Sparks are really the Mael brothers with a solid backing band. Russell has an incredible voice that definitely takes a few listens to get used to. The tracks mainly written by his brother are witty, quirky, and clever with many humorous moments that add to the interest. The tunes are, after you get used to the vocal style, very catchy. This album was reviewed as album of the year, but not many people took notice.

Album Tracks

Propaganda

a short, frantic, multi-layered, cappella vocal piece with Russell Mael laying down about five tracks. Leads straight into :-

At Home, At Work, At Play

Fast paced guitar driven tune with very fast vocals about how to keep up with a very popular girl. You'll need to be able to read fast to keep up with the lyrics..

Reinforcements

A slower paced tune. Instrumentally sparse, a simple rhythm with great vocals building towards the end. One of the best.

BC

Very clever lyrically, but probably the first you'll grow tired of listening to.

Thanks, but No Thanks

Lovely tune, again with great use of Russell Mael's voice.

Don't Leave Me Alone With Her

Clever tempo changes and lyrics make this one of the best.

Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth

Slower tempo with almost normal vocals. The closest they get to a ballad.
This was the single.

Something For The Girl With Everything

Simply amazing. Very fast rhythm and vocals. Very clever lyrics about what you can buy the girl who has everything. It's hard to believe all of this can be packed into a tune about 2 1/2 minutes long.

Achoo

A good tune, a song about sneezing, complete with an amazing number of nasal explosions as a fade out. Has to heard.

Who Don't Like Kids

A quirky look at the reasons we have kids. Fast paced with good guitar work

Bon Voyage

One of the longer tunes, slower tempo with a good chorus that builds towards the end

The remastered CD comes with a couple of B sides "Alabamy Right" and "Marry Me" which were Ok as B sides.

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Other Albums

"Sparks" - (debut album, 1972)

Not a lot to recommend except for devotees. A few tracks that hint at what is to come. "Wonder Girl" and "(No More) Mr Nice Guys" are probably the best. Some of the others have to be heard to be believed, but not an album I played a lot.

"A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing"

A superb almost punk/new wave version of "Do Ri Mi" from the Sound of Music. "Here Comes Bob" about a guy who drives around crashing into people's cars so he can meet them. "Batteries Not Included" a short but witty tune about a kid who gets a present. These are the best of a much improved album compared with the first.

"Kimono My House"

considered by some to be their best, it is similar in style to "Propaganda" (which followed Kimono). There is no shortage of great tracks with the same humour infused into the lyrics. "Up Here in Heaven" and "Think I'm Falling In Love with Myself Again" being good examples. "This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both Of Us" and "Hasta Manana Monsieur" are two of the best.

"Indiscreet"

An excellent follow up to "Propaganda", this probably is their best, with not a bad song on the whole album, but it is a far more diverse collection of tunes that take longer to get into. "Happy Hunting Ground" is splendid with the usual vocal overlays. "Under the Table with Her" is brilliant with a purely orchestral arrangement. "Pineapple" written by Russell Mael is weird. "It ain't 1918" with a fiddle is about a couple who insist on driving a Stanley Steamer. "Looks Looks Looks" sounds like something a big band would have done in the '40's. The rest are fairly standard (if there is such a thing) Sparks tunes. "Get in the Swing" was a fairly successful single.

"Big Beat"

Not a bad album, but their style is starting to wear a bit thin if you've heard all the others first. Mostly guitar based tunes with the same inanity in the lyrics. There are two marvellous tracks. "I Bought the Mississippi River" is a heavy guitar/bass driven tune about buying a river and shipping it back home. "Fill -er Up" a fast bouncy beat for a song about filling up with premium.

After this they went disco/dance style and the tunes wear thin very quickly.

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