Released 10 years ago
Spirit Phone
Lemon Demon · 2016
103 min · 27 tracks · new wave
A playful blend of quirky electronic sounds and witty lyrics that explore the absurdities of modern life.
Top tracks — play these first
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Cabinet Man — This track cleverly combines nostalgic references with a catchy melody, representing the album's overall whimsical tone while addressing themes of identity.
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Touch-Tone Telephone — With its infectious hook and humorous lyrics about communication breakdowns, this track encapsulates the album’s playful exploration of technology.
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Ancient Aliens — This song cleverly weaves conspiracy theories into an upbeat arrangement, showcasing Cicierega's knack for blending humor with engaging musicality.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends inventive production with clever lyrics, creating a unique sound that appeals to its niche audience.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat, high-energy tracks that maintain a consistent tempo, while the second half introduces slower, more reflective songs.
- Many tracks incorporate unconventional song structures, often shifting between different musical ideas within a single song.
- The lyrics frequently employ humor and absurdity, with several songs featuring narrative elements that explore quirky themes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- quirky, offbeat storytelling
- long, immersive listening sessions
- playful and humorous vibes
- dynamic emotional journeys
- short bursts of creativity
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on February 29, 2016, Spirit Phone marked Lemon Demon's return after a long hiatus since their previous studio album, View-Monster in 2009. The album continued to build on Neil Cicierega's established internet following and showcased his distinctive blend of humor and catchy melodies.
- Stylistic neighbors
- They Might Be Giants· Weezer· Oingo Boingo
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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When He Died
The narrative takes an unexpected turn as it shifts from reflection to absurdity, using dark humor to address mortality.
This shift from somber reflection to absurdity highlights Cicierega's unique approach to tackling serious subjects with wit and levity.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Lifetime Achievement Award 6:07
- 2 Touch-Tone Telephone 4:42
- 3 Cabinet Man 4:22
- 4 No Eyed Girl 4:30
- 5 When He Died 4:23
- 6 Sweet Bod 4:10
- 7 Eighth Wonder 4:42
- 8 Ancient Aliens 4:16
- 9 Soft Fuzzy Man 2:54
- 10 As Your Father I Expressly Forbid It 2:49
- 11 I Earn My Life 3:13
- 12 Reaganomics 3:32
- 13 Man-Made Object 3:37
- 14 Spiral of Ants 6:00
Disc 2
- 1 Crisis Actors 4:47
- 2 Redesign Your Logo 4:18
- 3 Pizza Heroes 1:30
- 4 You’re at the Party 5:18
- 5 Angry People 4:54
- 6 Geocities 3:25
- 7 Angelfire 3:41
- 8 Gravitron 0:54
- 9 Moon’s Request 2:20
- 10 Sweet Bod (demo) 4:13
- 11 Cat Hacks 3:07
- 12 Cabinet Man (demo) 2:41
- 13 Kubrick and the Beast 2:44
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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