Sparks – “Hello Young Lovers ” – [In the Red]

Thurston Hunger   3/16/2006   A Library, CD

Gotta confess I knew little about Sparks before this, I knew
the moustache, and that they were brothers and I had heard
“Cool Places” and maybe written them off as a novelty band.
But I had no idea that they may be the most serious novelty
band going? It took the rule of Brians to smash my bias. At
any given radio station the nicest guys are always called
Brian, and all of those Brians are unabashed Sparks fans. So
I had to check out this new release, I now have a Brian-like
brain for Sparks. The vocals seem lifted from a production
of Godspell, songs feature the effective use of repetition,
and also the effective use of repetition. With a stylized
synthetic sound, at their best moments they sound like they
are the house band for a commerical about a diamond store.
Classy! And sassy too, their humor is oft fueled by a tinge
of unflinching honesty. But the moustache never quivers to
give up the joke. Whether you are a frustrated retiree
in your castle/jail, a confused patriot, a subscriber to
Cat Fancy, or just fan of catchy jingles, these Mael men
deliver. This is one of those albums that opens up its own
whole other universe, tremendous. To quote the album’s end,
“I Believe” and “Halleluiah” -Thurston “Brian” Hunger