Spoons - Bridges over Borders (2021)

Less enthusiastic than both Arias & Symphonies and Talkback, Bridges Over Borders finds the Spoons sounding artificial and musically overdone. Lacking their usual new wave/pop edge, the tracks from Bridges Over Borders are thin on bounce or overt attractiveness. For the most part, both Gordon Deppe and Sandy Horne sound uninspired in their singing and in their collaboration as bandmembers, and what is usually fresh pop sounds long and drawn out. The title track emits a faint glimmer of life because of its bottom-heavy chorus and the spirited transition from guitar to keyboards, and "Rodeo" does have a sense of humor, but efforts like "Tidal Wave," "On the Beach," and "Walk Across the Water" are far from typical Spoons material, weak on musical flow or lyrical amicability. A few points are won with "Be Alone Tonight," a moody but effective grey-day ballad sung by Deppe. None of the cuts from Bridges Over Borders appear on Collectible Spoons, a hits package released in 1994, and the album itself is out of print.