Kill the Moonlight is Spoon's second release for Merge Records, after being dropped by Electra Records after 2 efforts in the late 90's. Following their triumphant return with Girls Can Tell, Kill the Moonlight manages to be just as effective even though a good bit more spare and streamlined. They certainly don't get any airplay or video rotation but, oddly enough, their songs serve as the cool background music in dozens of TV shows. This, despite the records recognition on a number of magazine's best-of 2002 lists.

Though Kill is a more subdued affair than it's predasessor, they still experiment with an eclectic recipe of mechanical sounds and odd instruments, while ladling on a generous helping of their trademark tuneful smarts. A "less is more" approach that still adds up to another melodically satisfying release. Some have said that lead singer Brit Daniels has a little of Steve Malkamus flavor in his song writing. There's also a little bit of The Fall feel to their music. But from top to bottom this album shakes with brilliance - you just can't help from tapping on something as you listing to this album.

The simply arranged second track "The Way We Get By," mostly (piano, drums, and tamborine), is a good example of how even the quiter tunes on Kill The Moonlight manage to be invigorating. Eggo Johhanson incredibly tasteful piano solo is behind it's sublte power. "Stay Don't Go" just makes you want to get up and strut your stuff - even for someone like me who has very little stuff to strut.

With "Paper Tiger" they definitely go off on a Pavement-like tangent, then tracks like "Don't Let It Get You Down" and "All the Pretty Girls in the City" bring you right back into line with tunes that are propelled by amazing piano riffs. "Back to the Life" is the only song that you could say has anything that resembles a guitar solo but it's mostly smothered in a bed of tasty synth work.

Spoon is one of the best indie rock bands going and I have a feeling that their next album is the one that will bring them the attention they deserve. Even though sometimes it's hard to say whether or not they could give a fork about fortune and fame.