welp I just played "Here Kitty" seven times in a row
― frogbs, Friday, 29 April 2022 03:01 (two years ago) link
These guys were absolutely terrific at Big Ears.
― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 5 May 2022 04:28 (two years ago) link
They don't stop. New movie musical in the works, new Sparks album and world tour in 2023: https://deadline.com/2022/11/sparks-duo-ron-russell-mael-developing-musical-x-crucior-at-focus-1235162734/
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Friday, 4 November 2022 14:56 (one year ago) link
new album in the can already? wonder how much stuff out there is completed but waiting due to the vinyl shortage. I heard Todd Rundgren's new album was done for like a year.
― frogbs, Friday, 4 November 2022 15:01 (one year ago) link
Apparently Russell announced it was done at one of their shows in Japan back in August. I'm hoping for an early 2023 release, but we'll see...
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Friday, 4 November 2022 19:08 (one year ago) link
Stay tuned — more news soon! ✨ pic.twitter.com/DnKLQWbDpP— SPARKS (@sparksofficial) November 14, 2022
― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Monday, 14 November 2022 18:19 (one year ago) link
Nice that a new Sparks album is actually an event.
― The self-titled drags (Eazy), Monday, 14 November 2022 18:31 (one year ago) link
no one writes funnier horny songs than Sparks. listening to "Let The Monkey Drive" rn and it's really cracking me up
― frogbs, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 04:09 (one year ago) link
They're just that good.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 04:11 (one year ago) link
Exotic Creatures actually has a lot of really funny lyrics. I mean all Sparks albums do but some of them will randomly be really great, like this and Whomp That Sucker. The opening lines to "This is the Renaissance" are so good. the whole song is actually
― frogbs, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 04:34 (one year ago) link
Seeing them do that whole album at UCLA was a treat, thanks to extra staging as well. Imagine a whole bunch of women dressed as Ron coming out during "She Got Me Pregnant" (with fake baby bumps of course). Ron's looks to them in (fake) confusion were amazing.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 04:40 (one year ago) link
Has any other band had such an Indian Summer as them? It’s wonderful they are not only getting the recognition they deserve in the US, but still putting out vital new work—for over two decades!—that can stand beside their best. It’s like of Bowie was putting out consistent Blackstars since 2000.
― Lord Pickles (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 10 January 2023 13:55 (one year ago) link
Suede have been making a hell of a second run but then again they had broken up. Sparks had the dry gulch period but after that, it just all kept coming.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 14:21 (one year ago) link
I guess Gary Numan comes to mind, as he's got that same pattern of acclaimed and innovative early stuff leading to a decade of mediocre, floundering pop records, only to score an out of nowhere comeback that not only changed his sound but brought in a whole new audience, from which he's never looked back. all his records have been pretty similar since then. idk how true that is for Sparks exactly but I would say all their records from Hello Young Lovers on are kinda the same amalgam of all the elements of the "Sparks" sound, as opposed to the ones before that which were often hyperfocused on a specific thing. obviously not a bad thing, I feel like I enjoy those records even more than the old ones.
― frogbs, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 14:37 (one year ago) link
Seeing them do that whole album at UCLA was a treat, thanks to extra staging as well. Imagine a whole bunch of women dressed as Ron coming out during "She Got Me Pregnant" (with fake baby bumps of course). Ron's looks to them in (fake) confusion were amazing.― Ned Raggett, Monday, January 9, 2023 8:40 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
― Ned Raggett, Monday, January 9, 2023 8:40 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
This was amazing and it's really too bad they didn't release a DVD of any of these shows like they did with the previous few tours.
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 18:39 (one year ago) link
It's the 21 x 21 set of shows in London I'd love to see a full set of; you get a quick montage of snippets in the documentary but that's it (I saw nearly all of them via webcast, probably mentioned way earlier on this thread). The other one I would love is the one-off Guy Maddin staging of The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman; again, we get a clip in the documentary so a full recording must exist. In a weird way, the fact that R&R keep being engaged with trying something new first and foremost is a blessing and maybe a slight curse; while they'll do reissues and things there's very little sense of sustained creative retrospection with them, which is why 21 x 21 was such a thoroughly unique one off.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 18:45 (one year ago) link
feels way too big to release even as a DVD set but yes I do wish recordings of all that would come out. I mean this band has a long and storied career spanning four decades at that point and they just played every single one of their songs live, that's basically a fever dream
― frogbs, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 19:11 (one year ago) link
we get a clip in the documentary so a full recording must exist
If it hasn't been done already, there must be a great thread to be had in "a clip of x artist in x situation is out there, so a full recording must exist"
Of course, the artist(s) themselves not liking how it turned out is almost certainly the answer to why we can't see it. Still, I feel like there are a ton of examples of this.
― Position Position, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 19:33 (one year ago) link
just want to add another vote for "Let The Monkey Drive" as one of their best/funniest songs
"I think his license has expired"
― sleeve, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 19:47 (one year ago) link
So good. I just love the inner logic of that song, "Can't fool around while we're driving on the PCH but can't wait until we get to Santa Barbara. What to do, what to do? Oh, of course, we'll let the monkey drive. It is his car, after all."
xps Yeah, it's kind of crazy that they've mounted so many different projects for which no there's no real official documentation: 21x21, the Exotic Creatures full-album performances, that Seduction stage show, Kimono with an orchestra, the Revenge of Two Hands One Mouth tour (with its own unique theme song!)... they and their collaborators clearly put a ton of work into these things that basically just existed for those who were lucky enough to be there at the time.
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Tuesday, 10 January 2023 20:52 (one year ago) link
all their records from Hello Young Lovers on are kinda the same amalgam of all the elements of the "Sparks" sound, as opposed to the ones before that which were often hyperfocused on a specific thing
I'm not familiar yet with all the recent records, but I had this same thought recently listening to Balls and A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip: how the earlier record has songs that feel jammed into arrangements that aren't entirely germane but have to conform to a dance-oriented electronic template. Really, you could say this started with Big Beat, where eclecticism within a given album became a bad word. Each record has to stick to "hard rock"/MOR/Eurodisco/New Wave/Synthpop/dance/"classical" etc.. In the last 20 years, they seem to have the confidence that the Sparks name is selling the record, not their conformation to somebody else's genre that will lead listeners blindfolded to their album.
― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 11 January 2023 16:53 (one year ago) link
Signed to Island once again -- that has to feel a little weird, almost literally fifty years later from the first time around -- and new album in May, The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte. Also said something about a big headline show in America in particular.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 24 January 2023 15:55 (one year ago) link
were they still on In The Red previously? seems like a step up...
― sleeve, Tuesday, 24 January 2023 16:04 (one year ago) link
Honestly can't remember which one the last album was on, hadn't been on ITR for a while. All the 2000s albums and at least some of the 2010s got reissues on BMG last year, so I half thought they'd be sticking with that but who knows.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 24 January 2023 16:10 (one year ago) link
BMG for the last couple, I believe.
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 24 January 2023 16:11 (one year ago) link
just got a message that Sparks will be in MILWAUKEE on July 6th, so there's gotta be a big tour announcement soon. really excited to see it.
― frogbs, Monday, 30 January 2023 16:15 (one year ago) link
Yup, announcement is live (scroll down for tour dates)
https://allsparks.com/
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 30 January 2023 16:17 (one year ago) link
that doesn't have any US dates on it that I can see. just sayin if they're coming to Milwaukee then it might be like 25-30 shows
― frogbs, Monday, 30 January 2023 16:19 (one year ago) link
Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I'm only seeing five European dates...
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 30 January 2023 16:19 (one year ago) link
Huh, weird. Well here's a tweet with the full array:
#SparksTour2023, let’s go!! ✨🚨Tickets go on sale Friday, February 3rd @ 10AM local time.→ https://t.co/F5CioIdbn3Pre-sales:Sparks Fan Club - Tue, 1/31 @ 10AMMaeling List - Wed, 2/1 @ 10AMThe venue for the hometown show in Los Angeles will be announced soon! 👀✨ pic.twitter.com/KdaPKLvZp9— SPARKS (@sparksofficial) January 30, 2023
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 30 January 2023 16:21 (one year ago) link
I just grabbed an 11th-row ticket for the 850-capacity venue in Boulder and couldn't be more fucking stoked for this show. My first-ever opportunity to see Sparks!!
― I can't tell if he's trolling or not (ilxor), Thursday, 2 February 2023 19:08 (one year ago) link
And the LA date is announced -- they're headlining the Hollywood Bowl on July 16, They Might Be Giants as openers.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 17:04 (one year ago) link
Info on that:
Series subscriptions are available now. Sparks Fan Club Presale: Tue, April 25 at 10amGeneral single day ticket sales start: Tue, May 2 at 10am→ https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/programs/1393
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 17:07 (one year ago) link
"Our first experience of the Hollywood Bowl was in 1964 when our mom took us there to see The Beatles. Our futuristic Fiat Multipla could barely make it up the Bowl’s steep parking lot due to the Italian car’s meager horsepower. We risked life and limb driving backwards in reverse gear up the hill. It was way worth it…we got to see The Beatles.We never would have dreamed that in 2023 we would be standing on that same hallowed stage, performing for fans of our own group, Sparks.And hopefully everyone will have a better experience with the parking lot than we did."
We never would have dreamed that in 2023 we would be standing on that same hallowed stage, performing for fans of our own group, Sparks.
And hopefully everyone will have a better experience with the parking lot than we did."
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 17:09 (one year ago) link
Sparks and TMBG, holy cow
― frogbs, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 18:27 (one year ago) link
I don't know if this is region locked but here they are at the chateau d'hérouville, French chateau & studio: https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/108474-000-A/sparks-au-chateau-d-herouville/ (available until June 2023)
― StanM, Friday, 17 February 2023 14:19 (one year ago) link
snippet of the new album, hoping this isn't just some out of context bit
THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTEthe 26th Sparks album | out May 26, 2023 Photography: Munachi OsegbuAlbum artwork: Julie Vlasak #TheGirlIsCryingInHerLatte ☕️ pic.twitter.com/AgbG6tA7tc— S P A R K S (@sparksofficial) February 14, 2023
― frogbs, Wednesday, 1 March 2023 05:13 (one year ago) link
Single live:
https://sparks.lnk.to/TheGirlIsCrying
And the video tomorrow features Cate Blanchett!
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 2 March 2023 17:47 (one year ago) link
oooh I like this
― frogbs, Thursday, 2 March 2023 21:41 (one year ago) link
love the main synth part but don't care for the vocal melody at all. i do like that they're doing their classical weirdo thing over such a massive synth part though
― ufo, Friday, 3 March 2023 00:23 (one year ago) link
Yeah, that synth intro is brilliant. The main refrain sounds like the Sgt Pepper's run-out groove.
― Eyeball Kicks, Friday, 3 March 2023 14:58 (one year ago) link
Something about the vocal melody in the verses reminds of 90s Sparks. Fun song, a little underwhelming for the first single, but seems like it'll be a good album opener.
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Friday, 3 March 2023 15:45 (one year ago) link
And I was staring at Ron the whole time. Because you just never know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTAxPhxADo0
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 3 March 2023 17:21 (one year ago) link
the top comment right now is an On Cinema reference, awesome
― frogbs, Friday, 3 March 2023 18:04 (one year ago) link
Also, tracklisting:
The Girl Is Crying In Her LatteVeronica LakeNothing Is As Good As They Say It IsEscalatorThe Mona Lisa's Packing, Leaving Late TonightYou Were Meant For MeNot That Well-DefinedWe Go DancingWhen You LeaveTake Me For A RideIt's Sunny TodayA Love StoryIt Doesn't Have To Be That WayGee, That Was Fun
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 3 March 2023 18:13 (one year ago) link
And an interview about it all
https://variety.com/2023/music/news/sparks-cate-blanchett-music-video-album-girl-is-crying-in-her-latte-1235542099/
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 3 March 2023 21:15 (one year ago) link
dropped the ball by not getting Cate to do Ron's signature dance.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Saturday, 4 March 2023 04:35 (one year ago) link
Terrific photo here https://www.richiestarzec.com/about
He was Edgar Wright’s AD which makes sense. Cate Blanchett having a memorable cameo in ‘Hot Fuzz’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIkfBh3gYT4
― Dan Worsley, Saturday, 4 March 2023 20:56 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9zIXalqooc
ok now I think this album really will sound a lot different from the last two
― frogbs, Thursday, 27 April 2023 17:33 (one year ago) link
live panel interview at Primavera starting now, concert streaming live tomorrow
― serving bundt (sic), Thursday, 1 June 2023 16:13 (eleven months ago) link