Just as an aside, there is a recently released movie documentary called “The Sparks Brothers” which covers their entire ( lengthy ) career. Well worth a watch if you want to see the personalities behind the music. I’ve always liked Sparks without ever becoming a superfan but I really enjoyed the film.
Glad you enjoyed 'The Sparks Brothers'. I've got that on order on DVD. I missed it in the cinema due to COVID, but can't wait to see it. I think the DVD comes with a bonus disc of the Maels in concert.
I am just always amazed at the way that Sparks can be so accessible and so freaking bizarre at the same time. And so fresh after 50 years of recording. The companion album to 'Kimono' is 'Propaganda', and maybe 'Indiscreet'. Another treat is 1997s 'Plagerism'. It is basically a tribute album to themselves -- re-recordings of older songs, perhaps even improved. Absolutely loved your drumming at the start! So, you've got your own collection of instruments, give us a tour sometime!
And sometimes you can't wrap your brains around them, but give them a few listenings, and you will find yourself humming them... Or whistling, whichever is your thing 😄
I love that you love Sparks! I love that you get their lyrics and their brilliant musicianship! They have been my favorite band for the last 50 years! I fell in love with them the minute I heard "Kimono My House" at age 15! Everything they have ever done is awesome! Listen to their latest song "All That" off their latest CD "A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip". They were way ahead of their time! They influenced so many other bands. Watch the Edgar Wright documentary "The Sparks Brothers". It's fascinating. They also have 25 albums of sheer amazingness that you can look forward to listening to. Just saw them live in NYC a month ago! They are still touring and rocking it in their 70's. Ron is still a goof and Russell still has one damn amazing voice! It warms my heart to know, 50 years later, their music is still relevant and they are gathering new fans all the time! They are about to come out with a new CD. Long live SPARKS! Enjoy!
I love how hyped you are about Sparks after just a few songs. I had the same experience with this album just a few years ago. As for suggestions for future Sparks albums...I have no idea. You could go with their groundbreaking 1979 synth-pop album "No 1 in Heaven" with Giorgio Moroder, or their 1994 Eurobeat-tinged "Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins," or their baroque pop masterpiece "Lil Beethoven," or their beautiful most recent record "A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip"... I mean, it's Sparks. They've done a bit of everything, and it's more consistently fresh than most bands in their sixth decade, or arguably any band that's been around that long.
Absolutely. As I said to another poster, that's one of the many joys of Sparks. They rarely stood still and have embraced so many different styles of music, moving seamlessly between glam /art rock, opera, disco, electronica, pop, euro pop, music hall, etc, etc!
Your immediate enthusiasm for this band is a source of such joy for me. I felt just the same the first time I span this record. There are so many directions you could go in for your second Sparks album, but I'm going to recommend a later one which saw them radically reinventing their sound, whilst retaining their inherent Sparks-ness (for want of a better term). It's called "Li'l Beethoven" and I won't say more than that. The less you know about it going in the better, I think!
I think it's fantastic someone is blown away by this album now just as I was when it was released. Kimono, Propaganda & Indiscreet are all classics. I'm not into disco/ dance music so not all Sparks music does it for me. The last 3 albums are brilliant though.
My first exposure to Sparks was their 1982 album "Angst in my Pants" and I loved it. I also loved their 1983 release "In Outer Space" as well. As an early 80's kid, I never thought to go back and listen to their earlier catalog. This is a mistake I intend to remedy thanks to your reactions.
Kimono and Propaganda have been long time favourites of mine along with their last two albums Hippopotamus and A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip. There's many good ones in between as well!
Sparks fans will talk about the two albums After Kimono My House (Propaganda and Indiscreet) but the same magic and the same type of vocals are best found on their Previous album “A Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothing” as on KMH. From a bona fide early 70s Prog Rock fan who accepts Sparks into the fold- trust me on this. KK from Maine
You got a 'like' straight away for the drumming and for listening to more Sparks! Cool stick work on the kit there, JP. So glad that you're loving Sparks so much after all the recommendations! ;) Such a fun track, great vocals from Russell, real drama in the music and laugh-out-loud lyrics from Ron. Well worth doing 'Propaganda' and 'Indiscreet', the follow-ups to this album and 'No. 1 in Heaven' the album they made with Giorgio Moroder which had a big influence on your favourite David Sylvian and lots of '80s synth bands. Their most recent albums 'Hippopotamus' and 'A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip' are really excellent and among their best. Only Ron could write a song called 'So Tell Me Mrs Lincoln, Aside From That, How Was The Play?' So much to delve into and so many styles - for example the new wave 'Angst In My Pants' and the light operatic 'Dick Around' (you can imagine Freddie Mercury singing that). Just jump into any album and you'll find plenty to enjoy!
This whole album has many firsts. Here In Heaven is certainly one of them. What I remember enjoying most was the the feel of comedy throughout the whole album - plus of course the great musicianship and production. Glad you like it too. Peace.
Personally, my favorite Sparks LPs besides this one are their early 2000s “comeback” albums Li’l Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers, but there are whole swathes of their massive discog I’ve barely explored.
Sparks were considered to be an art pop / rock band but at the same time, they got somewhat of a novelty and bubblegum stamp on them. They had done two albums before "Kimono", but I have no idea what sort of development they went through before Kimono. They had an impact to the New Romantic - movement in UK that spawned bands like Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran and others.
How come I never heard of them before...I like it. The singing reminded me of Kate Bush, but these are guys?! Just watched the promo for their documentary and I see Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran so I see they are fans of Sparks. Interested on their music now. Wait, I did knew a song by them..."Cool Places" with the girl from The GoGos. I love learning about great new music (for me) on this channel! Funny lyrics but cool vocals and great music.
Damn, you just gave me chills remembering 10 years ago when I've found Sparks. Kimono My House is a great album. Talent is an Asset, This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us, Hasta Mañana, Monsieur... Epic stuff.
50 year fan of Sparks here. Hard to pick an absolute favourite from Sparks vast catalogue, but I think this song is pretty close. I bought Kimono on release, and have bought it 4 more times over the years as copies have worn out from play (including the 40 year anniversary edition from the Sparks website when it came out). After buying this one for the first time, went back to the record store and bought the first album and Woofer, and have followed them ever since, buying pretty much every album on release right up to the present. Saw them on the Kimono tour, the Indiscreet tour, and then again about 10 years ago for the Two Hands One Mouth tour. Edgar Wrights doc on them is fantastic, the wide array of musicians that are fans is amazing. And last night they just won the Cesar award (the French Oscars) for best original film score, for the movie Annette, which they also helped write the screenplay.
Thanks for posting and thanks to all of your knowledgeable subscribers for insightful comments regarding Sparks. Music I'll definitely check out in the future.
I couldn't figure out why I felt like I should know these guys, but did not recognize this song. Then, as I had just begun my Google dive into them, one of the first things I realized was that the reason "Sparks" sounded familar to me, just as a band name, is because the only time I ever heard about them was in reading the list of albums produced by Todd Rundgren! Cool!
It's funny, I also discovered them only recently through this album and my reaction was exactly the same as yours. From the first track I was sold. Like you said, it feels so fresh and exciting. It sounds like nothing else and the lyrics are amazing and hilarious. There's nothing quite like the feeling of discovering a band you instantly fall in love with, especially if it's a band with a big catalog of albums.
If you can't get enough of This Town..., check out the version they recorded with Faith No More in '97 (off of their Plagiarism album). That's how I discovered Sparks in the first place.
Thank you for recognizing the genius of early Sparks. Kimono My House is ultimately my favorite but "Propaganda" and "Indiscreet" are two great albums, too! The lyrics are huge. The brothers are my brothers.
Sparks are just wonderful artists, who influenced so many others. This is a suicide pact song about two lovers who decide to end it all by jumping off of a cliff into the ocean. He goes first and then she changes her mind. Why not try some later Sparks next, such as their most recent album, A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip - and you will be reassured that they haven't lost their edge over more than half a century. Then you could do some more of the earlier stuff. There are whole blocks of albums which inhabit different musical explorations or phases, but you will recognise the essential core which is Ron Mael's writing and Russell Mael's vocals.
The fabulous, unique creativity of Ron and Russell Mael. I hope you get to listen to all twenty-five studio albums (soon to be twenty-six), but not necessarily in order, otherwise it will take you ages to get to some real classics. Maybe you should bounce around their discography, following recommendations.
It's a joy to watch you discovering Sparks for yourself and I think Kimono My House is the perfect entry point for a person of your tastes. Sparks have 25 albums (maybe more, I've lost count - they are so prolific) so asking for recommendations is kind of a major undertaking. I first encountered and fell in love with Sparks when their "No. 1 Song in Heaven" synthpop track created with Giorgio Moroder entered the charts here in Australia in 1979. Before then they were largely unheard of Down Under and then had a number one hit in 1980 with "When I'm With You". I'm also a big ol' fan of their early 2000s album L'il Beethoven. Every track is an instant classic, especially "The Rhythm Thief" (humorously announcing that the album does not contain any percussion except for piano), "Your Call's Very Important To Us. Please Hold." and "I Married Myself, although "My Baby's Taking Me Home" is hypnotic musical alchemy of the highest order. The whole album had me in raptures but first time I heard "My Baby's Taking Me Home" I fell crazy in love with the song and listened to it on constant repeat and marvelled at it's genius construction.
In 1979, David Sylvian & Japan evolved from Glam to Synth-experimentalists - writing/recording "Life In Tokyo" with Giorgio Moroder - in part because of his 1978 album with Sparks. Morrissey was an infamous Sparks nerd as a teen & Paul McCartney would parody the band in his "Coming Up" video. More Sparks hits: "(No More) Mr Nice Guys" (1971) "Arts & Crafts Spectacular" (1972) "Tryouts For The Human Race" (1978) "When I'm With You" (1980) "Sherlock Holmes" (1982) And if you dig hard, intricate UK Glam guitars with androgyne eccentricity, *Suede* is a band worth diving into starting with _Sci-Fi Lullabies_ and _Coming Up._
In 2004 Morrissey curated the annual Meltdown Festival on London's South Bank. He invited Sparks to do a show which I went to. They played the whole of Kimono My House and Lil' Beethoven and were phenomenal.
Nice to see you’re really enjoying Sparks. The next 2 albums (Propaganda & Indiscreet) continue and build from this one well. After that they start shifting direction more often. They always maintain a certain “Sparks” quality, but they try a more L.A. pop sound, then electronica, then back to pop, and eventually even a more classical sound. They’re still going. “Existential Threat”, from their most recent album, is prime Sparks only 50 years on. It might actually be a good idea to bump them up a bit in the rotation. There’s a lot to get through and it’ll take forever if you only do one every month or so. They don’t do many extra long songs, though, so doing 2 at a time may work for some. However you go, enjoy!
I translate songs to finnish (my mother tongue) as a hobby and this song was a true challenge. I somehow managed to do it and sang the translated song in a small matinee. It was one of the most rewarding projects I've ever done! Love to see you falling in love with this band too! ❤
Hi JP. DP from UK. I Am The Rhythm Thief; Say Goodbye To The Beat. This is the first track from Sparks' later album Lil' Beethoven and it signals a big change in direction: strings and keys, vocal loops and samples, and no drums. Is it better than Kimono My House? Maybe not, but it's refreshingly different and my second favourite album by the Mael brothers.
My son (36ys) wasn't a Sparks fan at all, when I made him watch 'The Sparks Brothers'. He left the theater with a confused smile. 1. Where did the 2hs 40 min go??? 2. He said "Now I've got a new understanding of Sparks, and I clearly see why you love them so much. And now I heard a couple of songs I really liked, I will actually listen to them back home." One he specifically mentioned was 'The Rhythm Thief'. He has never been so interested in song lyrics (perhaps because song lyrics usually are the same), but he was intrigued by their lyrics as well. The same night I sent him a link and LYRICS to 'When I'm With You'. The line that describes what TRUE LOVE is about better than any lyrics, sung or not, have never done: "I never feel like garbage when I'm with you I almost feel normal when I'm with you" He loved that as much as I do. So down to earth, so real. What it is in reality, not some hyped tear-welling sentimental stuff which is just bullshit. It's about being seen for the good in you, accepted as you are, with no need to try to fit in. Being loved for who you are, not for what you could have been. 'All That' is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful sequence to that. Shit, I get tears in my eyes just thinking about 'All That'🤣🤣🤣! "Thanks for the loan", you never own anyone, everything is just a loan. And some day we have to return to whoever lent it; life, God or nature, or whatever your beliefs are. Harsh, but life is like that.
Don't forget the b-sides of This Town (Barbecutie) and Amateur Hour (Lost and Found) which aren't on the album. Indiscreet and Propaganda are great albums too. Also the songs Sparks did with Faith No More!
critics said about Mozart all he has written is opera: I think this is the point here too: every song of the Sparks is mini-opera. … react on „at home at work at play“ from the Propaganda Lp (Kimono my house following) Great groove, unbelievable Melodyline. Russell said that he never had sung this live, because it was to difficult. Now he does, at the age of 70
Justin, I'm so glad you've found the pure joy and madness that is Sparks. I'd say Kimono My House is the epitome of this particular phase of the band, although Propaganda is also very good. Unwilling to rest on their laurels, the Maels have gone through a lot of these phases along the decades (some of them admittedly not that interesting even though there are always golden nuggets). The fantastically spacey Moroder disco of No 1 In Heaven (1979) is one of my favourite Sparks albums. Also Lil' Beethoven (2002), which is...I don't think anyone knows what that is, but it kinda sounds like ridiculously catchy, repetitive classical music. And then there are a couple of absolutely mindshattering opuses (opi?) on Hello Young Lovers (2006), namely Dick Around and As I Sit Down To Play The Organ At The Notre Dame Cathedral. I don't think I'm exaggerating at all when I say that only the crazed minds of the Mael brothers could have produced such stuff.
This is a favourite of mine. Don't think it's Romeo & Juliette as they used poison. Here they "agreed" to leap to their deaths off a cliff. He went first, then Juliette didn't. 😂
Since your last Sparks song reaction, I finished the Sparks Brothers documentary, now I am a little more in the know. I never became a fan, from seeing them on tv so, a lot of these songs are my first listens too. I’m not going crazy for them but, I respect their vision and their place in music history. They remind me of Zappa, work till you drop. In fact, a collaboration would have been super interesting. Ron and Russell are probably coming in to write today as they do everyday when they’re not playing out. Dedication to their vision, I love that. Inspiring. Try: Heaven is Paved with Broken Glass by XTC. Peace and heavenly Music
I absolutely adore this album. Did you take the time to watch a video of them playing this town....live? That is what really puts the icing on the cake!
Lots of great albums... Indiscreet, A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing, Lil Beethoven, Angst In My Pants, A Steady Drip Drip Drip, No. 1 In Heaven and more! Check out their 1974 performance of Here In Heaven: ruclips.net/video/_9b_zelJ09c/видео.html
So much great music in the Maels' back catalogue! Is there a trick to posting links in comments by the way? Every time I include a link in a comment, YT automatically deletes it? Thanks for any tips.
@@jeremyb5640 Are you using computer/website, or the app? YT deletes everything where I try to include a web link. Even from their own site!? It (usually) works fine when I either type the whole address or "pretend" to send it by text, and COPY, nothing else, the address and paste it in the comments. Those are the methods that works for me. Of some obscure reason it's not always accepted to clip out the address and paste it, but copying works. EVERYTHING about how any and all sorts of computer and IT technology is a complete mystery to me. I just try to use the basics, that's it. If it doesn't work I'll scream until someone helps me, and I'm totally blocked from learning how they did. Usually I'm a pretty smart person, but when something is BOOOOOORING the door to storing facts is bolted. A handicap many times, and my son refuse to show me more than once since many years 🤣, which I actually understand. That's how bad it is 🥴
@@jeremyb5640 Also, about the Mael brothers, may they "Live long and prosper" as the Vulcans say in Star Trek (Mr Spock). That's my constantly worries, that something bad happens to those gentlemen. They seem to still be in their prime, but the age can be of a deceiving nature. 😱💔
Keep going mate... you will find that each song each album reflects aspect of pervading art culture of the time... some outstanding... some less so... but all relevant... pretty much uncommercial artistic creations which sometimes connect with popular culture. Sometimes I can’t (but then I’m shocked.. so shocked) imagine my life without the influence of the Mark brothers...
Basically a Suicide pact but the girl chickens out after he jumped... . Sparks audiences back then were a a mix of the chin stroker's and the screaming teens lol.. As Russell sings about subjects such as Albert Einstein etc.. Thought the Last track Equator totally weird and freaky but beautiful is along the same lines as this song .. A meeting that does not go to plan !
Sparks, down to eart. I believe Ron's studying of the human beings and our behavior, how weird our minds can work, the unexpected, sometimes inappropriate, that pop up in the head. In sad situations, where it suddenly releases an easing laughter, a joyful situation, when a serious thought sneaks in and gives you something to process. The playfulness. Sometimes it's hard to tell if is something else behind the lyrics, or is it just nonsense story? 'Let The Monkey Drive', 'There's No Such Thing As Aliens'. And all irony, mostly playful, sometimes it smells like sarcasm. '(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country?'. The best band that managed to stay under the average people's radar for over 50 years. "Your favorite band's favorite band"!
Awesome. So ahead of their time. Please react their video of "When I'm With You." It turns the Great American Songbook on its head, yet they're still respectful & loving of it at the same time. 🙂💕👍
Adding to what others have said, I really like Propaganda, especially the song 'Reinforcements ' with all its quirky military jargon. Also jump ahead to the 80s, Angst in my Pants (title track)and Mustache, Nicotina, and Mickey Mouse
Fun album. Fun song. It still amazes me how much I missed as life flashed by. Still time to grab some of the good bits though I am worried about the summer music festival season. It's hard on us fans and much worse on the musician/techs etc. The top people are going to make money regardless but the guys on the bottom and in the middle struggle at the best of times and since there is little money in the song writing anymore (just listen to musician/song writers on twitter complain how little they get from places like spotify) they require shows and merch sales to keep afloat. If you haven't made a resolution this year one you could consider is to support a starving musician (or artist) through patreons and merch purchases.
Hi Justin, it looks like you’re hooked on Sparks. Like you I love the singing, but Sparks are a bit like Marmite because many people hate Russell’s voice. You need to hurry up and review the remaining tracks so you’ll be able to listen to the full album. Then you can move on to reviewing their other great albums like ‘Propaganda’ and ‘Indiscreet’. Cheers JP! 😁
I believe in the Romeo/Juliet story they made a pact to both commit suicide together because their families were enemies and forebade their relationship. Which they did both carry out. This early version of the Sparks band was their hardest rocking incarnation, at least of what I've heard, they got tons of material. They changed styles like costumes with the changing trends of the times; disco, techno... by the 80s they were totally immersed in EuroCulture and successfully popular there. Much more than in the States. Little Beethoven is a very interesting album...
In Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", there is no "suicide pact" - at least not in the classically understood use of the term. You really should do a quick read-up on the actual sequence of events in the story, and what the actual true intentions were of Romeo and Julet! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet#Synopsis It was never their intention to die.
The 1976 version of Sparks, when they moved back to the US again must be the rockiest, with the 'Big Beat' album. I'm not so well read about that era, but I believe there were studio musicians for the album, and other for the tour? Anyone? In any case, the album contains a song written about their first ruined film project with Jacques Tati, the late French film director. Unfortunately Tati's became ill and never recovered enough to make the planned movie, in the early stage called 'Confusion'.
If you like this, you'll like "Bon Voyage" from Propaganda. It's a song from the point of view of an animal for whom there's no room on Noah's arc, so this animal is saying "Bon Voyage" to his friends on the arc. When's the last time you heard a song with that bizarre a perspective?
Love that one too. It's a typical Sparks thing, to give the perspective from the "little guy's" side. One of my absolute favs is 'Good Morning', where the guy desperately wishes it was "for real", as he so well knows the truth. 'I've never been high' and 'Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)' reflect the same things, the worst regrets you will have in the end, are what you DIDN'T do. Go Carpe Diem! Unfortunately not the easiest thing to contrive. If you're not born with the heads and strength as the brothers seem to have!
Yep, love this track. Lyrics so clever and witty. If you like the rest of the album, and I'll bet that you will, you will also like Propaganda. Can I also suggest their first two albums, which were originally released under the band name Halfnelson but later reissued as Sparks. The second album is called "A Woofer in Tweeters clothing"...great name for a record. 😀
Hard to go wrong with the Maels, JP! "Better" is subjective, as always, but I'd venture to say that you have a LOT of albums to look forward to. And do check out the Edgar Wright- directed documentary, as others are suggesting! So much fun watching you discover these guys!😂👍🏼
I like Curved Air.. but cannot find any real strong material linking there styles.. Sonia and the guys did that poppy album with her Hubby's help Stuart Copeland of the police at the latter stages of there discography.. was closest to pop i think.
Try Life with the Macbeths from 2017's Hippopotamus. About Macbeth (yes, that one) being turned into a reality TV show, where the viewers vote for which character gets killed next. Featuring an opera soprano as guest artist..... welcome to the world of Sparks!
Rebecca Sjöwall! She's American, but married to a Swedish guy, hence her last name. A tip!! She has a channel with some pure opera, but also a really interesting song she made together with her husband, who also is a musician and composer, called 'Chaos'. Worth a listen for you who like not-standard-radio-musac.
Have a look at the drum cover of the Deep Purple’s song Burn by 11 yo Yoyoka; solo version, not the birthday version. Ian Paice said she made less errors than he did and that she hits harder.
You will get MANY suggestions. But all you really need to do is listen to their previous album “A Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothing” and “Whomp that Sucker”. Especially Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothing. I know their entire repertoire. Rock on. KK from Maine
A reaction just involves enjoying (or enduring, I suppose) some music. If you enjoy it so much that all you can remember at the end is that you enjoyed it, that's a valid reaction, surely? (You have a talent - I suppose more like a skill, since nobody is born with this - for finding things worth saying about most songs right after hearing them the very first time, and it's great hearing what you come up with, but that's almost a separate topic. It's OK to skip a day of being the guy who doesn't just say "Yeah, music!" at the end.) As for all of us having heard it all before, maybe some, but not all of us have. There are people like me who grew up under a stone, then became too focused on just one kind of music, and then lived some more, and then one day found this amazing RUclips thing, and went into it like kids into a candy store (or addicts into the meth lab - various similes work here). Which is a very long way of saying that this is also the first time I've heard this song. And I also just sat here enjoying it. But then I always do that. I'm not very good at hearing lyrics for some reason. If you'd like an alternative to use instead of "sliced bread", and at the same time would sometimes like to have something a bit heavier than a ballad to serenade your Love with when you get all romantic, you might try *You're the Greatest Thing Since Powdered Milk* by the great Welsh band, *Budgie* (their fans include members of Metalica and Megadeth, if that counts for anything). ruclips.net/video/xXqUCUc7Weo/видео.html The drums at the beginning might be interesting, apart from anything else. Sounds like someone stuck a mike right inside the kit to record them. After that it depends whether you like that heavy blues/ early Black Sabbath sound or not.
@@Katehowe3010 No,, He Has Done Them Before,, Just Hoping He Will Circle Back To Them Again Because I Feel These 3 Particular Songs Fully Cover The Wide Range Of Their Sound/Style/Music.
@@Katehowe3010 Yes, yet Justin seemed to enjoy the first two tracks from Rattus Norvegicus and "Golden Brown" which he had listened to before. It is undoubtedly a question of timing and mood. Let's give him some time to come back to it ...
@@Katehowe3010 I understand you, because I was very impatient and impetuous when I was younger but in recent years I have calmed down a bit (which surprises me by the way !).
@@Katehowe3010 It is surprising that you attribute your inability to achieve more patience on your late uncle, as for for my part I have inherited my mother's calm and patient character since she passed away !
How about trying track 1 from each sparks album? I'd love to see your reactions to Tryouts for the human race, girl from Germany, so important and dick around.
@@vincentcarrot The Meal brothers combine seriousness with lightness and it's rather well balanced and done with deadpan humour but I guess it's not for everyone, you have to be sensitive to that.
As Ron says: "Don't take all songs completely literally"! One that it's easy to understand that people raise an eyebrow to is 'White Women'. The song is a reaction to all songs at those times about black women! They just did what they do, turned the other way, and made a song about white women. Today it looks less cool.
@@vincentcarrot You could start counting at 1971, The Rolling Stones: Brown Suger. In the mid seventies the disco-soul queens were both exotic and hot chocolate. Yeah, get the picture? The Meal brothers just wanted to shake the cocktail a little. They are the least racist people on the earth, couldn't care less if you were blue, one orange eye and yellow antennas, if you were a nice, kind and humorous person. Take a look at the live videos for 'There's No Such Thing As Aliens', listen to the lyrics and notice what's going on with the eyes on the screen behind them. Alien - foreigner - immigrant. Because people are immigrants they're not aliens. They are people. That song is on the same album as '(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country?', the song that Ron described as the first time they dropped their apolitical sign from their foreheads. I don't remember the exact words he used, but that was the essence. Perhaps it's just me seeing things in that. However, it is another song that I would like to hear their explanation of, even if I think I know what was going on. 'Young Girls'. If you read the lyrics and consider that was written by a 35 years old guy, and sung by his three years younger brother, you can get the chills, negatively. 'Young Girls' appears on the 'Terminal Jive' album, released 1980. Not only many rockstars and celebs in general had a fling for showing off with very young "women", the Polanski scandal was in fresh memory. (He drugged and raped a 13 years old girl.) I believe the song is a reaction to all that, a way to point out how freaking insane that is. Unfortunately it's not difficult to receive that message wrongly, especially since it's sung by a gorgeous looking guy, who's birthyear was alternatively 1948, which it is, or -53, that could give a bit less negative reaction if a 26-27 years guy expressed admiration for young teenage girls, such as their fans a few years earlier, than a man in his thirties. Anyway, I think it is a protest, a way to provoke.
Not sure they ever did anything better than 'Kimono' - I think it benefits from being the breakthrough album for them and therefore it has a special place for fans, and everybody else. Many fans also think the next album is an equal, i.e. 'Propaganda', but I don't think they reached the same level until 'No. 1 in Heaven'. I agree with others that the last two albums have reinvigorated the Sparks fan base and maybe are 3rd and 4th in my estimation.
@@bobholtzmann The song 'Edith Piaf...' is about "je no regret rien', or, in your older days, REGRET you have no reason to sing that, because you never did anything that it could have been reasons to regret, if you understand what I mean!? Been living a rather dull life.
Sparks were the headline, that Queen opened for at one occasion. But I would say Freddie and the other songwriters in Queen had listened to Sparks before they wrote 'Queen II' and later the 'Night at the Opera' album. On the other side, the new rock/pop bands that grow up like mushrooms in a rainy forrest in the early-mid seventies were very well informed about each other's doings, and likely listened to each other's music. Of course there were influences, criss cross between all and everyone. And upon that everything else that went on in music around these days! From Cliff Richard to Black Sabbath (once heard Ozzy's voice in 'Paranoid', you'll never forget). In the middle of that also the fast growing David Bowie.
Im not big on this album. I have it, and I really like about half of it, but the other half I consider mediocre. The next album, Propaganda is better in my opinion.
Excited by sparks, wow, i expect you're still high on holiday spirit. Probably the only thing about this I liked was how short it was. I tune in hoping they'll surprise be, but no, they never do. This's awful, I just can't stand this blokes voice, so I'm off to a bad start from the off. And the arrangements, no, and i've touched on this before but just can't take these seriously. From the first note all i can hear/think is joke/novelty band. Not for me.
Great to see you appreciate the talent of Sparks
They are simply one of the greatest bands ever. Just get it all.
They certainly are! For Connoisseurs.
Just as an aside, there is a recently released movie documentary called “The Sparks Brothers” which covers their entire ( lengthy ) career. Well worth a watch if you want to see the personalities behind the music. I’ve always liked Sparks without ever becoming a superfan but I really enjoyed the film.
The doc is a must see. It brings a perspective to the band I never knew about.
Glad you enjoyed 'The Sparks Brothers'. I've got that on order on DVD. I missed it in the cinema due to COVID, but can't wait to see it. I think the DVD comes with a bonus disc of the Maels in concert.
Oh, yeah! The Sparks Brothers is a really terrific documentary directed by Sparks superfan, Edgar "Shaun of the Dead" Wright.
Great doco... the time flew by!!
I am just always amazed at the way that Sparks can be so accessible and so freaking bizarre at the same time. And so fresh after 50 years of recording. The companion album to 'Kimono' is 'Propaganda', and maybe 'Indiscreet'. Another treat is 1997s 'Plagerism'. It is basically a tribute album to themselves -- re-recordings of older songs, perhaps even improved.
Absolutely loved your drumming at the start! So, you've got your own collection of instruments, give us a tour sometime!
Sparks built their own planet. Great choice.
It’s quite wonderful that you’re finding yourself so into Sparks. Thrilling that you actually played drums to This Town Ain’t Big Enough! Lol
So joyous to watch this reaction. I get this every time I listen to Sparks too.
Once you get hooked on Sparks like this, you'll keep finding songs of theirs that just floor you!
And sometimes you can't wrap your brains around them, but give them a few listenings, and you will find yourself humming them... Or whistling, whichever is your thing 😄
Their music videos are AWESOME! Check out "Dick Around", "Perfume", and "The Rhythm Thief". SPARKS!
I love that you love Sparks! I love that you get their lyrics and their brilliant musicianship! They have been my favorite band for the last 50 years! I fell in love with them the minute I heard "Kimono My House" at age 15! Everything they have ever done is awesome! Listen to their latest song "All That" off their latest CD "A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip". They were way ahead of their time! They influenced so many other bands. Watch the Edgar Wright documentary "The Sparks Brothers". It's fascinating. They also have 25 albums of sheer amazingness that you can look forward to listening to. Just saw them live in NYC a month ago! They are still touring and rocking it in their 70's. Ron is still a goof and Russell still has one damn amazing voice! It warms my heart to know, 50 years later, their music is still relevant and they are gathering new fans all the time! They are about to come out with a new CD. Long live SPARKS! Enjoy!
I was watching your face for that moment when you first realized what he was singing about. 😂
SPARKS "ANGST IN MY PANTS" & "EATEN BY THE MONSTER OF LOVE"
I love how hyped you are about Sparks after just a few songs. I had the same experience with this album just a few years ago. As for suggestions for future Sparks albums...I have no idea. You could go with their groundbreaking 1979 synth-pop album "No 1 in Heaven" with Giorgio Moroder, or their 1994 Eurobeat-tinged "Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins," or their baroque pop masterpiece "Lil Beethoven," or their beautiful most recent record "A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip"...
I mean, it's Sparks. They've done a bit of everything, and it's more consistently fresh than most bands in their sixth decade, or arguably any band that's been around that long.
Absolutely. As I said to another poster, that's one of the many joys of Sparks. They rarely stood still and have embraced so many different styles of music, moving seamlessly between glam /art rock, opera, disco, electronica, pop, euro pop, music hall, etc, etc!
Your immediate enthusiasm for this band is a source of such joy for me. I felt just the same the first time I span this record. There are so many directions you could go in for your second Sparks album, but I'm going to recommend a later one which saw them radically reinventing their sound, whilst retaining their inherent Sparks-ness (for want of a better term). It's called "Li'l Beethoven" and I won't say more than that. The less you know about it going in the better, I think!
I think it's fantastic someone is blown away by this album now just as I was when it was released. Kimono, Propaganda & Indiscreet are all classics. I'm not into disco/ dance music so not all Sparks music does it for me. The last 3 albums are brilliant though.
My first exposure to Sparks was their 1982 album "Angst in my Pants" and I loved it. I also loved their 1983 release "In Outer Space" as well. As an early 80's kid, I never thought to go back and listen to their earlier catalog. This is a mistake I intend to remedy thanks to your reactions.
Kimono and Propaganda have been long time favourites of mine along with their last two albums Hippopotamus and A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip. There's many good ones in between as well!
I love your reactions to Sparks!!!
Sparks fans will talk about the two albums After Kimono My House (Propaganda and Indiscreet) but the same magic and the same type of vocals are best found on their Previous album “A Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothing” as on KMH.
From a bona fide early 70s Prog Rock fan who accepts Sparks into the fold- trust me on this.
KK from Maine
You got a 'like' straight away for the drumming and for listening to more Sparks! Cool stick work on the kit there, JP. So glad that you're loving Sparks so much after all the recommendations! ;)
Such a fun track, great vocals from Russell, real drama in the music and laugh-out-loud lyrics from Ron.
Well worth doing 'Propaganda' and 'Indiscreet', the follow-ups to this album and 'No. 1 in Heaven' the album they made with Giorgio Moroder which had a big influence on your favourite David Sylvian and lots of '80s synth bands.
Their most recent albums 'Hippopotamus' and 'A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip' are really excellent and among their best. Only Ron could write a song called 'So Tell Me Mrs Lincoln, Aside From That, How Was The Play?'
So much to delve into and so many styles - for example the new wave 'Angst In My Pants' and the light operatic 'Dick Around' (you can imagine Freddie Mercury singing that). Just jump into any album and you'll find plenty to enjoy!
This whole album has many firsts. Here In Heaven is certainly one of them.
What I remember enjoying most was the the feel of comedy throughout the whole album - plus of course the great musicianship and production.
Glad you like it too. Peace.
You picked a great Sparks album to start out with.
Personally, my favorite Sparks LPs besides this one are their early 2000s “comeback” albums Li’l Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers, but there are whole swathes of their massive discog I’ve barely explored.
Hear, hear. I'd recommend No 1 In Heaven in addition to the ones you've mentioned. Unless you're allergic to madcap Moroder disco.
Sparks were considered to be an art pop / rock band but at the same time, they got somewhat of a novelty and bubblegum stamp on them. They had done two albums before "Kimono", but I have no idea what sort of development they went through before Kimono. They had an impact to the New Romantic - movement in UK that spawned bands like Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran and others.
It's great to see you chuckling at the wry lyrics - and Ron's warped view of life!
How come I never heard of them before...I like it. The singing reminded me of Kate Bush, but these are guys?! Just watched the promo for their documentary and I see Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran so I see they are fans of Sparks. Interested on their music now. Wait, I did knew a song by them..."Cool Places" with the girl from The GoGos. I love learning about great new music (for me) on this channel! Funny lyrics but cool vocals and great music.
Its amazing how good these sparks songs are i was forced to listen to them back in the 70s and I have only recently gave them another listen
Damn, you just gave me chills remembering 10 years ago when I've found Sparks. Kimono My House is a great album. Talent is an Asset, This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us, Hasta Mañana, Monsieur... Epic stuff.
Hasta Mañana Monsieur is - as kids would say - a banger. And talent is indeed an asset.
@@harripalomaki8796 Probably my favourite all time Sparks song Hasta Mañana Monsieur.
Loving that your loving something I've been loving for nearly 50 years.
50 year fan of Sparks here. Hard to pick an absolute favourite from Sparks vast catalogue, but I think this song is pretty close. I bought Kimono on release, and have bought it 4 more times over the years as copies have worn out from play (including the 40 year anniversary edition from the Sparks website when it came out). After buying this one for the first time, went back to the record store and bought the first album and Woofer, and have followed them ever since, buying pretty much every album on release right up to the present. Saw them on the Kimono tour, the Indiscreet tour, and then again about 10 years ago for the Two Hands One Mouth tour. Edgar Wrights doc on them is fantastic, the wide array of musicians that are fans is amazing. And last night they just won the Cesar award (the French Oscars) for best original film score, for the movie Annette, which they also helped write the screenplay.
Thanks for posting and thanks to all of your knowledgeable subscribers for insightful comments regarding Sparks. Music I'll definitely check out in the future.
Loved this! I will be off on a new listening and reading "rabbit hole" tangent now! These guys sound super interesting!
I couldn't figure out why I felt like I should know these guys, but did not recognize this song. Then, as I had just begun my Google dive into them, one of the first things I realized was that the reason "Sparks" sounded familar to me, just as a band name, is because the only time I ever heard about them was in reading the list of albums produced by Todd Rundgren!
Cool!
It's funny, I also discovered them only recently through this album and my reaction was exactly the same as yours. From the first track I was sold. Like you said, it feels so fresh and exciting. It sounds like nothing else and the lyrics are amazing and hilarious. There's nothing quite like the feeling of discovering a band you instantly fall in love with, especially if it's a band with a big catalog of albums.
If you can't get enough of This Town..., check out the version they recorded with Faith No More in '97 (off of their Plagiarism album). That's how I discovered Sparks in the first place.
One of my favorite bands (and albums) ever as well!❤
Thank you for recognizing the genius of early Sparks. Kimono My House is ultimately my favorite but "Propaganda" and "Indiscreet" are two great albums, too! The lyrics are huge. The brothers are my brothers.
Thank you! 😃
Sparks are just wonderful artists, who influenced so many others. This is a suicide pact song about two lovers who decide to end it all by jumping off of a cliff into the ocean. He goes first and then she changes her mind. Why not try some later Sparks next, such as their most recent album, A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip - and you will be reassured that they haven't lost their edge over more than half a century. Then you could do some more of the earlier stuff. There are whole blocks of albums which inhabit different musical explorations or phases, but you will recognise the essential core which is Ron Mael's writing and Russell Mael's vocals.
The fabulous, unique creativity of Ron and Russell Mael. I hope you get to listen to all twenty-five studio albums (soon to be twenty-six), but not necessarily in order, otherwise it will take you ages to get to some real classics.
Maybe you should bounce around their discography, following recommendations.
It's a joy to watch you discovering Sparks for yourself and I think Kimono My House is the perfect entry point for a person of your tastes. Sparks have 25 albums (maybe more, I've lost count - they are so prolific) so asking for recommendations is kind of a major undertaking. I first encountered and fell in love with Sparks when their "No. 1 Song in Heaven" synthpop track created with Giorgio Moroder entered the charts here in Australia in 1979. Before then they were largely unheard of Down Under and then had a number one hit in 1980 with "When I'm With You". I'm also a big ol' fan of their early 2000s album L'il Beethoven. Every track is an instant classic, especially "The Rhythm Thief" (humorously announcing that the album does not contain any percussion except for piano), "Your Call's Very Important To Us. Please Hold." and "I Married Myself, although "My Baby's Taking Me Home" is hypnotic musical alchemy of the highest order. The whole album had me in raptures but first time I heard "My Baby's Taking Me Home" I fell crazy in love with the song and listened to it on constant repeat and marvelled at it's genius construction.
such a perfect album.
In 1979, David Sylvian & Japan evolved from Glam to Synth-experimentalists - writing/recording "Life In Tokyo" with Giorgio Moroder - in part because of his 1978 album with Sparks. Morrissey was an infamous Sparks nerd as a teen & Paul McCartney would parody the band in his "Coming Up" video. More Sparks hits:
"(No More) Mr Nice Guys" (1971)
"Arts & Crafts Spectacular" (1972)
"Tryouts For The Human Race" (1978)
"When I'm With You" (1980)
"Sherlock Holmes" (1982)
And if you dig hard, intricate UK Glam guitars with androgyne eccentricity, *Suede* is a band worth diving into starting with _Sci-Fi Lullabies_ and _Coming Up._
Talking of Morrisey, of course, Sparks released a song called ' Lighten up Morrissey' on their 2008 album 'Exotic Creatures of the Deep'!
In 2004 Morrissey curated the annual Meltdown Festival on London's South Bank. He invited Sparks to do a show which I went to. They played the whole of Kimono My House and Lil' Beethoven and were phenomenal.
listening to Sparks... Expanse Doors and Corners tshirt. Things are good in the world!
Nice to see you’re really enjoying Sparks. The next 2 albums (Propaganda & Indiscreet) continue and build from this one well. After that they start shifting direction more often. They always maintain a certain “Sparks” quality, but they try a more L.A. pop sound, then electronica, then back to pop, and eventually even a more classical sound. They’re still going. “Existential Threat”, from their most recent album, is prime Sparks only 50 years on.
It might actually be a good idea to bump them up a bit in the rotation. There’s a lot to get through and it’ll take forever if you only do one every month or so. They don’t do many extra long songs, though, so doing 2 at a time may work for some. However you go, enjoy!
I translate songs to finnish (my mother tongue) as a hobby and this song was a true challenge. I somehow managed to do it and sang the translated song in a small matinee. It was one of the most rewarding projects I've ever done! Love to see you falling in love with this band too! ❤
Hi JP. DP from UK. I Am The Rhythm Thief; Say Goodbye To The Beat. This is the first track from Sparks' later album Lil' Beethoven and it signals a big change in direction: strings and keys, vocal loops and samples, and no drums. Is it better than Kimono My House? Maybe not, but it's refreshingly different and my second favourite album by the Mael brothers.
Yeah, that's one of the many joys of Sparks. They rarely stood still and have embraced so many different styles of music.
My son (36ys) wasn't a Sparks fan at all, when I made him watch 'The Sparks Brothers'. He left the theater with a confused smile.
1. Where did the 2hs 40 min go???
2. He said "Now I've got a new understanding of Sparks, and I clearly see why you love them so much. And now I heard a couple of songs I really liked, I will actually listen to them back home."
One he specifically mentioned was 'The Rhythm Thief'.
He has never been so interested in song lyrics (perhaps because song lyrics usually are the same), but he was intrigued by their lyrics as well.
The same night I sent him a link and LYRICS to 'When I'm With You'.
The line that describes what TRUE LOVE is about better than any lyrics, sung or not, have never done:
"I never feel like garbage when I'm with you
I almost feel normal when I'm with you"
He loved that as much as I do.
So down to earth, so real. What it is in reality, not some hyped tear-welling sentimental stuff which is just bullshit. It's about being seen for the good in you, accepted as you are, with no need to try to fit in. Being loved for who you are, not for what you could have been.
'All That' is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful sequence to that.
Shit, I get tears in my eyes just thinking about 'All That'🤣🤣🤣! "Thanks for the loan", you never own anyone, everything is just a loan. And some day we have to return to whoever lent it; life, God or nature, or whatever your beliefs are.
Harsh, but life is like that.
Don't forget the b-sides of This Town (Barbecutie) and Amateur Hour (Lost and Found) which aren't on the album. Indiscreet and Propaganda are great albums too. Also the songs Sparks did with Faith No More!
Killing it.
critics said about Mozart all he has written is opera: I think this is the point here too: every song of the Sparks is mini-opera. … react on „at home at work at play“ from the Propaganda Lp (Kimono my house following) Great groove, unbelievable Melodyline. Russell said that he never had sung this live, because it was to difficult. Now he does, at the age of 70
Justin, I'm so glad you've found the pure joy and madness that is Sparks. I'd say Kimono My House is the epitome of this particular phase of the band, although Propaganda is also very good. Unwilling to rest on their laurels, the Maels have gone through a lot of these phases along the decades (some of them admittedly not that interesting even though there are always golden nuggets).
The fantastically spacey Moroder disco of No 1 In Heaven (1979) is one of my favourite Sparks albums. Also Lil' Beethoven (2002), which is...I don't think anyone knows what that is, but it kinda sounds like ridiculously catchy, repetitive classical music. And then there are a couple of absolutely mindshattering opuses (opi?) on Hello Young Lovers (2006), namely Dick Around and As I Sit Down To Play The Organ At The Notre Dame Cathedral. I don't think I'm exaggerating at all when I say that only the crazed minds of the Mael brothers could have produced such stuff.
Love your Sparks reviews, Please do some more.
1975 I first heard of sparks and following them ever since, never turn your back on mother earth from the album propaganda
This is a favourite of mine. Don't think it's Romeo & Juliette as they used poison. Here they "agreed" to leap to their deaths off a cliff. He went first, then Juliette didn't. 😂
Since your last Sparks song reaction, I finished the Sparks Brothers documentary, now I am a little more in the know. I never became a fan, from seeing them on tv so, a lot of these songs are my first listens too. I’m not going crazy for them but, I respect their vision and their place in music history. They remind me of Zappa, work till you drop. In fact, a collaboration would have been super interesting.
Ron and Russell are probably coming in to write today as they do everyday when they’re not playing out. Dedication to their vision, I love that. Inspiring.
Try:
Heaven is Paved with Broken Glass by XTC.
Peace and heavenly Music
There are fifty years of albums to mine for those nuggets and every now and then a Diamond.
I absolutely adore this album. Did you take the time to watch a video of them playing this town....live? That is what really puts the icing on the cake!
Ty! Haven't watched any live yet (saving it for the channel :D)
Lots of great albums... Indiscreet, A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing, Lil Beethoven, Angst In My Pants, A Steady Drip Drip Drip, No. 1 In Heaven and more! Check out their 1974 performance of Here In Heaven: ruclips.net/video/_9b_zelJ09c/видео.html
So much great music in the Maels' back catalogue! Is there a trick to posting links in comments by the way? Every time I include a link in a comment, YT automatically deletes it? Thanks for any tips.
@@jeremyb5640 Are you using computer/website, or the app?
YT deletes everything where I try to include a web link. Even from their own site!?
It (usually) works fine when I either type the whole address or "pretend" to send it by text, and COPY, nothing else, the address and paste it in the comments.
Those are the methods that works for me. Of some obscure reason it's not always accepted to clip out the address and paste it, but copying works.
EVERYTHING about how any and all sorts of computer and IT technology is a complete mystery to me. I just try to use the basics, that's it. If it doesn't work I'll scream until someone helps me, and I'm totally blocked from learning how they did.
Usually I'm a pretty smart person, but when something is BOOOOOORING the door to storing facts is bolted. A handicap many times, and my son refuse to show me more than once since many years 🤣, which I actually understand. That's how bad it is 🥴
@@jeremyb5640 Also, about the Mael brothers, may they "Live long and prosper" as the Vulcans say in Star Trek (Mr Spock). That's my constantly worries, that something bad happens to those gentlemen. They seem to still be in their prime, but the age can be of a deceiving nature. 😱💔
Of course The Legendary Canadian Studmuffin is here!🤩
Keep going mate... you will find that each song each album reflects aspect of pervading art culture of the time... some outstanding... some less so... but all relevant... pretty much uncommercial artistic creations which sometimes connect with popular culture. Sometimes I can’t (but then I’m shocked.. so shocked) imagine my life without the influence of the Mark brothers...
Mael ** ‘kin autocorrect
@@tancredtankard2940 The travesty they hate so much 🤣🤣🤣!
Yes, reading Immanuel Kant can create unexpected situations. With them who don't!😄
Try "Tearing The Place Apart".
Basically a Suicide pact but the girl chickens out after he jumped... . Sparks audiences back then were a a mix of the chin stroker's and the screaming teens lol.. As Russell sings about subjects such as Albert Einstein etc.. Thought the Last track Equator totally weird and freaky but beautiful is along the same lines as this song .. A meeting that does not go to plan !
Sparks, down to eart.
I believe Ron's studying of the human beings and our behavior, how weird our minds can work, the unexpected, sometimes inappropriate, that pop up in the head. In sad situations, where it suddenly releases an easing laughter, a joyful situation, when a serious thought sneaks in and gives you something to process.
The playfulness. Sometimes it's hard to tell if is something else behind the lyrics, or is it just nonsense story? 'Let The Monkey Drive', 'There's No Such Thing As Aliens'.
And all irony, mostly playful, sometimes it smells like sarcasm. '(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country?'.
The best band that managed to stay under the average people's radar for over 50 years.
"Your favorite band's favorite band"!
Awesome. So ahead of their time.
Please react their video of "When I'm With You." It turns the Great American Songbook on its head, yet they're still respectful & loving of it at the same time.
🙂💕👍
Thank God It's Not Christmas.
My favourite song on the album. What incredible lyrics! I recommend Bolero by Maurice Ravel. :)
Adding to what others have said, I really like Propaganda, especially the song 'Reinforcements ' with all its quirky military jargon.
Also jump ahead to the 80s, Angst in my Pants (title track)and Mustache, Nicotina, and Mickey Mouse
Sextown U.S.A.
Fun album. Fun song. It still amazes me how much I missed as life flashed by. Still time to grab some of the good bits though I am worried about the summer music festival season. It's hard on us fans and much worse on the musician/techs etc. The top people are going to make money regardless but the guys on the bottom and in the middle struggle at the best of times and since there is little money in the song writing anymore (just listen to musician/song writers on twitter complain how little they get from places like spotify) they require shows and merch sales to keep afloat. If you haven't made a resolution this year one you could consider is to support a starving musician (or artist) through patreons and merch purchases.
Hi Justin, it looks like you’re hooked on Sparks. Like you I love the singing, but Sparks are a bit like Marmite because many people hate Russell’s voice. You need to hurry up and review the remaining tracks so you’ll be able to listen to the full album. Then you can move on to reviewing their other great albums like ‘Propaganda’ and ‘Indiscreet’. Cheers JP! 😁
I believe in the Romeo/Juliet story they made a pact to both commit suicide together because their families were enemies and forebade their relationship. Which they did both carry out.
This early version of the Sparks band was their hardest rocking incarnation, at least of what I've heard, they got tons of material. They changed styles like costumes with the changing trends of the times; disco, techno... by the 80s they were totally immersed in EuroCulture and successfully popular there. Much more than in the States. Little Beethoven is a very interesting album...
In Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", there is no "suicide pact" - at least not in the classically understood use of the term.
You really should do a quick read-up on the actual sequence of events in the story, and what the actual true intentions were of Romeo and Julet!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet#Synopsis
It was never their intention to die.
The 1976 version of Sparks, when they moved back to the US again must be the rockiest, with the 'Big Beat' album.
I'm not so well read about that era, but I believe there were studio musicians for the album, and other for the tour? Anyone?
In any case, the album contains a song written about their first ruined film project with Jacques Tati, the late French film director. Unfortunately Tati's became ill and never recovered enough to make the planned movie, in the early stage called 'Confusion'.
Such a great album. Under-rated band for some reason at the time and subsequently. I have always thought they were unique.
Happy new year JP.
If you like this, you'll like "Bon Voyage" from Propaganda. It's a song from the point of view of an animal for whom there's no room on Noah's arc, so this animal is saying "Bon Voyage" to his friends on the arc. When's the last time you heard a song with that bizarre a perspective?
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, why there's no room on the arc for him. It's "couple only", and this animal is stag.
Love that one too. It's a typical Sparks thing, to give the perspective from the "little guy's" side.
One of my absolute favs is 'Good Morning', where the guy desperately wishes it was "for real", as he so well knows the truth.
'I've never been high' and 'Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)' reflect the same things, the worst regrets you will have in the end, are what you DIDN'T do. Go Carpe Diem! Unfortunately not the easiest thing to contrive.
If you're not born with the heads and strength as the brothers seem to have!
More Sparks, cool! I'm glad to be back, and emergency operations over the festive season are far from fun. 😒😬
I'm a big Sparks fan. Saw them in 1975. Their next album Propaganda is just as good.
I would say even better
Yep, love this track. Lyrics so clever and witty. If you like the rest of the album, and I'll bet that you will, you will also like Propaganda. Can I also suggest their first two albums, which were originally released under the band name Halfnelson but later reissued as Sparks. The second album is called "A Woofer in Tweeters clothing"...great name for a record. 😀
Hard to go wrong with the Maels, JP! "Better" is subjective, as always, but I'd venture to say that you have a LOT of albums to look forward to. And do check out the Edgar Wright- directed documentary, as others are suggesting! So much fun watching you discover these guys!😂👍🏼
can't wait until you get to 'Thank God It's Not Christmas,' as your reaction to that should be interesting.
They remind me of Curved Air, similar tone.
I like Curved Air.. but cannot find any real strong material linking there styles.. Sonia and the guys did that poppy album with her Hubby's help Stuart Copeland of the police at the latter stages of there discography.. was closest to pop i think.
Glad you enjoyed it, Justin. It's not for me, never was.
Happy New Year
Every drummer should check out Bill Bruford’s solo career.
Try Life with the Macbeths from 2017's Hippopotamus. About Macbeth (yes, that one) being turned into a reality TV show, where the viewers vote for which character gets killed next. Featuring an opera soprano as guest artist..... welcome to the world of Sparks!
Rebecca Sjöwall! She's American, but married to a Swedish guy, hence her last name.
A tip!! She has a channel with some pure opera, but also a really interesting song she made together with her husband, who also is a musician and composer, called 'Chaos'. Worth a listen for you who like not-standard-radio-musac.
dude.....you really need try their album....Sparks in Outer Space.......Dance Goddammit.......
Have a look at the drum cover of the Deep Purple’s song Burn by 11 yo Yoyoka; solo version, not the birthday version. Ian Paice said she made less errors than he did and that she hits harder.
You will get MANY suggestions.
But all you really need to do is listen to their previous album “A Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothing” and “Whomp that Sucker”.
Especially Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothing.
I know their entire repertoire.
Rock on.
KK from Maine
A reaction just involves enjoying (or enduring, I suppose) some music. If you enjoy it so much that all you can remember at the end is that you enjoyed it, that's a valid reaction, surely? (You have a talent - I suppose more like a skill, since nobody is born with this - for finding things worth saying about most songs right after hearing them the very first time, and it's great hearing what you come up with, but that's almost a separate topic. It's OK to skip a day of being the guy who doesn't just say "Yeah, music!" at the end.)
As for all of us having heard it all before, maybe some, but not all of us have. There are people like me who grew up under a stone, then became too focused on just one kind of music, and then lived some more, and then one day found this amazing RUclips thing, and went into it like kids into a candy store (or addicts into the meth lab - various similes work here). Which is a very long way of saying that this is also the first time I've heard this song. And I also just sat here enjoying it. But then I always do that. I'm not very good at hearing lyrics for some reason.
If you'd like an alternative to use instead of "sliced bread", and at the same time would sometimes like to have something a bit heavier than a ballad to serenade your Love with when you get all romantic, you might try *You're the Greatest Thing Since Powdered Milk* by the great Welsh band, *Budgie* (their fans include members of Metalica and Megadeth, if that counts for anything). ruclips.net/video/xXqUCUc7Weo/видео.html
The drums at the beginning might be interesting, apart from anything else. Sounds like someone stuck a mike right inside the kit to record them. After that it depends whether you like that heavy blues/ early Black Sabbath sound or not.
THE STRANGLERS "WALK ON BY",, "SKIN DEEP" & "STRANGE LITTLE GIRL"
@@Katehowe3010 No,, He Has Done Them Before,, Just Hoping He Will Circle Back To Them Again Because I Feel These 3 Particular Songs Fully Cover The Wide Range Of Their Sound/Style/Music.
@@Katehowe3010 Yes, yet Justin seemed to enjoy the first two tracks from Rattus Norvegicus and "Golden Brown" which he had listened to before. It is undoubtedly a question of timing and mood. Let's give him some time to come back to it ...
@@Katehowe3010 I understand you, because I was very impatient and impetuous when I was younger but in recent years I have calmed down a bit (which surprises me by the way !).
@@Katehowe3010 It is surprising that you attribute your inability to achieve more patience on your late uncle, as for for my part I have inherited my mother's calm and patient character since she passed away !
@@Katehowe3010 It will come at the right time !
Best Christmas present ,tickets to see them 3/30 in Boston!
If it was up to me I would say go back one album and do Woofer in Tweeters Clothing next
May I suggest reviewing their INDESCRETE album 1975 ?
How about trying track 1 from each sparks album? I'd love to see your reactions to Tryouts for the human race, girl from Germany, so important and dick around.
Enjoy 'Kimono My House' and go right into 'Propaganda'
The documentary is great but this experience is too pure. Soak it in.
Tongue-in-cheek art-rock. It's the Sparks in all their greatness !
That is an important point for anyone new to Sparks...the lyrics may be at times a little disturbing.
@@vincentcarrot The Meal brothers combine seriousness with lightness and it's rather well balanced and done with deadpan humour but I guess it's not for everyone, you have to be sensitive to that.
As Ron says: "Don't take all songs completely literally"!
One that it's easy to understand that people raise an eyebrow to is 'White Women'.
The song is a reaction to all songs at those times about black women! They just did what they do, turned the other way, and made a song about white women.
Today it looks less cool.
@@annabackman3028 Good that you mentioned that particular song. It could be sarcastic of course.
@@vincentcarrot You could start counting at 1971, The Rolling Stones: Brown Suger.
In the mid seventies the disco-soul queens were both exotic and hot chocolate. Yeah, get the picture?
The Meal brothers just wanted to shake the cocktail a little.
They are the least racist people on the earth, couldn't care less if you were blue, one orange eye and yellow antennas, if you were a nice, kind and humorous person.
Take a look at the live videos for 'There's No Such Thing As Aliens', listen to the lyrics and notice what's going on with the eyes on the screen behind them.
Alien - foreigner - immigrant.
Because people are immigrants they're not aliens. They are people.
That song is on the same album as '(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country?', the song that Ron described as the first time they dropped their apolitical sign from their foreheads. I don't remember the exact words he used, but that was the essence.
Perhaps it's just me seeing things in that.
However, it is another song that I would like to hear their explanation of, even if I think I know what was going on. 'Young Girls'. If you read the lyrics and consider that was written by a 35 years old guy, and sung by his three years younger brother, you can get the chills, negatively.
'Young Girls' appears on the 'Terminal Jive' album, released 1980.
Not only many rockstars and celebs in general had a fling for showing off with very young "women", the Polanski scandal was in fresh memory. (He drugged and raped a 13 years old girl.)
I believe the song is a reaction to all that, a way to point out how freaking insane that is.
Unfortunately it's not difficult to receive that message wrongly, especially since it's sung by a gorgeous looking guy, who's birthyear was alternatively 1948, which it is, or -53, that could give a bit less negative reaction if a 26-27 years guy expressed admiration for young teenage girls, such as their fans a few years earlier, than a man in his thirties.
Anyway, I think it is a protest, a way to provoke.
Lawnmower/Spark’s
Check out a recent track "Edith Piaf said it better than me" Excellent.
Not sure they ever did anything better than 'Kimono' - I think it benefits from being the breakthrough album for them and therefore it has a special place for fans, and everybody else. Many fans also think the next album is an equal, i.e. 'Propaganda', but I don't think they reached the same level until 'No. 1 in Heaven'. I agree with others that the last two albums have reinvigorated the Sparks fan base and maybe are 3rd and 4th in my estimation.
Sparks are GODS. Sorry to break it to you...
Supported by Queen in their early days. I'll take Russell over Freddie, any day. Amazing singer.
I'm amazed by the singer, too. I think his voice can easily handle any song by Edith Piaf.
@@bobholtzmann Funnily enough, they have a song called Edith Piaf (said it better than me).
@@ashleygraham8781 What a coincidence - I noticed the similarity, but didn't realize she was a direct influence.
@@bobholtzmann The song 'Edith Piaf...' is about "je no regret rien', or, in your older days, REGRET you have no reason to sing that, because you never did anything that it could have been reasons to regret, if you understand what I mean!? Been living a rather dull life.
Sparks were the headline, that Queen opened for at one occasion.
But I would say Freddie and the other songwriters in Queen had listened to Sparks before they wrote 'Queen II' and later the 'Night at the Opera' album.
On the other side, the new rock/pop bands that grow up like mushrooms in a rainy forrest in the early-mid seventies were very well informed about each other's doings, and likely listened to each other's music. Of course there were influences, criss cross between all and everyone. And upon that everything else that went on in music around these days! From Cliff Richard to Black Sabbath (once heard Ozzy's voice in 'Paranoid', you'll never forget). In the middle of that also the fast growing David Bowie.
I have a song for you "Four Horseman" by Aphrodite's Child
Propaganda is the best.
I like Propaganda and Indiscreet more than this album
Im not big on this album. I have it, and I really like about half of it, but the other half I consider mediocre. The next album, Propaganda is better in my opinion.
Excited by sparks, wow, i expect you're still high on holiday spirit. Probably the only thing about this I liked was how short it was. I tune in hoping they'll surprise be, but no, they never do. This's awful, I just can't stand this blokes voice, so I'm off to a bad start from the off. And the arrangements, no, and i've touched on this before but just can't take these seriously. From the first note all i can hear/think is joke/novelty band. Not for me.
@@Katehowe3010 Indeed. And the good thing is, in our own little worlds we're both right 🙂