ARTIST: The Black Spoons
TITLE: The History of Modern Silence
LABEL: Particle Music
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 197kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 44m total
RELEASE DATE: 2006-04-01
RIP DATE: 2006-08-23
Track List
----------
1. MMWMM 3:39
2. Almost Always 4:10
3. Julia Heartache 4:14
4. I Love Failure 3:30
5. If You Loved Me, I'd Be Home By 3:22
Now
6. Automatic Ghosts 3:23
7. Every Girl I Know is an Angel 3:27
8. Incubator Dreams 4:46
9. Alien Soul 3:05
10. Other People 3:10
11. Bride 4:18
12. When Will Love Be Over? 3:15
Release Notes:
http://www.theblackspoons.com/
http://www.myspace.com/theblackspoons
http://www.particlemusic.com/
The Black Spoons surfaced on the independent scene with their stellar 2004 debut
My Dear Radium. Cerebral yet unpretentious, modest without being meek, the album
highlighted the New York groupÆs ability to mix the musings of vocalist Tom
Sean, uncharacteristically transparent for a rock singer, with tightly-wound
grooves and decidedly rock and roll backbeats. Influenced by such diverse
artists as David Bowie, Leonard Cohen and Cat Power, The Black Spoons are able
to deal in such contrasts without ever appearing untrue.
Aided by producer Paul Mahajan (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The National, The Liars), the
bandÆs second effort is initially more visceral and direct than My Dear Radium
but proves every bit as complex and challenging. The album opens with the
vigorous, guitar-driven ôMmwmm,ö employing dynamic contrast and eerie female
backing vocals to ominous effect.
ôAlways Almostö and ôJulia Heartacheö follow, as SeanÆs vocals go from being
quietly intense to passionately pointed without missing a beat. The latter is
especially intense as Sean sings, ôBlue prince to hold your breath against until
silence dislocates your jaw/Minds go places good girls cannot follow/Tongues
preferring flavors we canÆt swallow.ö On such up-tempo rockers, drummer Ruben
MercadoÆs precise playing propels the groupÆs every motion.
The album features several intimate ballads that more fully explore the dual
nature of The Black SpoonsÆ sound. Accented by violin and cello, ôI Love
Failureö and ôOther Peopleö sound resonant and warm even as Sean sings such
emotionally detached lines as ôI want to sleep with other people, Baby gave her
blessing/I want to go with other people, Baby start undressingö.
After unequivocally endorsing My Dear Radium, I was unsure if The Black Spoons
could equal their previous work. While not possessing as many immediately
compelling songs as its predecessor, The History of Modern Silence is consistent
in both quality and merit. With half of 2006 gone, the album is to date one of
the yearÆs best and should appeal to those who like their rock literate and
provocative.