User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Girls Can Tell
by
Girls Can Tell Image
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 61 Ratings

  • Summary: The Austin band's follow-up to 'Series of Sneaks' was a critical favorite in 2001, appearing on seemingly every year-end Top 10 list (and with good reason).

Top Track

Anything You Want
If there's anything you want Come on back 'cause it's all still here I'll be in the back room drinking my half of the beer And if you and me is so... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. AllMusic
    90
    Spoon's most mature, accomplished work to date and a fine balance of fire and polish.
  2. PopMatters
    90
    At 36 minutes, Girls Can Tell packs more hooks than most bands fit into their entire discography... This is truly one of the most intense pop records since This Year's Model.
  3. CDNow
    90
    Spoon's 1998 album, A Series of Sneaks, was a near-perfect blend of elementary rock, sharp lyrics, and hooky melodies. On the band's just-released follow-up album, Girls Can Tell, the group manages to build upon the greatness of its previous effort.
  4. Pitchfork
    80
    Girls Can Tell is more mature and accomplished, but at the expense of the spark of spontaneity.
  5. Nude As The News
    80
    Their music is as strong as ever and they certainly deserve your attention.
  6. The A.V. Club
    80
    Girls Can Tell abandons some of the more familiar modern-rock tendencies of Spoon's previous albums, favoring the ambitious structures of art-rock and offering an impressive meeting place between traditional new wave and the abrasive, angular qualities of Wire and Magazine.
  7. L.A. Weekly
    70
    Perverse as it may seem, this album is more tightly arranged and crisply recorded than anything the group managed on a major label; in fact, it’s a small masterpiece of home production, with Eno’s economical drumming framing stabs of rhythm guitar and precisely placed daubs of vibes and viola.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. NickI.
    Apr 17, 2001
    10
    Spoon is great. And if you like them try Starlight Mints, and Pavement.
  2. DrewC
    Jul 20, 2007
    10
    Their most heartfelt and emotional release to date. Lyrically, my favorite of britt daniels'. This is the album that got me into spoon, Their most heartfelt and emotional release to date. Lyrically, my favorite of britt daniels'. This is the album that got me into spoon, such a great night album. :)… Expand
  4. ChelseaD
    Jun 11, 2005
    10
    An amazing album from an amazing band.
  5. WillC
    May 14, 2007
    10
    the first song, Everything Hits at Once, alone makes this album. The rest of the disc is consistent and enjoyable, with a great cap off in the first song, Everything Hits at Once, alone makes this album. The rest of the disc is consistent and enjoyable, with a great cap off in Chicago at Night. I often put this cd on and people don't realize its, a) spoon (is that the band that did 'The way we get by?', b) an album that hasn't spawned a top 40 hit. i dunno who missed this album when it came out, but it certainly isn't me and hopefully won't be you.… Expand
  6. exodus9237
    Sep 9, 2014
    10
    I just heard this album a month ago, 13 years after its release and the only thing I could think was: Why on earth, I haven't listen to thisI just heard this album a month ago, 13 years after its release and the only thing I could think was: Why on earth, I haven't listen to this before!? It is amazing, is all you want from an "indie" rock band. It doesn't have The Strokes' city-ish mood, or Interpol's darkly elegance, it has a fun approach and also elegance but more in a casual sort of way.

    "Everything hits at once", literally hit me since the first moment, it is so provocative with that funky keyboards, and that rock riff, and the simple rhythm section, that I only wanted more. After this, I heard every Spoon album, and seriously they really have a combination and collection of songs and albums worthy of the best of the past decade, obviously with Girls Can Tell as a flagship.    … Collapse
  7. Vampire25
    Mar 28, 2012
    9
    This is the album that really blew Spoon up to success. This a fantastic record. The songs were catchy and the lyrics had a lot of heart toThis is the album that really blew Spoon up to success. This a fantastic record. The songs were catchy and the lyrics had a lot of heart to them. Britt Daniel is a brilliant songwriter and lyricists. A-… Expand
  8. BobbyJ
    Jul 10, 2006
    1
    i cant tell u how bad this album is

See all 17 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best Album of 2001
47
#47 Most Discussed Album of 2001
98
#98 Most Shared Album of 2001

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
89 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Ozarker - Israel Nash
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Lahai - Sampha
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
All Current Music »