Sparks (the band). Good? Bad?

[pennylane]

I was browsing some music review website, and I randomly picked an artist, and I found Sparks. The reviewer gave many glowing reviews, and they seem to have made some good music. Have you heard about them?

 

[chadbang]

Isn't that the one led by the quy with the Hitler mustache? Kind of weirdo band from the 70s? My brother used to listen to them at the same tie as The Sensation Alex Harvey Band and The Tubes. And I think I ranked The Sparks the lowest among that illustrious trio. Er, I'd audition before I buy.

 

[dsavitsk]

The sparks are the Bomb. Produced by Giorgio Moroder (who is probably best known for producing Dona Summer and all sorts of Italian disco) they have kind of a new wave/disco type sound. The best song to listen to as an introduction is "The Number One Song in Heaven" which truly is.

-d

 

[2 channel]

Sparks was very popular in the 80's. They played them alot on KROQ in Orange County CA.

They were that typical quirky 80s band that sang songs like "I wish I looked a little better" "Angst in my Pants" "All you ever think about is Sex" and "cool places" (which was a duet with Jane Weiland of the Go Gos) If you like 80's music, Sparks is great!

 

[chadbang]

Are we talking the same band?

Here's what I'm talking about:

http://www.endlessgroove.com/isssue1/sparks.htm

I see they did survive into the 80s, though. I didn't know they made any album that late. I thought they vanished into the 70s.

 

[2 channel]

Yep...Same band

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=music

I wasn't aware of their earlier stuff though..guess ill have to get a new cd

 

[gsolman6]

Sparks is actually a very important band that never really made it big. To get a good intro check out the youtube videos for 'This town is not big enough for the both of us': http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dj_DQu4qE-o

A very modern sounding Sparks which took on both opera and pop is highly recommended at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=na8oDCKp6AU

I like Sparks b/c they do not take themselves too seriously but make music that is uncompromising. In the 70s the closest band to them were the likes of Queen, Roxy Music, or 10cc. They did get the glam label for a bit but only b/c it was a bit hard to put them in any other category. These days the only band that relates well to them is Ween.

 

[BrookR1]

nevermind

 

[zumaro]

Indeed Sparks are an important band (basically consisting of the Mael brothers), started in the early 70s and still making good albums today - chronically underrated by the American public but liked by the Brits and music critics. Imitated by Queen in the 70s, but a far better, more complex and wittier band, they seem to have had various phases from glam to sharp pop to disco to whatever you might call the latest genre bending output, but the quality has always remained very high. Recommended - including last year's enjoyable Hello Young Lovers.

Incidentally they are very much better than The Sensational Alex Harvey Band or The Tubes.

 

[Sordel]

I knew Sparks from their singles back in the 70s/80s (such as the brilliant "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Two Of Us") and the album (sadly not to my knowlege available) Whomp That Sucker. I got back into them with their two most recent albums.

I think that their profile is probably higher in Europe than in the US. They're really an art band, with the music being fairly sophisticated and classical-influenced (albeit produced on a sequencer) and very knowing, deliberately silly lyrics. There's one song where the full lyric is basically "How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, man, practice". You'll know if this sort of thing is going to amuse/entertain you, or merely irritate.

As has already been said, critics (at least the British ones) love Sparks.

 

[zumaro]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsolman6 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sparks is actually a very important band that never really made it big. To get a good intro check out the youtube videos for 'This town is not big enough for the both of us': http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dj_DQu4qE-o A very modern sounding Sparks which took on both opera and pop is highly recommended at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=na8oDCKp6AU I like Sparks b/c they do not take themselves too seriously but make music that is uncompromising. In the 70s the closest band to them were the likes of Queen, Roxy Music, or 10cc. They did get the glam label for a bit but only b/c it was a bit hard to put them in any other category. These days the only band that relates well to them is Ween.

Thanks for the great video clips - seems everything is on youtube.
I like this one off Hello Young Lovers. Average video for insanely catchy song.
Or this one from their Giorgio Moroder disco phase - surely it was a hit?

And a thank you to the OP all those years ago for reminding me to listen to Sparks again - they really should be much better known.

 

[Asr]

Kudos to anyone who knows where they provide this line: "When the laugh track starts is when the fun starts!"