The Walrus - Music With Big Fuckin' Teeth!

11/28/2007

Sparks Ain't No Hipster Drink

Sparks know what heaven sounds like. In fact, they recorded the "#1 Song in Heaven." It's true. Even the Archangel Gabriel plays a synthesizer solo that's enough to make Brian Eno repent.

Brothers Ron and Russell Mael, under the guise of Sparks, laid the foundation for what would later be known as Synth-Pop. In their native US, they never achieved the commercial success Europe lavished upon them, however, their loyal cult following has kept them afloat for more than 3 decades. What makes Sparks so bizarre is not only the Brian Ferry vocals, meets Queen theatrics, meets T.Rex Glam-Rock, meets New-Wave Robot Dance-Pop. No, no, there is so much more. Dig Russell's hammy Mick Jagger swagger to Ron's Hitler-mustached straight guy apathy! It is terribly odd! Anything went in the 70s as this song was HUGE for Sparks- "This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both Of Us."

These guys aren't the kind of thing I listen to all the time but if you are having a party or just feel like listening to something a little different I recommend starting with the albums Kimono My House, Propaganda, and Number One in Heaven. Amazon has 'em all!