SPARKS

[MrMonte]

Hello all.

In the immediate weeks following the release of most (not all, but most) Sparks albums, If ind myself hailing the release as "the greatest ever" and "already a classic" and "a new level" and other assorted expressions of hyperbole. Then after a few months, the albums find themselves revisited somewhat, and maybe the level of initial enthusiasm gets replaced by a more mature appreciation.

HOWEVER, with ECOTD, I find that I still believe this was a monumental, singularly excellent release that deserves all the accolodes I originally bestowed upon it. I still feel that it tells an extremely cohesive and compelling story, that the songwriting is some of their best, and that the album was, if anything, underappreciated as the TRUE classic that it is.

I think it was a concept album that was brilliant, and that still compels me upon repeated listenings. I feel that it didn't get the credit it deserved, but I always feel that way.

What do others think? I know not everyone liked it as much as I do; that's ok. I'm just wondering if there are others that remain impressed with this incredible piece of musical storytelling, or just think it's a great album, or if, with the passage of time, some feel it's just "so so" or something to that effect.

Thoughts?
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[Pim Derks]

I think it starts on a very high level with Good Morning & Strange Animal and ends on a very high level with Photoshop and Likeable - with some (slightly) lesser tracks in the middle. But a lesser Sparks track is still a great track ofcourse :)

[systemr2000]

From Intro to Likeable it hits the spot, it's the album that came out while I went from being this much of a fan: [....] to this much [.........................................] and when I go for a long drive I like to play it in full, I've grown to love each track now for sure, whereas on the first few plays in June '08, about half of it was an immediate hit. (Seeing the album played live in full in March helped enhance my view of it on the whole as a solid, consistent effort.)
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21Mar09 • 28Oct09 • 13Jun12 • 22Oct12 • 1Dec13 • 19Dec14 • 26Aug15 • 19Sep17 • 20Sep17

[Rissacakes]

ECOTD . . . every time I listen to the album, I am reminded that there will never come a day when R&R won't be kicking ass.

There's so much energy and youth in everything they do. It's beautiful.
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[LordFreddie]

It grows with every listen. A fantastic album and way ahead of anything else that's being released these days.

22 albums into their career and producing stuff like this? Incredible....

[jessie6413]

My husband has loved "Kimono" since it's debut. Meanwhile, I'd cringe. Perhaps just because he played it so, so often. He thought Sparks was a one-hit-album band and never realized they were still out there making music. Along comes the appearance on Jonathan Ross telecast in August on BBC America. I happen to catch it, realize who is playing, hit record. "I Can't Believe..." caught my attention. I download the album. We're both thrilled with it. I've now almost completed downloading the entire back catalog and, of course, got up from a sound sleep to download "TSOIB" as soon as it was available. About a week after hearing "I Can't Believe" I said to my husband that I owed the Mael Brothers and him an apology for not understanding what was really going on musically with "Kimono" and missing 35 years of sharing their music with him. So based on the above, yes, "ECOTD" is a truly monumental album.
Now we are hoping to get to see a concert some day soon.

[Billy Stevens]

[Nasalhair]

I guess I must be one of the few for whom ECOTD has never really worked its magic. For me it has its moments, namely "Lighten Up, Morrissey", but I really think this is far from their best work, and is certainly the weakest of their last three albums. Sorry

[MrMonte]

[jill]

[haydn60]

One of the things that gassed me about Lil' Beethoven was that it was such brilliant music they seemed to just toss off (although it has been well documented that it was most certainly not easy to produce - just as the manuscript to Beethoven's 5th symphony has been described as the scene of a "bloody battle").

Hello, Young Lovers contained some indisputedly brilliant tracks but even the best of them betrayed the effort that went into them. Nothing wrong with music evoking strain & swollen sinew (Astaire v Kelly, Mozart v Haydn & all that) but I missed the coolness of the earlier effort. Not to mention that I was waiting for both the Propaganda to LB's Kimono & SMiLE to LB's Pet Sounds.

Exotic Creatures Of the Deep delivered both - in fact, observers of "Likable" will notice visual ornaments seemingly purchased at the SMiLE Shoppe. I haven't yet decided whether I prefer it to Propaganda (it dips at "Morresey" where the earlier dipped at "Achoo") but it demands to be heard over the sentimental soundtrack of our lives with lowered lids, a drooping cigarette & a Zoot Suit.
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good cue sign

O blinding light
O light that blinds
I cannot see
Look after me

- Proctor - Bergman - Austin- Ossman

[Liam]

Does 'das vadanya' really mean 'Good morning'?

[Aled]

It's possibly my favourite Sparks album. It's fantastic and really shows Sparks off at their best. I have sentimental value for the album too as the first time I saw Sparks live was at the ECOTD/Kimono show in London last year.

I love how diverse it is, the lyrics are witty as ever and it carries on the progression from Lil' Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers wonderfully. The Intro is a major goosebumps moment!