Spoon - “Lucifer On The Sofa” Album Review
90s rock band Spoon released their tenth studio album, “Lucifer On The Sofa,” on Friday.
Last year they released the second track on the album, “The Hardest Cut,” which featured a guitar-driven tempo with a cinematic twang. The single generated excitement for the album, but unfortunately Spoon could not live up to that standard.
The opening song on the album, “Held” was boring on all fronts. The instrumental was good to start, but the lack of diversity in the tune as the song progressed made it feel repetitive and dry. The head-nodding tune quickly became one to nod off to while the melody droned on for almost five minutes.
Thankfully the forgettable opener was redeemed by “The Hardest Cut.” Its unique sound gave the album dimension it would not have been able to achieve otherwise.
Though failing to top its predecessor, “The Devil & Mister Jones” was tolerable. Spoon seemed to put the focus on telling a story rather than making the song exciting. The lead vocals were smooth and mingled well with the background harmonies, but overall the sound was too generic to make an impact.
Continuing with the movie-ready production, “Wild” sounds like it was created for the end credits of a coming-of-age film. Extremely boring lyrically, the instrumental progression gives an inspirational feeling, making it more likable than it should be.
Both the shortest song on the album, “Feels Alright,” and the longest, “Lucifer On The Sofa,” did not live up to their potential.
The title song, “Lucifer On The Sofa” could have been so much more than what it was. The homogenous beat throughout resulted in an extremely dull song with no redeeming qualities.
Similarly, “Feels Alright” starts incredibly strong with an enticing tune, however, the vocals are progressively drowned out by the repetitive instrumental.
“On The Radio” also had potential with its quick tempo and captivating chorus, but progressed predictably.
Stepping away from the rock sound, “My Babe” and “Satellite” are two of the more blatant love songs featured on the album.
While “My Babe” takes a while to progress into its sound and deliver impressive sound elements that give it an almost 8D effect, “Satellite” comes right out of the gate with an eerie introduction and snappy build-up. They both lack substance lyrically but make up for it with their unique instrumentals.
Another love song was found in “Astral Jacket.”
This track held its own among many ordinary songs. Unlike the majority, it featured an acoustic guitar and airy vocals that provided a soft, relaxing sound. The softer approach allows a break from the painstakingly generic rock sound Spoon was beginning to overuse.
If there was one word to describe “Lucifer On The Sofa,” it would be average. While not a terrible album, Spoon sunk into generic sounds and boring lyrics marinated in mediocrity.
Rating: 6/10
Reviewer’s Favorite Song: “The Hardest Cut”
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Song: “Held”
Megan Kelby is a second-year majoring in journalism. To contact her, email mkk5701@psu.edu.
