tried last night. I said, “It’s like going to a show, seeing the opening act, and saying, ‘They were really good.’ Yet, the headliner comes out, and you see why they are the headliner. Then, that really good opening act becomes pretty good.” You have to be in that moment. I saw it in Primus and Norah Jones. Phish pretending to be lost in the ethereal in-between yet always knowing where they are. I want to believe, Miles Davis during the peaks of each era. I heard that seeing John Legend and John Mayer live feels like that. Professionals elevating their craft.
From “Held” to “Lucifer On The Sofa,” Spoon elevates professionalism. It is adulthood at its greatest. They are men who know they have the skills to raise the bar. Not as a competition. Not for album of the year. But to challenge other artists to bring their “A” game. Spoon shows that greatness is attainable. It is not an abstraction but a concrete reality. It is an album that you can hold in your hands, play on a record player, and experience.
Final Thought: Yes, this is extremely vague. However, there is truth in what I wrote. I only listened to this album three or four times, but it hooked me. I even grew to love the one or two songs I did not initially feel. Lucifer On The Sofa is the epitome of a professional showing.
Favorite Songs: “Held,” “Feels Alright,” and “Satellite.”
Rating - 5/5 (I cannot find a flaw in this album)
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