Gimme Fiction
by Spoon
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: May 10, 2005
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 130 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 120 out of 130
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 130
  3. Negative: 5 out of 130

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  1. pugowner
    Apr 24, 2018
    9
    Strange that my favorite Spoon album sounds the most like classic rock out of all of their releases. But whatever they did here, they couldn't have done it much better
  2. harrisonjr98
    Aug 16, 2015
    9
    An extension of the stripped down, simplistic art-rock of "Kill the Moonlight," Gimme Fiction not only enjoyed mainstream success (I Turn My Camera On) but also stuck as a fan favorite. 9.4/10
  3. LetzTalkMoveez
    Nov 20, 2012
    8
    This is an exceptional series of tangy, delicious pop jams that don't just satisfy the senses; they smack all of them right in the face. Even if this isn't the most remarkable album ever, it's a sweet stash of boom-slap chillin' rock.
  4. j30
    Feb 1, 2012
    7
    Even though Gimme Fiction is one of Spoon's most uneven efforts, it's high points outweigh the lows. Spoon is one of those band that you think "Why didn't I think of that?" Their music so simple and so pop driven you wonder why you haven't heard it before.That's kind of the magic behind it because you haven't heard it and it sticks with you.
  5. Vampire25
    Jan 25, 2012
    9
    Gimme Fiction was the start of a new Spoon. Kill The Moonlight was like an art punk album. Gimme Fiction is going for more of the Avant Garde sound. The songs are a little bit longer and drawn out but every track on this album is great. It's a more mature Spoon album that I'm sure fans of Spoon will appreciate. A-
  6. buzzlight
    Nov 22, 2010
    10
    Every person who likes rock should own this album. Dark, polished, concise, crafty, witty. Is it Britt Daniel or John Lennon singing on this album? Man, does he have a great voice! All songs on this album are amazing. Great guitar riffs and pop classic feel to this album. My favorite Spoon song is on this album... I Summon You. This is my favorite Spoon album (that is saying a lot),Every person who likes rock should own this album. Dark, polished, concise, crafty, witty. Is it Britt Daniel or John Lennon singing on this album? Man, does he have a great voice! All songs on this album are amazing. Great guitar riffs and pop classic feel to this album. My favorite Spoon song is on this album... I Summon You. This is my favorite Spoon album (that is saying a lot), one of the decade's best overall.… Expand
  7. mbagely
    Oct 3, 2010
    10
    I go through phases with this album, but the last few months it has been fantastic. 'Infinite Pet' is unfortunately filler and deadly boring, 'was it you?' meanders and never finds itself - the same could be said about 'never got you' but the hand-claps at the end are irresistible. 'My mathematical mind' and 'the beast, the dragon, adored' build to satisfying rocky fuzz conclusions. pianoI go through phases with this album, but the last few months it has been fantastic. 'Infinite Pet' is unfortunately filler and deadly boring, 'was it you?' meanders and never finds itself - the same could be said about 'never got you' but the hand-claps at the end are irresistible. 'My mathematical mind' and 'the beast, the dragon, adored' build to satisfying rocky fuzz conclusions. piano and drum loops in 'Merchants of soul' are catchy, and who can ignore the guitar romps of 'sister jack' and 'turn my camera on' that are typical of the album, and highlights of both the record and spoons whole discography… Expand
  8. RickyR.
    Jan 20, 2010
    5
    Simple album from a simple band. Decent.
  9. CoryT.
    Jan 20, 2010
    7
    Solid effort from a solic band. That's the thing about Spoon...the never strive to astound us and wow us with a new surprise. But i can't complain that they lack innovative recordings when all of their albums are so consistent. Plain, but consistent.
  10. GraceL
    Apr 15, 2007
    10
    It completely enamourmed me on my first listen. It just struck me as so raw and indefinably perfect.
  11. LyleB
    Jul 10, 2006
    4
    very unlistenable
  12. TheCritic
    Jul 10, 2006
    9
    Good cd... Haven't yet gotten their 1st of 2nd but they are probably good considering that I liked this one and they got better reviews then this one. I agree with Steve's review... the last few songs are forgetable unless you listen to them over and over again... almost like a Radiohead cd (except with much more... unweird... vocals. Radiohead is also one of my favorite Good cd... Haven't yet gotten their 1st of 2nd but they are probably good considering that I liked this one and they got better reviews then this one. I agree with Steve's review... the last few songs are forgetable unless you listen to them over and over again... almost like a Radiohead cd (except with much more... unweird... vocals. Radiohead is also one of my favorite bands!). So overall a very good cd that you should definately pick up. a quick song analysis: #1 The Beast and Dragon, Adored: a pop song on the weirder side. Still a decent song. #2 The Two Sides/Monseiur Valentine: A very good song. One of the cd's best. I love the piano with the guitar #3 I Turn my Camera On: Surprisingly, it's not one of my favorites... Not my style. It's almost a candy coated song. Still a decent song however. #4 My Mathematical Mind: Very unique piano. A good song plus they do it well live (see Austin City Limits on PBS). #5 The Delicate Place: Almost a Beatles sounding song until the guitar at the end that sounds like a Radiohead solo. A good track. #6 Sister Jack: the cd's most rockiest track, it's one of the cd's best tunes. I love the lyrics... especially the Drop D metal band! #7 I Summon You: Heard it on myspace and it originally was one of my favorites. I love the guitar... don't know if it is effects on an acousitc or a classical guitar but it sounds good with the drum beat. #8 The Infinate Pet: I like this song a lot though it is kind of weird. It has a lot of piano sort of like a Radiohead Kid A song. #9 Was it You?: Probably the worst on the cd... Where the album starts losing it's greatness. #10 They Never Got You: Another weak track... still it's sound surpasses Was It You?. #11 Merchants of Soul: Thankfully, in my opinion, Gimmie Fiction ends on a good note with this one. It is a good song that sounds kind of like a Raising the Fawn song. Well there it is. Overall it is a good cd 9 stars… Expand
  13. steve
    May 16, 2006
    7
    well 7.5 actually ... magical start, the album is carried by the strength of the first half, but seems to detune in the 2nd . but in saying that there are some absolutely mind-blowing, anthemic songs in there, easily worth the pingas spent and a joy to listen to . who needs drugs with this stuff
  14. Ross
    Apr 26, 2006
    10
    Spoon is the best band in the world, since At the Drive-In called it quits.
  15. PatickR
    Mar 20, 2006
    10
    The best album of 2005. Keep 'em coming Spoon.
  16. jakeh
    Mar 14, 2006
    10
    extremely simple, yet complex, yet perfect in its matter. One of the best albums out right now. Gimme Fiction is less but more an amazing album to say the least
  17. amishj
    Mar 14, 2006
    10
    very sexy
  18. TylerV
    Jan 2, 2006
    10
    excellent album- simply addictive
  19. alexanders
    Dec 22, 2005
    9
    great!
  20. jen
    Dec 15, 2005
    9
    this album is worth listening to. its got an old rock flare to it that reminds you of days when rock music was still good.
  21. DaveK
    Nov 16, 2005
    9
    minimal at it's best, very hypnotic
  22. alysabeth
    Oct 27, 2005
    9
    I have never heard Spoon-lived in Austin 15 years. I don't die over every song. I die over Beast and Dragon,Adored.. every time. It feels like Double Fantasy Lennon came back to do vocals,or maybe Bowie...anyway,the other songs are growing on me, too. I have my new rock crush.
  23. AaronE
    Oct 17, 2005
    4
    This is no Kill the Moonlight, though a gem like "Camera" almost makes this album worth owning. This band's sound does not grow or diversify album by album, but keeps the same plodding indie-pop slug step from song to song. Save your money for Wolf Parade's "Apologies to the Queen Mary" or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.
  24. AndyW
    Sep 30, 2005
    9
    For people who haven't heard Spoon before, I'd like to think this would be a very fresh start for them. A lot of solid tracks. The album doesn't really kick in until the crazy guitar solo in the amazing intro "The Beast and Dragon, Adored". Then, track after track, the album gets amazing. The closer to the cd is kind of weak, but overall, a great album. I highly recommend For people who haven't heard Spoon before, I'd like to think this would be a very fresh start for them. A lot of solid tracks. The album doesn't really kick in until the crazy guitar solo in the amazing intro "The Beast and Dragon, Adored". Then, track after track, the album gets amazing. The closer to the cd is kind of weak, but overall, a great album. I highly recommend it for everyone.… Expand
  25. ElizabethP
    Sep 27, 2005
    2
    This cd is the most disappointing album since Bloc Party's "Silent Alarm." There are only 2 songs that are good: "Weight of the World" and "Camera." Don't buy this! You will be SOOOOOOOO disappointed! Don't throw your money away!
  26. JimmyJ
    Sep 24, 2005
    4
    Some good bits and some pretty nasty bits. "I Turn My Camera On" is an awful plodding no-where song in the vein of the Rolling Stones Emotional Rescue. "The Infinate Pet" takes Sonny Boy Williamson's "Help Me" riff and adds an indie feel - Urgh! It works much better when they stay more within the indie rock formula, such as opener "The Beast and Dragon", "Two Sides" and "The Delicate Place"
  27. Wintermute
    Aug 19, 2005
    9
    Stoater of an album, 'Was It You' is the most addctive slice of slow chugging indie funk I have ever heard. Catching them at the end of the month at tuts can't wait!!!!!!!
  28. TerrenceO
    Jul 21, 2005
    9
    Spoon... what can i say... Britt Daniel is a genius.. while "Kill the Moonlight" and "Girls can Tell" are vastly superior that merely indicates that this at best really great and not classic
  29. Gazcomsat
    Jul 17, 2005
    8
    I've never heard any previous Spoon albums and really only decided to take a chance on this because of the really good reviews the album got. I wasn't disappointed,"Gimme Fiction" is a really good Cd and deserves the score it achieved. The tracks are quite diverse which in itself make Spoon very hard to pigeon-hole in any particular genre. There are a few tracks I haven't I've never heard any previous Spoon albums and really only decided to take a chance on this because of the really good reviews the album got. I wasn't disappointed,"Gimme Fiction" is a really good Cd and deserves the score it achieved. The tracks are quite diverse which in itself make Spoon very hard to pigeon-hole in any particular genre. There are a few tracks I haven't immediately taken to (some could have done with finishing 2 or 3 minutes earlier) but tracks such as "Sister Jack" "I summon you" and "The two sides/Monsieur Valentine" are just indredible. If you do buy this album, do yourself a favour and get the one with the bonus Cd if only for the demo versions of "Sister Jack" and "I summon you" which are excellent.… Expand
  30. DrewK
    Jul 14, 2005
    9
    The best album that Wilco never made.
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Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best Album of 2005
49
#49 Most Discussed Album of 2005
85
#85 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Rolling Stone
    70
    The overall effect can be vaguely schizo -- many of these tracks seem more like cool fragments than true songs.
    Read full review
  2. Under The Radar
    70
    There is no "The Way We Get By" on this record, as this is far more an album of interlocking pieces than an album of singles that neither makes a naked grab for the turnstiles nor an uprecedented reach for reinvention. [#9]
  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    100
    It is phenomenal.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »