SONG OF THE DAY: September 17th
Spoon, “The Underdog”
If you’ve never listened to Austin, Texas’ favorite sons, you’ve been missing out. Spoon make minimalist pop for the indie set — and do it very well. Vocalist Britt Daniel’s lyrics often make little sense and are accompanied by rather basic instrumentation, but to great effect. The prominent horn section on “The Underdog” is about as flashy as you’ll see Spoon get. Indeed, the track is undoubtedly the band’s most “mainstream” effort; it’s probably the best song Billy Joel never wrote. If you’re looking to ease into the group’s extensively excellent catalog, this is a good place to start. Enjoy becoming accustomed to Daniel’s style with this catchy anthem of the downtrodden, but prepare yourself for extended enigmatic descriptions of household objects should you choose to continue your Spoon education by exploring deeper cuts. Don’t let that scare you off; I promise you won’t regret it.
