REVIEWS FOR THAT'S WHAT I LIKE
Boston Phoenix
“Recalls at various times the smoke-cured continental suavity of Serge Gainsbourg, the latter-day ethno-eclecticism of the Pogues, and the turbid moodiness of the Bad Seeds. Spottiswoode’s moony, crooning voice, drips with wasted ele- gance.”
Portland Phoenix
“His Enemies are comfortable in cabaret, post-punk, soul, and any other mode – all but a backdrop for Spottiswoode’s sly, Nick Cave meets Stephen Merritt put-ons - one of the more commanding frontmen I’ve heard in a while.”
Washington Post Express Weekend Pass
“Spottiswoode distracts so suavely with literary lyrics and lilting accordion you don’t notice he’s got his hooks in your very heart.”
NBC Washington DC
“Challenging, beautiful music. Incredibly talented.”
KMTT Seattle The Mountain, Drew Dundon
“Always brilliant.”
NPR’s Weekend Edition - Susan Stamberg
“For more than 10 years now, the New York City rock band Spottiswoode and His Enemies have managed to keep per- forming together. [They] just celebrated their 10th anniversary with a show at Joe’s Pub in New York. They also released two albums to commemorate the big occasion: That’s What I Like and Salvation. The band recorded 33 songs’ worth of material in six days. Jonathan Spottiswoode, the band’s leader, joined Susan Stamberg to play a few solo renditions of songs from his catalog. Along the way, he talked about the band’s new releases and about trying to make it as a musician.”
WNYC - Soundcheck with John Schaefer
“New York-based septet Spottiswoode & His Enemies is a swirling cocktail of indie-rock, folk, country and even big band music. Englishman Jonathan Spottiswoode leads the ensemble, whose unusual band name is part of a running gag of criminal intrigue in liner notes and on an entertaining web site. The real entertainment, however, lies in the songs and their clever arrangements. Spottiswoode & His Enemies join us for a performance in our studio.”
Here Comes The Flood Blog
“Pessimists have declared time and again that the CD is dead as a means of distribution of music. Sales may have gone down dramatically, especially where the major labels are concerned, but people still buy tons of CDs after a show and the independents are not doing so bad.
New York band Spottiswoode & His Enemies are releasing two CDs simultaneously: The party one That’s What I Like and the acoustic, a bit more subdued one Salvation. Fronted by English singer and composer Jonathan Spottiswoode this band can turn a dull room into a cozy nightclub with their highly original sound. They play brass heavy tunes underlying Spottiswoode’s hilarious lyrics about making money out his girlfriends looks on a website (Getting Realistic) and compil- ing a huge list naming all kinds of women that turn him on (That’s What I Like) - even including *gasp* Deadheads.
Spottiswoode & His Enemies follow the tradition started by the likes of Noel Coward, Ray Davies and Jarvis Cocker, playing venomous with a vaudeville backing. Spottiswoode is on of those rare people who can get away with imperson- ating a lounge lizard from the old days. This is party music for people who listen to the words while dancing their heads off.
That’s What I Like and Salvation are released on New Warsaw Records. Official release party on March 22 at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St., NYC, coinciding with the band’s tenth anniversary.”
The Washington Express
“Both of the two new releases, That’s What I Like and Salvation, highlight Spottiswoode’s charmingly coarse baritone and conversational lyrics as well as a sparkling soundtrack from the dexterous Enemies, whose playing is technically cool but rife with embellishment and quirky colloquialism.”