Indie Rock Critical Darling Longevity Thursday continues…

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[6.14]

David Sheffieck: The skeleton of the song is classic Spoon, clipped and wiry and infectious. The problem here is producer Dave Fridmann, who makes the least of this marriage of opposites. Fridmann, contra apocryphal Coco Chanel, always adds two accessories before walking out the door: here it’s tinny, echoing background vocals and strings that should be rendered superfluous by the drone that opens the song. The result is overburdened and unbalanced where it should be nimble and propulsive.
[5]

Tim de Reuse: The rubbery bassline, tinny guitar riffs, and over-enunciated hook all recall late-aughties dance-punk (read: LCD Soundsystem and LCD Soundsystem worshipers). The tinkling bells, risk-averse production, and the fact that they found it necessary to stop for a breather two thirds of the way through all signal a wavering reluctance to totally separate from the larger context of prototypical indie rock. I don’t really mind either side, but you shoulda just made up your mind — this song loudly announces its full intent to party with a confident Shibuya namedrop and then drinks exactly one beer over two hours while refusing to dance.
[6]

Alfred Soto: Their formidable consistency and mastery of a pinched, acerbic minimalism has repelled me more than once, but here I am. I kept waiting for “Hot Thoughts” to turn into a jingle suitable for a commercial: Chipotle, Hot Pockets, Campbell’s Soup. Then Britt Daniel unleashes a characteristically ugly rhythm strum, his specialty.
[7]

Ryo Miyauchi: The title “Hot Thoughts” sounds very fit for Spoon, a ball of jittery anxiety as a rock band. The real thing, though, is rather inert. They prepare a sleek, vacant space without many fixtures to wreck. The song’s saving grace, as with all cold Spoon songs, is Britt Daniel, whose ad libs are the most exciting thing here.
[5]

Juana Giaimo: It’s not the first time Spoon put their raw sound into a sensual song, and once again, it works. In “Hot Thoughts”, the edgy guitar and Britt Daniel’s hoarse, almost sighing voice reflects the portrayal of sensuality as a guilty pleasure invading your rational side. It sure isn’t an innovative view on sex, and Spoon show in a believable way that you can rejoice in secrecy — after all, it’s just all in your mind.
[8]

Edward Okulicz: As I write this I see Spoon have already moved onto a new single and video. I’m in the same place, this one might be about hot thoughts, but there’s only one idea — tight, anxious indie rock with some jarring paint on top… bells? Why? Definitely about half of a good indie club dance floor filler in the groove, but there’s not much on top. I don’t know, this is fine for a band to limber up with but optional for a listener.
[5]

Thomas Inskeep: I expected generic indie, but I got jangly pop with a touch of Gary Numan and some “whoo”s! Whoulda thunk?
[7]