Sparks - Exotic Creatures of the Deep (19 May)

[WotUNeed]

Sparks to Perform Complete Catalogue Live

Although final details are still being worked out, oddball sibling-led outfit Sparks will perform each of its 20 albums at 20 different shows next May and June at London's Islington Academy.

The performances will be in chronological order and feature "Halfnelson," "Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing," "Kimono My House," "Proaganda," "Indiscreet," "Big Beat," "Introducing Sparks," "No. 1 In Heaven," "Terminal Jive," "Whomp That Sucker," "Angst in My Pants," "Outer Space," "Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat," "Music That You Can Dance To," "Interior Design," "Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins," "Plagiarism," "Balls," "Lil Beethoven" and "Hello Young Lovers."

Sources tell Billboard.com the 21st and final night of the run will feature a performance of the group's next album, which is as-yet-untitled.

Sparks, anchored by brothers Ron and Russell Mael, is beloved for its unclassifiable body of work, which ranges from the borderline disco of albums like Giorgio Moroder-produced "No. 1 in Heaven" to the symphonic touches of 2002's "Lil Beethoven."

But the group has never reached higher than No. 63 on The Billboard 200 (with 1975's "Propaganda") and No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 (1983's "Cool Places," which featured the Go-Go's' Jane Wiedlin).

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What an amazing run of shows...

I knew their singles didn't do much in the States, but I'm very surprised their albums have also underperformed like that. I guess most Statesiders just don't care for the quirkiness that is the Mael brothers, eh?

[BrokenArrow]

He He I had no idea they were still going. The one that had the hitler tash lol.

This was their best

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax8JYmoRhy4

[WotUNeed]

andyk said:

He He I had no idea they were still going. The one that had the hitler tash lol.

This was their best

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax8JYmoRhy4

Hahaha yes! Such a great song.

[WotUNeed]

Looks like the Brothers Mael are giving local talent a crack at sharing the limelight during the Sparks Spectacular

Excerpt from this
article

ANOTHER opportunity for up and coming local bands to showcase their wares has come in the form of pop innovators Ron and Russell Mael.

The 70s/80s pop-alternative, pioneering siblings are offering 20 bands/artists from around the country the opportunity to support them at their record-breaking gigs entitled the Sparks Spectacular.

Taking place at the Islington Academy in London between May 16 and June 11 2008, these twenty shows will see Sparks performing their first 20 albums – one album per night, commencing with the 1971 album Halfnelson and concluding with 2006’s Hello Young Lovers.

On the 21st night Sparks will be relocating to the Shepherds Bush Empire to perform their new album for the first time, although there will not be a support for this gig.

Bands who would like the chance to support Sparks should upload a live performance video to youtube and send the link of the video to [e-mail] with information about the band.

Entrants will be added to the video channel at youtube.com/republicmedia. The successful bands will be notified no later than April 30.

For more information visit www.allsparks.com

And speaking of the Sparks Spectacular, here's an interesting article about the financial aspect: they're letting people sponsor the shows:

When Sparks announced they would be playing their 21 albums in 21 nights in London, they evoked one loud, resonating WTF. Playing from 1971’s Halfnelson all the way to the world premiere of a brand new album, seemed almost like an impossible feat — something a band would have to be half-crazy to attempt. But since Sparks are three-quarters and a third crazy, fans quickly jumped to the conclusion that, if anyone could pull something like this off, it’s the Brothers Mael.

But Sparks are no supermen, and succeeding in an event as grand as something dubbed the “Sparks Spectacular” requires a bit of outside help. So in a clever way to generate some finances and push the limits of audience participation, the art-glam-Italo-disco-loving duo have announced the chance for you — yes, it could even be you — to sponsor one of the upcoming 21 shows, which run from May 16 to June 13.

Via the band’s website, they have set up their own mini eBay, whereby you bid/donate on which Sparks show you would like to sponsor. You register, log in and then bid your way to Sparks sponsorship fame. And if you do become an official sponsor (i.e., dish out enough cash) on April 14, when the auction closes, you will be treated with the following rock’n’roll perks:

• Have your details included on the relevant page in the Spectacular program. (These details can be personal or corporate.)
• Will receive two tickets for the show.
• Receive a Spectacular program signed by Sparks.
• Meet Ron and Russell Mael before the show and, subsequently, receive a souvenir photograph of the sponsor with Ron and Russell.

[busyboy]

The album's called Exotic Creatures Of The Deep, out on May 19th.

Track listing:

1. Intro
2. Good Morning
3. Strange Animal
4. I Can’t Believe That You Would Fall For All The Crap In This Song
5. Let The Monkey Drive
6. Intro Reprise
7. I've Never Been High
8. (She Got Me) Pregnant
9. Lighten Up, Morrissey
10. This Is The Renaissance
11. The Director Never Yelled Cut
12. Photoshop
13. Likeable

www.nme.com/news/sparks/35130

[busyboy]

First single is "Good Morning", out on May 12th.

[WotUNeed]

Apr 6, 2008 5:00:13 GMT -5 @busyboy said:

First single is "Good Morning", out on May 12th.

Radio rip can be heard here.

Fairly typical Sparks. Not disappointing. Not earth shattering either.

Don't expect anything much from it chartwise, although perhaps their publicity from the concert event will help them a bit.

[busyboy]

The album was released yesterday in the UK. It's Top 30 in today's midweeks.

UK chart history for their albums:

Kimono My House: #4 (June 1074)
Propaganda: #9 (November 1974)
Indiscreet: #18 (October 1975)
Number One In Heaven: #73 (September 1979)
Hello Young Lovers: #66 (February 2006)

The physical single for "Good Morning" was apparently deleted. I imagine it hasn't charted very high on downloads alone.

UK chart history for the singles:

This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us: #2 (May 1974)
Amateur Hour: #7 (July 1974)
Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth: #13 (October 1974)
Something For The Girl With Everything: #17 (January 1975)
Get In The Swing: #27 (July 1975)
Looks Looks Looks: #26 (October 1975)
The Number One Song In Heaven: #14 (April 1979)
Beat The Clock: #10 (July 1979)
Tryouts For The Human Race: #45 (October 1979)
When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way': #42 (October 1994)
When I Kiss You: #36 (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing) (March 1995)
Now That I Own The BBC: #60 (March 1996)
This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us: #40 (Sparks Vs. Faith No More) (December 1997)

[busyboy]

The album debuts at #54 in the UK (the only country where it was released, I think). The single reached #147 last week.