Since their 2005 release, Gimme Fiction, Spoon have been one of the most acclaimed and commercially successful indie rock bands around.
Like Wilco, the band has an easygoing rootsy sound that's been accessible enough for mainstream radio (recall the 2007 single "Don't You Evah") and experimental enough to sustain the loyalty of the indie press.
Transference leans more toward experimentation than accessibility. Yes, melody is prominent on "The Mystery Zone," a track that gently meanders in its reflection on settling down and not finding life's answers. But mostly, Spoon's members seem focused on the mechanics of what they frequently do best - gathering and stripping down instrumentation and effects as their songs rise and fall. They do this with electronic emphasis on "Who Makes Your Money."
The effort won't satisfy listeners looking for the instant pleasure of a hit single, but will likely sustain the artistic evolution of one of rock's most important bands.
