Spod - Superfrenz (Album)
» Spod announce the Superfrenz tour - September 15, 2008
» Children Collide - Northcote Social Club, Vic - July 25, 2008
Remember when Gotye's mainstream debut Like Drawing Blood was released? And everybody heard it and everybody absolutely flipped out? After all, it was "just one guy! He's so original and he plays all the instruments and it was recorded in his own home!"?
This will never happen to Spod.
Equal parts Electric Six, Regurgitator, Andrew W.K. and Ween, with the healthy addition of chiptune synths and gameboy bleeps, on paper Spod reads like a nerds dream. In reality, too, Spod's appeal on an album level lies in something more closely related to a guilty pleasure than an honest love, which I can personally appreciate. Unlike Gotye, however, there's a distinct lack of sincerity which, while making the whole affair seem more fun, also makes it seem more insular, like one large in-joke. Look at the album title for a perfect example of this – Spod is directing it at that small group of buddies that frequent his gigs, who he knows will buy this album no matter what.
Reading that paragraph back to myself, I can't help but feel that I might somehow be missing the point. Tracks like So Exciting and the rollicking, bouncy Cats which features synthesised little "meows" amongst the only lyrics (CATS! CATS! CATS!) actually make me laugh out loud, and there's definitely a feeling that Spod knows his way around a keyboard and sequencer – the musical talent is very much evident. So why don't I enjoy this more? Why does it just make me feel more like listening to Electric Six's album Fire, or Andrew W.K.'s I Get Wet? Spod's lyrical and thematic choices are most definitely limited, which could be the issue I'm trying to put my finger on, but it's not as if I'd ever wish that Spod had his own Hearts a Mess... that would definitely be missing the point. It's hard to take the dude seriously, but it doesn't seem like he's particularly clamoring for that anyway.
Look, buy this album if you know Spod, have seen Spod, or "get" Spod. Better yet, go see him live. You'll catch him out and about on the Sydney scene - he's got an upcoming gig at Oxford Art Factory on October 25th, which judging from this CD, is guaranteed to be outrageously fun. All Spod wants to do is have the raddest time, and make sure that all his Superfrenz have the raddest time too, but I kind of wish that I felt that I could include myself in that group. It seems like a lot of fun.
