Ron with a Fro
not that many videos out there from the early 'Ron with an Afro' period. Here's one I love--

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'Angst In My Pants' cover version
Kind of a wheezy, carnival/Tom Waits-ish interpretation...


FRITZ OSTERMAYER - ANGST IN MY PANTS

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Sparks

Roxy

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Sparks Project begins!
The thing I posted about, where my site's doing the reviews of every Sparks record has started with Sparks/Halfnelson! Check it out, if you're so inclined -- and let me know if you might want in on any of the other records!

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Hey! New Sparks review project!
My site, Kittysneezes is starting a new thing in the nearness of future: An album-by-album review of all the Sparks records. Each album will have at least two folks reviewing 'em -- me and aila76 -- but if anyone wants in, either on all the albums, or any in particular, just let me know! Right now, I've built Google Docs templates for the first five; though I can always make more.

Next week, we're going to post a review of Sparks/Halfnelson, the first one, so if anyone's got anything to say on that record, lemme know sooner rather than later!

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So did anyone notice that Sparks has a new album out? The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman is what it is called. I have mixed emotions about it.

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Tryouts 12" query
Hello - I've just bought a 12" of Tryouts For The Human Race online, which was a dark blue vinyl copy with the oversized picture labels. I'm sure my long-gone copy featured a spoken word appearance by comedian Peter Cook, which seems to be absent from my new one. I was wondering if anyone might know if he only turns up on pressings of a certain colour (yellow ? orange ?) and why he isn't on the copy I just bought, and advise as to exactly what to look for when trying to find the P. Cook issue again. Many thanks !
P.S. Exploration online suggests Cook has a speaking role on the twelve-inch of Beat The Clock; am I getting confused with that single ?

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Just FYI
powerpopcriminals.blogspot.com has some really nifty live Sparks video from the 70s ...

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Lighten Up, Morrissey single out today

Just in case any of you were unaware, a new Sparks single was released today. The iTunes downloadable version features 2 tracks, Lighten Up, Morrissey and I Can't Believe That You Would Fall For All The Crap In This Song. There is also a limited edition 7" single which features Morrissey as the A-side and previously unreleased (except in Japan) Brenda's Always In The Way as the B-side. It appears that the 7" has only been released in the UK, but not to worry if you're a Sparks fan in the US or elsewhere. Today I got my own copy ordered from eBay for just under $9, and that includes shipping! Happy trails, fellow Sparkers!

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Silvery - Action Force
Elements in this song remind me of early Sparks... with maybe a touch of Blyth Power as well

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Hmmm ...
This could be interesting

Neko Case covers Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth on her new CD Middle Cyclone. She's one of those that I generally buy anyway, but this is a nifty other reason to own this one.

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"Lighten Up, Morrissey" - the new single

I'm happy that there will be a second single off "Exotic Creatures Of The Deep" (due out on March 23rd), but I'm even happier that this single will have an official video.
Credits - Shaw Petronio and Anders Weberg, the same Swedish team that made "Dick Around", "My Baby's Taking Me Home" and "Perfume".


My thoughts on it are here.

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The Valentine's day show in L.A. was magical.

Also, here's a video I made:



That is all.

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Many happy returns

For Russell Mael

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Happy Birthday Ron Mael

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Popshifter's Sparks Spectacular
Sparks Spectacular: 21 Miracles of the Modern Age

From May 16 through June 11 of 2008, Sparks played all 20 of their albums in a row, one per night, at Carling Academy Islington in London. This astounding series of shows, from a band who’s been around for 37 years, was followed by the live premiere of their twenty-first studio release, Exotic Creatures of the Deep, on June 13 at Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Fans from around the world submitted reviews for each night of the show to Popshifter, and we have published them in this issue.


Photo © Louise Lee

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Popshifter needs reviews of Gratuitous Sax, Plagiarism, and Hello Young Lovers
Hi all!

First off, thanks to all of you for being so helpful and supportive in my quest for getting these reviews.

Second, I have been unable to secure reviews for the following shows!

Plagiarism
Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins
Hello Young Lovers

Can any of you PLEASE help me out? If not, can you ask people who might be able to help?

These reviews do not have to be very long (just a couple of hundred words is sufficient) and they don't have to be award-winning writing.

I just want to know why you chose to attend these shows and what you thought of the shows.

The issue goes live on July 31 so I need these reviews AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Thank you so much for your help!!

You can comment here or email me at popshifter@gmail.com

THANK YOU!

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if i start turning into russell mael, i think i'd be fine with that.

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Sparks Spectacular (III)

When did they get to sing their way*? In the 70s, in the '90s, in the 00s? The Sparks have always been busy to reinvent themselves, to throw away every old avatar and get a new one*, leaving the past behind. The more radically the better - I have no souvenirs of these crackerjack years*. And yet the 21 concerts in London have seemed to reverse this image and to try to prove that all their past incarnations can be assumed at once (by the Maels themselves) and treated like a single one (by the listeners). This time all is accepted and made to seem consistent. I married myself and this time it's gonna last forever, forever*.
So they may have been survivors of the plane wreckage, boxers and bodybuilders, collectors of frozen pizzas, vintage movie and tabloid heroes, owners of the BBC and of the Mississippi River, werewolves and strange animals with monkey smiles. But now let's melt all these images into a single one (and let's do it literally on the stage, by burning them with a lighter). Just to convince everybody that there's no glam or disco or techno, but only these two guys, slender and enigmatic like two signs, who can now sing their tunes from all the ages, since they really seem to be ageless.
Someone on Amazon scorned the Maels from the '70s as "two spoiled Hollywood movie business children". But indeed, their songs have told all kind of cruel, funny, romantic, cold and bittersweet stories from this imaginary America and today are doing the same. In an article from 1975, they appeared as "a couple of Pacific Palisades media freaks with a careful eye to dress". And now they play 21 concerts in a row and livestream the event on the internet, just to showcase the launch of their latest album. Hey, Rupert Murdoch, help me out*! I want a big surprise tonight*.

* No actual songs were harmed in the writing of this post.

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