Sparks Continue Cult Genius On 23rd Album ‘Hippopotamus’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

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“…Well, Screw the Past!’

Let’s play a little game.  Let’s assume that the reader is fairly knowledgeable about music’s past, present, and future. Answer this riddle: “They have been producing music for 46 years and counting. They have released 24 studio albums. They helped form and solidify five different genres of distinct music over the last 5 decades.  Who are they?’

Sparks formed in the late 60’s when two brothers, Ron and Russell Mael finished their respective studies at UCLA and, as a reaction to the folksy, California music scene decided to form a band with a particular fondness for the big British sound of the time. they started as “Halfnelson’ in 68 and caught the attention of Todd Rundgren, who was willing to produce their self-titled debut album in 1968.  Drawing on influences from The Who and the Kinks, Halfnelson gave way to Sparks when switching to Warner Brothers in 1972.

At this point, an entire novel chronicling their history could be written, from joining Island Records to record their “Glam Trilogy” Kimono My House, Propaganda and Indiscreet to joining forces with Giorgio Morodor in ’79 to record the most underrated Disco-pop album ever, “Number One in Heaven.”  Most recently, in 2015, they teamed with Franz Ferdinand to create a supergroup, FFS, whose debut album was one of the most underappreciated albums of that year.

On their 23rd studio album, Hippopotamus, the brothers wrote 15 tracks which revolve from soft piano interludes to full on Dance-pop crushers. The brothers Mael have crafted yet another gem of highbrow lyrical madness combined with absolutely perfect hooks. The opening single and title track is basically a list of absurd things found in their Pacific Palisades swimming pool:  A ‘58 Volkswagon microbus, a painting by Hieronymus, a woman with an Abacus etc. when the drums kick in, you cannot help but be infected by the breakbeats.  

On “Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)” the band laments not being able to write a song with passion and feeling nearly as well as famous French singer Edith Piaf. “Giddy Giddy” is another fast paced, breakbeat style number that leaves the listener feeling well, GIDDY. The sound of Hippopotamus is filled out by Dean Menta and Steve Nistor, both alums from previous albums, and the touring band featuring various members of LA’s Mini Mansions.

Sparks has always been a musicians band.  Beloved by artists such as Morrissey, Faith No More and even referenced in a music video by Paul McCartney, yet they are still largely ignored by the masses.  That is probably by design AND probably why they can get away with such bizarre song titles at ‘I’m sorry, Mrs. Lincoln Aside from That, How was the Play” to innuendo filled ” Missionary Position.”

Sparks is a band that, in an alternate universe, is ‘Beatles” big, but here in THIS universe are still a cult outfit.  Fans of the band endear themselves to them partially due to the fact that Sparks has always been a band of outliers, attracting a fan base of outliers.  They remain largely anonymous by design, and they are perfectly OK with that.