Tag Archives: SPARKS

Album review: SPARKS – Past Tense: The Best Of Sparks

Posted on November 12, 2019 by jason

BMG [Release date 08.11.19] For many people of a certain age Sparks are famed for the high vocals and scary looking bloke on the keyboards, yet there is so much more to their music aside from the big hits ‘This … Continue reading →

Album review: SPARKS – Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins

Posted on November 10, 2019 by jason

BMG [Release date 01.11.19] ‘Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins’ originally came out in 1994 and came after a six year gap by Sparks since 1988’s ‘Interior Design’ album. The band were said to be on hiatus, something Ron Mael takes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Reissues | Tagged album, Christo Haydon, dance, Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, pop, quirky, review, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS, synth pop, Techno | Leave a comment

Album review: REDD KROSS – Beyond The Door

Posted on July 29, 2019 by jason

Merge [Release date 23.08.19] Amazingly this year marks the fortieth year that Redd Kross have been playing live (albeit originally under the name Red Cross) and it is the band’s first new album in seven years. The band are still … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, alt rock, Beyond The Door, Melvins, pop rock, power pop, punk, Redd Kross, review, SPARKS | Leave a comment

Album review: ULYSSES – On Safari

Posted on April 28, 2019 by jason

[Release date 21.06.19] Ulysses released their first album in 2002 and since then they have been building up a loyal and growing following, along with some positive reviews in the music press. Ulysses consist of Luke Smyth (vocals, guitars), Jimmy … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged 70's rock, album, funk, glam rock, Jellyfish, melodic, On Safari, pop rock, power pop, Psychedelic Rock, review, rock, SPARKS, The Beach Boys, Ulysses | Leave a comment

Album review: ERIC GALES – The Bookends

Posted on January 17, 2019 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 08.02.19] Back in his psychedelic rock days, I always used to think that it was Eric Gales’s second solo that defined both the song itself and the guitarist’s signature style. Just like a boxer he bobbed, weaved … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, B.Slade, beth Hart, blues, Bobby McFerrin, Doyle Bramhall 11, Eric Gales, Frank Zappa, funk, fusion, guitar, Jeff Beck, Matt Wallace, metal, Nina Simone, review, rock, soul, SPARKS, Stevie Wonder, The Bookends, vocal, Wired | Leave a comment

Album review: P.O.D. – Circles

Posted on November 2, 2018 by petefeenstra

Mascot Records[Release date 18.11.18] After a 26 year existence played out over a fast changing music scene, San Diego’s rap-rock into metal band P.O.D. (Payable On Death) are too long in the tooth to be caged in by any specific … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Circles, Duran Duran, electronica, grunge, heavy, Marcos Curiel, metal, P.O.D., Payable On Death, pop, punk, rap-rock, reggae, review, Sonny Sandoval, SPARKS, Sublime | Leave a comment

Album review: AYREON – Into The Electric Castle

Posted on October 11, 2018 by petefeenstra

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 26.10.18] Aside from being the 20th anniversary of its release and a long overdue vinyl release, the most significant thing about the Arjen Lucassen’s remixed and re-mastered 1998 Ayreon project, is the way it successfully … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album review, Anneke van Giersbergen, Arjen Lucassen, Asia, Ayreon, blues, Bob Calvert, Clive Nolan, Ed Warby, electronica, Fish, folk, gothic funk, Into The Electric Castle, Jon Anderson, metal, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, pop, prog, psychedelia, rock, SPARKS, Thijs van Leer, Todd Rudgren, Uriah Heep, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: GLAS – Blue

Posted on July 10, 2018 by petefeenstra

The Last Music company [Release date 30.03.18] South Wales band Glas describe themselves as a: “blues rock n’ roll roots band”, which is a handy ‘catch all’ banner with which they explore their naturally eclectic style. Glas is that rare … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged album, Bill Kirchen, Blue, blues, boogie, Brian Setzer, Bruce Springsteen, Commader Cody, country, David John, Deke Leonard, George Harrison, Glas, guitar, James Oliver, Jason Ricci, John David, Love Sculpture, psychedelia, review, rock, rockabilly, Sam Andrew, SPARKS, Steve Gibbons, swing, The Yardbirds | Leave a comment

Album review: SPARKS – Hippopotamus

Posted on October 5, 2017 by petefeenstra

BMG [Release date 08.09.17] ‘Hippopotamus’ is a triumph of pop’s true potential over the usual clichéd familiar fare. It’s a cross genre album bursting with creativity, humour and stylistic diversity. The lyrical word plays, eclectic themes and nuanced melodies are … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, art rock, chamber pop, disco, glam, Hippopotamus, lounge, New Wave, pop, pop art, Rebecca Sjöwall, review, rock, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS, spoken word | Leave a comment

Gig review: SPARKS – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 28 September 2017

Posted on September 30, 2017 by petefeenstra

Sparks breezed into an extra second night at a packed London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire to deliver a thematically driven show – right down to the band’s sailor tops – to promote the new ‘Hippopotamus’ chart album. The Mael brothers have … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged art rock, disco, Frank Zappa, gig, Hippopotamus, lounge, Mr. Goodnite, review, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS | Leave a comment

Gig review: SPARKS Album Launch Party – ICA, The Mall London, 7 Sept 2017

Posted on September 8, 2017 by petefeenstra

In many respects the ICA provides the perfect backdrop for the album launch party of ‘Hippopotamus’, Sparks’ 23rd album. The LA based brothers Ron and Russell Mael have long reached beyond the simple rock and roll format to realize their … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Album Launch, Bob Harris, electro, funk, Hippopotamus, ICA, Joseph Wallace, Matt Everritt, Muff Winwood, opera, review, rock, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS, spoken word, Tony Visconti | Leave a comment

Gig review: SPARKS – Union Chapel, London, 2 December 2013

Posted on December 3, 2013 by petefeenstra

“When the whole world is running headlong towards the precipice, one who walks in the opposite direction is looked on as being crazy.” T.S. Elliot could have been talking about Sparks. Their restless stop-start career has occasionally brushed the mainstream … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged gig, Giorgio Moroder, Ingmar Bergman, opera, performance art, review, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS, T.S. Elliot, The Revenge Of Two Hands One Mouth, The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman | Leave a comment

Album review: SPARKS – New Music For Amnesiacs – The Essential Collection

Posted on November 27, 2013 by jason

Lil Beethoven Records (2CD) This two CD, 40 song best of is a condensed version of the recent box set, which features 83 songs. Sparks may be masters of pop yet they have had an influence in the rock world … Continue reading →