Sparks.
February 9, 2013 3:41 PM Subscribe
Sparks in 1974. Sparks in 2003. Sparks and kittens. Sparks and balls. Sparks and Morrissey. Sparks and the Beatles. Sparks and Ingmar Bergman. Sparks and Faith No More. Sparks covering Sparks.
Rory, I don't think this town is big enough for the both of us.
posted by The Whelk at 3:48 PM on February 9, 2013
posted by The Whelk at 3:48 PM on February 9, 2013
More Sparks + FNM.
Wasn't there a big Sparks thread recently? Well, somewhat recently.
posted by kenko at 3:50 PM on February 9, 2013
Wasn't there a big Sparks thread recently? Well, somewhat recently.
posted by kenko at 3:50 PM on February 9, 2013
I just went on a Sparks binge on Spotify and Youtube the other day so this is great! I'll add Sparks with Danny DeVito dancing in the background.
posted by mcmile at 4:22 PM on February 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by mcmile at 4:22 PM on February 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
And Sparks is playing Coachella this year, and is far enough down on the band list to earn +1 hipster cred. (I'm still not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing)
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:33 PM on February 9, 2013
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:33 PM on February 9, 2013
And my personal favorite, Sparks and Mickey Mouse. (from the same SNL episode that mcmile linked)
posted by Strange Interlude at 4:33 PM on February 9, 2013
posted by Strange Interlude at 4:33 PM on February 9, 2013
Gemma Ray sings Sparks (with Sparks), How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall?
posted by katinka-katinka at 4:37 PM on February 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by katinka-katinka at 4:37 PM on February 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I know the phrase "I've been waiting so long for you to make this post" has kind of lost its meaning, tarnished by the patina of passing years, but
posted by koeselitz at 4:38 PM on February 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by koeselitz at 4:38 PM on February 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've been listening to a lot of Sparks recently. At either end of their career they are simply magnificent - I think my favourite album is Propaganda, though I'm stunned by everything from Gratuitous Sax onwards - Lil' Beethoven makes me giggle manically and The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman is wonderful. But in the middle (No. 1 in Heaven excepted), they get a bit soggy, don't they? I usually lose interest about one and a half songs in. Can anyone talk me into loving those albums, because I can always do with more things to love.
posted by Grangousier at 5:15 PM on February 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Grangousier at 5:15 PM on February 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also from the same night (I think) Rock, Rock, Rock.
posted by yaymukund at 5:23 PM on February 9, 2013
posted by yaymukund at 5:23 PM on February 9, 2013
This is a total self-link, but on my site, we did a series of reviews of all the Sparks albums -- wrapped up, at least, until the new one comes out.
...we're also on the homestretch of one of those on the Residents, too.
That said, Sparks are amazing, and they should be the king of the pop music world. They should be headlining Coachella all three (six?) nights.
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 5:31 PM on February 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
...we're also on the homestretch of one of those on the Residents, too.
That said, Sparks are amazing, and they should be the king of the pop music world. They should be headlining Coachella all three (six?) nights.
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 5:31 PM on February 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
Rev. Syung Myung Me, your website introduced me to Sparks! I think I found it from a previous MetaFilter post. Wonderful reviews, and your enthusiasm for the albums really shines through. I'll have to check out the Residents now..
posted by yaymukund at 5:38 PM on February 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by yaymukund at 5:38 PM on February 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
YAY! Thanks! I always feel a little douchey postin' those, even when they're relevant, just because it is so self-linky... even though the comments-section is OK to do that, I still feel weird. But I do it anyway, so I'm glad that it has helped!
We're nearing the end of the Residents one too... I'm not sure what will be next. Perhaps Zappa? Though we'll be doing those till the end of time, sooo...
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 5:43 PM on February 9, 2013
We're nearing the end of the Residents one too... I'm not sure what will be next. Perhaps Zappa? Though we'll be doing those till the end of time, sooo...
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 5:43 PM on February 9, 2013
Sparks are so retro-2009, pfft. The hot retro right now is The Associates.
posted by carsonb at 5:56 PM on February 9, 2013
posted by carsonb at 5:56 PM on February 9, 2013
Sparks and The Ramones. LA Street Scene 1985. I was there.
Spoiler: Sparks and The Ramones don't appear due to a riot.
posted by charlie don't surf at 6:05 PM on February 9, 2013
Spoiler: Sparks and The Ramones don't appear due to a riot.
posted by charlie don't surf at 6:05 PM on February 9, 2013
Nice post! I came to Sparks by way of Neko Case's cover of Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth.
I then spent a solid week with This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us stuck on a loop in my head.
posted by AndyP at 8:41 PM on February 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I then spent a solid week with This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us stuck on a loop in my head.
posted by AndyP at 8:41 PM on February 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
The one time that I saw Sparks live, Ron threw his piano bench out into the crowd. It was a while back...
posted by ovvl at 11:40 PM on February 9, 2013
posted by ovvl at 11:40 PM on February 9, 2013
...and Russell came bounding out at midnight dressed as the new year's baby...
posted by ovvl at 11:43 PM on February 9, 2013
posted by ovvl at 11:43 PM on February 9, 2013
The earth is shaking, so am I. Sparks in Sensurround.
posted by gdav at 12:50 AM on February 10, 2013
posted by gdav at 12:50 AM on February 10, 2013
Let's not forget that the combination of the wry Telex and Sparks produced the wonderful 1981 Sex, which was not a carbon copy of anything out there and taught Sigmund Freud how to dance. One of the five or six albums that's responsible for who I am today, no less.
posted by sonascope at 2:49 AM on February 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by sonascope at 2:49 AM on February 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Dug out two old interviews w live songs on one.
Sparks on Jonesys Jukebox August 2004 Indie 103.1
Sparks on Jonesys Jukebox March 2006 Indie 103.1
This is the whole show . Sparks come on about 56 minutes in but it is interesting to hear the show with all adverts etc, especially for the range of music Steve played. Anyone who ever heard Indie 103.1 while it lasted will also like this.
Live Songs;
Perfume
bit of Change as competition
This town aint big enough for the both of us (Acoustic version)
posted by stuartmm at 3:44 AM on February 10, 2013
Sparks on Jonesys Jukebox August 2004 Indie 103.1
Sparks on Jonesys Jukebox March 2006 Indie 103.1
This is the whole show . Sparks come on about 56 minutes in but it is interesting to hear the show with all adverts etc, especially for the range of music Steve played. Anyone who ever heard Indie 103.1 while it lasted will also like this.
Live Songs;
Perfume
bit of Change as competition
This town aint big enough for the both of us (Acoustic version)
posted by stuartmm at 3:44 AM on February 10, 2013
I used to love it when Sparks came on Top of the Pops when I was a teenager because my dad hated Ron Mael beyond all logic and reason.
posted by essexjan at 3:58 AM on February 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by essexjan at 3:58 AM on February 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Sparks have worked with Todd Rundgren and Rupert Holmes so they are directly at the intersection of things I love dearly. Thanx Rory. Fa la fa lee.
posted by mintcake! at 7:21 AM on February 10, 2013
posted by mintcake! at 7:21 AM on February 10, 2013
HOLY CRAP!! I just discovered Sparks for the first time last night while doing a google search for 'complex pop songs'. Never heard of them ever and I was so blown away spent the next hour on Spotify chin deep in my new favorite band. unbelievable to see this here this morning
posted by spicynuts at 8:01 AM on February 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by spicynuts at 8:01 AM on February 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
I first saw them (like quite a few here, I expect) doing "This Town" on Top of the Pops in 1974. Later, my best friend at school had Kimono My House and Indiscreet on cassette (!) and we listened to them until the oxide started to wear off the tape. Drink, Harry, drink till you can't see no more.
Cut forward about 38 years, and the most recent Sparks gig I went to was on their sort-of-unplugged "Two hands, one mouth" tour when it reached the Barbican in London. I went with my daughter and a friend of hers, both twentysomething veterans of several Sparks gigs.
I feel my work on earth is done. Also, I was the only one wearing a "DICK AROUND" T-shirt.
posted by gdav at 11:07 AM on February 10, 2013
Cut forward about 38 years, and the most recent Sparks gig I went to was on their sort-of-unplugged "Two hands, one mouth" tour when it reached the Barbican in London. I went with my daughter and a friend of hers, both twentysomething veterans of several Sparks gigs.
I feel my work on earth is done. Also, I was the only one wearing a "DICK AROUND" T-shirt.
posted by gdav at 11:07 AM on February 10, 2013
Sparks and Rita Mitsouko
Sparks sing about Morrisey
My current favorite Sparks tune
I learned about them on a late night radio broadcast in the 80's around the time of "I Predict" and "Mickey Mouse." I've been a huge fan ever since. I lost touch with them around Balls but then got back in touch with Little Beethoven which led me to download EVERYTHING EVER.
So, yeah, this FPP addresses my interests. Thank you for it!
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:07 PM on February 10, 2013
Sparks sing about Morrisey
My current favorite Sparks tune
I learned about them on a late night radio broadcast in the 80's around the time of "I Predict" and "Mickey Mouse." I've been a huge fan ever since. I lost touch with them around Balls but then got back in touch with Little Beethoven which led me to download EVERYTHING EVER.
So, yeah, this FPP addresses my interests. Thank you for it!
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:07 PM on February 10, 2013
Guys, it's the day after my 5th anniversary here, but this is the best present EVER!
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:02 PM on February 10, 2013
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:02 PM on February 10, 2013
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posted by Rory Marinich at 3:44 PM on February 9, 2013 [2 favorites]