7. Telephono (1996)

Telephono is an uncompromising swivet of a record — it boasts the most occasions of the use of the f-word on a Spoon record. To say that the band had yet to come to terms with their love of pop music, however, would be incorrect. Though frustratingly monochromatic and Wire-y, Telephono isn’t all bluster and bumptiousness. The first three songs set the stage for a minor masterpiece: “Don’t Buy The Realistic,” “Not Turning Off,” and “All The Negatives Have Been Destroyed” make for a rather appetizing opening triptych. Britt Daniel’s rockist, mush-mouthed exclamations are rendered in what sounds like telegraphese, while his vocal register is louder, deeper, but less open throated than on later records. Fan favorite “Nefarious” builds charmingly on the Lollapalooza-catnip template (quiet-loud-quiet, repeat), while the vaguely ominous and math-y sounding “Towner” wouldn’t sound out of place on an early Touch & Go comp. Compared to the environmentally economical Spoon of later albums, Telephono is practically bombastic, its every nook filled with distorted guitars, keyboards, samples and noise. The album has its ardent defenders, but listening with 15+ years hindsight, Telephono mostly sounds like really good grunge.