SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SPOONS – NIGHTLIFE

SPOONS
NIGHTLIFE
SPARKS MUSIC

Spoons released their debut album, the brilliant Stick Figure Neighbourhood, in 1981, but it was their second album, Arias & Symphonies that launched them into a different stratosphere. The album contained the hit singles “Nova Heart” and the title track. Fast forward 40 some years, and Nightlife is their eighth studio album, and their first since the criminally underrated New Day New World (2019). Gordon Deppe (guitar and vocals) and bassist Sandy Horne (who also provides vocals) are the two remaining original members, and they continue to produce excellent music with help from newer members. On this album, they do get the assistance of Scott MacDonald (keyboards and backing vocals), Chris McNeill and Tony Ferraro (drums) and Jeff Carter (keyboards, synth and drum programming. Carter also produced the album.

Spoons always have created melodic, strong songs that are multi-layered and have quite a bit of depth. Their sound, on Nightlife, is harder and edgier than on previous albums but, Deppe does have a knack of still incorporating strong melodies in even the hard and gritty songs. “Day By Day” has a great build to it, and Horne’s backing vocals and her steady bass allow Deppe to let loose and give the song a great deal of energy. “Better Late Than Never Did It” is a good example of Deppe combining his songwriting style from the 1980s and morphing it into 2026. Whereas “Push Repeat & Go” is restrained energy that is just waiting to explode. And when it does, it is so rewarding.

While Spoons got their start in the 1980s, they do not have a retro sound in their songs. There are some tips to that defining decade (“Doomed” does have a distinct New Order vibe to it, but later New Order). Sure, there are synthesizers and keyboards, but Deppe also gets to really demonstrate his ability and talent as a guitarist throughout the album. He also has written some very fine lyrics. For example, “There’s a million songs about a sad goodbye/But not this one.” from the song “A Perfect Ending For A Perfect Story.” That song, featuring lovely vocals from Horne, is perhaps the most 1980s feel, but even then, it is probably due to the fact that it is the most pop-rock song on the Nightlife.

Nightlife is an excellent album. It shows a band still at the top of their game willing to grow and adapt to their new surroundings. Lyrically and musically, it shows maturity and reflects the age of Deppe and Horn. They are singing and playing to their generation with today’s tools and it works. Nightlife is a strong, cohesive, brilliant album full of fantastic vignettes of life set to stirring and powerful music.

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