It’s been 10 years since 1998 – which in a musical sense, is an age. The mind bends to think that it was a whole ten years since the release of ‘Mezzanine’ by Massive Attack, ‘Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star’ and ‘Yeild’ by Pearl Jam.

Spooky then too that one of my favourite new (but old) albums, ‘A Series of Sneaks’ by Spoon was released ten years ago this year.

I’d be lying if I said it didn’t remind me a little of the ‘late 90′s’ (I referred a friend to it this week because if reminded me a little of B*U*S*H who I knew he liked), but in the same sense, it packs the punch that could be found in modern day 80/90′s revivalists ‘Bloc Party’ or ‘Airbourne’ (‘Gang of Four’ and ‘ACDC’ respectively) – it could easily be a brand new album from a brand new band, who have 90′s influences.

Tracks like ‘Car Radio’, ‘Execution’ or ‘June’s Foreign Spell’ show the beginnings of the writing process that took them to last years ‘Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga’ (easily the best 2007 release). The journey to get to ‘Ga…’ is as good as the arrival there – from beginning to end, ‘A Series of Sneaks’ is an album that excites my ears (I asked them, and they were excited) – yet one of those rare albums where you can hit play at any point and still find a gem of a track (like now, I just hit play on ‘No, You’re Not’ and my ears did a little shimmy).

I have been a late-comer to their music (thanks to their appearance at the 2008 Big Day Out), but I don’t think that means I appreciate them less. I’m think that Spoon is so damn good, I would hazard to say I would still be listening to this album had I clocked it on release….all those years ago.

If you haven’t seen them, heard them, or are put off by their name (which I was a little guilty of being in the past), pull your head out and go and listen to them.