Music / Spiders (Album)

She's scared of the spiders and she's scared of the dark / She's scared of the bogeyman in the park / but if anybody comes near me / I know she'll cut their balls off...

From out of Liverpool to a neighbourhood near you.

A tangled web of influence, the world of pop, the world of dance gone mad and weird.

It's Me and You vs the World.

- Virgin Megastore advert

Spiders (1996) is the debut album by Space. Entering at number five in the UK album charts, the record was a huge success for the band, going platinum within weeks after its release and spanning four top 20 singles in the UK: "Female of the Species", "Me and You Vs the World", "Neighbourhood" and "Dark Clouds".

Drawing inspiration from soundtracks to trashy B-movies, Quentin Tarantino films and the groovy basslines of Cypress Hill, the album's Genre-Busting sound, warped sense of humour, and cinematic feel was a reaction towards those who had written the group off as either a novelty or just another run-of-the-mill Britpop act, gaining a reputation as something of a British answer to Odelay, which was also released that year.

In 2017, Pitchfork ranked Spiders at No. 41 in their Top 50 Britpop albums.

No relation to the 2000 horror film, or the French video game company.

Tracklist

1. "Neighbourhood"
2. "Mister Psycho"
3. "Female of the Species"
4. "Money"
5. "Me and You Vs the World"
6. "Lovechild of the Queen"
7. "No-One Understands"
8. "Voodoo Roller"
9. "Drop Dead"
10. "Dark Clouds"
11. "Major Pager"
12. "Kill Me"
13. "Charlie M"
14. "Growler"

US version bonus track:

• "Spiders"

Hong Kong version bonus track:

• "Only Half an Angel"
• "Welcome to the Neighbourhood"
• "Nighthood"

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Me and You Vs. the Tropes:

• Ax-Crazy: Lots of examples, particularly Mr. Miller the local vicar, Mr. Psycho and "Drop Dead".
• Based on a True Story / Write What You Know: Believe it or not, "Neighbourhood" was inspired by the council estate Tommy Scott grew up in - Cantrill Farm, now known as Stockbridge Village.
• Bullet Dancing: "Charlie M" has the narrator being made to do this by the titular criminal.
• God Save Us from the Queen!: "Lovechild of the Queen" views Elizabeth II as this.
• Hypocritical Heartwarming / Enemy Mine: In the last verse in 'Neighbourhood', the singer openly chastises his neighbours for being a bunch of lunatics and criminals, but he'll be ready to stick by and defend them if anyone tris to demolish their homes.
• Instrumentals: "Growler". This kickstarted the tradition of the last song on a Space album being a Franny Griffiths instrumental...at least, until Suburban Rock 'n' Roll.
• Money Song: "Money", of course!

  I didn't lose your money

  Oh no, your money just lost you

• Mundane Made Awesome: In "Me and You Vs the World", the main character manages to knock out the store's owner with a tin of baked beans and a Woman's Weekly.
• Obsession Song: 'Drop Dead'.
• Piss-Take Rap: "Charlie M" is a pretty, erm, unusual example.
• The Power of Love: Subverted rather viciously in "Money":

  You brought me up this way

  When just a little bit of love could've changed my ways

• Precision F-Strike: "Lovechild of the Queen".

  Everytime we see a crown

  It only makes us want to fucking frown

  • And on 'Major Pager':
    Now Felix the Cat is on his back, oh Felix the Cat, what a twat...
• Rearrange the Song: "Dark Clouds" and "Charlie M" have both had this treatment. The version of "Charlie M" that Space play live is the demo version, which is much faster than the album version and starts with the 'ooga chaka' chant from "Hooked On A Feeling". Meanwhile, "Dark Clouds" has rarely been played as it is on the album (particularly due to the band's dislike of the album version). In 2004, the band played a garage rock version; in 2012 and 2013, they tagged on "La Bamba" at the end; and Tommy transposes the song down a minor third for his solo sets (the band also played this version at their 2016 Christmas gig).
• Sampling: The record is filled to the brim with snippets from movies, especially those from Quentin Tarantino. Check out the band's Shout-out page for more info.
• Spiders Are Scary: The album cover features a bathtub full of tarantulas. According to the band, the picture was chosen to help arachophobic listeners overcome their fears.
• Spoken Word in Music: "Me and You Vs the World" features a middle 8 breakdown that is spoken rather than sung, to amplify the tension of the song.
• Stalker with a Crush: A deadly example in "Drop Dead".

  Wherever you go, I'll follow you

  I've got your address and I'm coming for you

• Step Up to the Mic: Jamie Murphy sings lead vocals on "No One Understands", "Lovechild Of The Queen", "Voodoo Roller", "Major Pager" and "Kill Me".
• Take That!: "Major Pager" delivers a massive one to then-prime minister John Major. A music book once remarked it was a surprise the band didn't receive litigation. "No-One Understands" also ridicules supporters of Margaret Thatcher.
• Together in Death / You Are Worth Hell: "Me & You Vs The World".

  You took a chance on a loser like me, but you never let me down

  And whether we're in Heaven or Hell

  I know it's better than in separate cells

• "Well Done, Son" Guy: the story behind "Female Of The Species". Tommy's dad was a huge fan of crooners such as Frank Sinatra, and Tommy wanted to write a song his dad would like.
• Wretched Hive: 'Neighbourhood'.

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"Do it man, just go OMMMMMMM..." "What?"