Rating: 
It’s been awhile since Spoon threw Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga our way, but unexpectedly the band has released the new Got Nuffin EP. It’s a three song excursion, but will mostly be known as a single to tide you over while the band works on their newest album.
“Got Nuffin” is hands down the best track on this EP. It’s brooding bass line meets guitar hook beats the song into your brain. Britt’s vocals sound solid, and you find him with a bit of an edge, as his voice occasionally reached the realms of a guttural growl. It’s a lot less like the Van Morrison stylings of Ga Ga Ga… and it reminds you of the work that came about on Gimme Fiction.
“Tweakers” is a track you can skip as soon as you get your hands on it. Not trying to be rude or judgmental, but it sounds like someone just decided to go into the studio and see how far they could get with tampering with a drum sample. Unfortunately, they tampered away for 3 minutes and 39 seconds, which is only good for those listeners who are actually tweakers.
“Stroke Their Brains” is something that might just grow on you. It begins with guitar work that sounds like Daniels is just flexing his musicianship before it bounds into the song with a steady drum beat. Once again, you find his vocals straining a bit, which might be disconcerting for some. The song fills out the empty space much better than you initially suspect, but it doesn’t go much further than that. Still, it’s not a bad piece of work.
In the end, this seems to taunt the listener a bit. “Got Nuffin” reminds you of how incredible Spoon can be when they want to do so, but other pieces such as “Tweakers” are things that band might want to ask forgiveness for when they head into church. Surely it’s worth the $5 you’ll spend on it.
One man’s love for fast rock n’ roll can only take him so far, so I’ve always got to have some folk or melodramatic jams to help me unwind. Recently I’ve been introduced to Musikanto, a Chicago songwriter who will likely be making a name for himself all over the country soon. Press releases hint at Van Morrison and Ryan Adams connections, and I definitely see that there, but I also see little pieces of early Mason Jennings. It’s heartfelt and honest, and there’s a willingness to provide a good narrative, even from a first-person point of view. Looking for something mellower today? This could be your jam; you can grab it, as well as the rest of the songs from his Sky of Dresses album on August 2nd via Grape Juice Records.
