Sparks
January 5, 2006 12:03 PM Subscribe
Pity Ron & Russell Mael of rock group Sparks. For over 30 years the brothers have been making groundbreaking, inspiring music, but, for the most part, the record-buying public's reaction has been subdued, if not totally apathetic. True, Sparks did enjoy a brief spell of success in Europe during the glam-rock era of the 70s, and again in the USA during the mid 80s. But to date chart success has been fairly elusive. However all this could be about to change! Sparks are due to release their 20th album, 'Hello Young Lovers', in February. And already the response from music critics has been highly positive. According to lead-singer Russell, "We've taken up the challenge to push things further in pop music. We don't hear much of a sense of ambition or adventure in music today". It looks like Sparks could finally achieve the mainstream chart success that has largely eluded them for the past three decades.
This post was deleted for the following reason: walks like a duck....
(Of course, I'm not that good at that. It just seemd kind of odd to me).
posted by dios at 12:09 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by dios at 12:09 PM on January 5, 2006
Hmm.
And the name is the reverse of Mael Brothers.
Either psycho fan or self-link. My money is on the latter.
posted by dios at 12:10 PM on January 5, 2006
And the name is the reverse of Mael Brothers.
Either psycho fan or self-link. My money is on the latter.
posted by dios at 12:10 PM on January 5, 2006
Hmm.
New user, called "Leam Srehtorb", talks about the Mael Brothers.
Hmm.
posted by slater at 12:10 PM on January 5, 2006
New user, called "Leam Srehtorb", talks about the Mael Brothers.
Hmm.
posted by slater at 12:10 PM on January 5, 2006
If this is a self-link, let me say to the user: the reason why your band wasn't famous is because your music sucks.
posted by dios at 12:12 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by dios at 12:12 PM on January 5, 2006
We don't hear much of a sense of ambition or adventure in music today
Russell is obviously not listening to the right music.
And Sparks have always been, and probably always will be, boring. Critics' Darlings does not necessarily equal Good Music and Good Music does not necessarily equal Commercial Success. In fact, it usually guarantees the opposite.
posted by Manhasset at 12:12 PM on January 5, 2006
Russell is obviously not listening to the right music.
And Sparks have always been, and probably always will be, boring. Critics' Darlings does not necessarily equal Good Music and Good Music does not necessarily equal Commercial Success. In fact, it usually guarantees the opposite.
posted by Manhasset at 12:12 PM on January 5, 2006
Seems like a lame self-link with no real content... HOWEVER, "Sherlock Holmes" by Sparks is a great song.
posted by nathancaswell at 12:17 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by nathancaswell at 12:17 PM on January 5, 2006
Do I need to be the Mael Brothers to care about this?
posted by notmydesk at 12:19 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by notmydesk at 12:19 PM on January 5, 2006
Mr. Mxyzptlk
posted by apocalypse miaow at 12:25 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by apocalypse miaow at 12:25 PM on January 5, 2006
Not as good as d7xallarap.
posted by parallax7d at 12:27 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by parallax7d at 12:27 PM on January 5, 2006
Crap link. If we posted gigantor fpps talking about the upcoming releases of our favorite bands metafilter would look like this or this.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 12:28 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by Baby_Balrog at 12:28 PM on January 5, 2006
I'd like to say something, but I'm utterly lost in these music threads without jonmc telling me what I should like.
posted by Stonewall Jackson at 12:29 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by Stonewall Jackson at 12:29 PM on January 5, 2006
gorlabybab.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 12:29 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by Baby_Balrog at 12:29 PM on January 5, 2006
No, no, no. This is all wrong. You come to Metafilter to plug your website. If you're pushing your album, you need to go to MySpace.
posted by Jart at 12:31 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by Jart at 12:31 PM on January 5, 2006
I like the way Snrub Srehtorb thinks!
posted by you just lost the game at 12:31 PM on January 5, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by you just lost the game at 12:31 PM on January 5, 2006 [1 favorite]
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat, as I see that big delete hammer heading your way...
This post ain't big enough for the both of us (and it ain't me who's gonna leave).
posted by apocalypse miaow at 12:33 PM on January 5, 2006
This post ain't big enough for the both of us (and it ain't me who's gonna leave).
posted by apocalypse miaow at 12:33 PM on January 5, 2006
This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us!
posted by Armitage Shanks at 12:36 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by Armitage Shanks at 12:36 PM on January 5, 2006
I don't know about the link, but I guess I have to come to the defense of Sparks. I love their 70s era glammy stuff in particular; any fan of Bowie, New York Dolls, Queen, Roxy Music, etc. should listen to Sparks. And if you can find it, there's a video around of them performing "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us." It totally bizarre and what made me a fan.
posted by lunalaguna at 12:37 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by lunalaguna at 12:37 PM on January 5, 2006
Well, I like them. But yes, looks like a self-link.
They're the inspiration for the psychotic Post Brothers, too.
posted by Grangousier at 12:37 PM on January 5, 2006
They're the inspiration for the psychotic Post Brothers, too.
posted by Grangousier at 12:37 PM on January 5, 2006
Damn that Live Preview.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 12:38 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by Armitage Shanks at 12:38 PM on January 5, 2006
Pepsi Blue, now with unappealing moustache.
posted by fire&wings at 12:39 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by fire&wings at 12:39 PM on January 5, 2006
Pity the boys in Derailleur. They have been making music for five years, but yet never get their commissions as officers in the Kiss Army. However, they rock so fucking much that Newt Gingrich wrote an article about them.
posted by COBRA! at 12:41 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by COBRA! at 12:41 PM on January 5, 2006
Hey, as long as this thread is going to be deleted anyway, I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you all about my new band's CD release, our upcoming east coast tour, and some lawn furniture I have for sale.
Links aren't real, don't waste your time.
posted by davejay at 12:43 PM on January 5, 2006
Links aren't real, don't waste your time.
posted by davejay at 12:43 PM on January 5, 2006
Gotta be faster on the trigger, Mr Shanks...
posted by apocalypse miaow at 12:44 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by apocalypse miaow at 12:44 PM on January 5, 2006
sparks are the greatest british band to ever come out of America.
They are inventive, witty and clever.
I can think of no other band who managed to write a lyrics about premature ejaculation with such elan. From Amateur Hour,
Dance, laugh, wine, dine, talk and sing
But those cannot replace what is the real thing
It's a lot like playing the violin
You cannot start off to be Yehudi Menuhin
Anyone who decries them without listening to them needs to be wheeled outside and shot.
they influenced moz, the smiths, disco and electronica.
They also have some of the coolest album artwork ever.
You may have guessed that I am a fan.
having said that, not a great fpp
posted by ClanvidHorse at 12:49 PM on January 5, 2006
They are inventive, witty and clever.
I can think of no other band who managed to write a lyrics about premature ejaculation with such elan. From Amateur Hour,
Dance, laugh, wine, dine, talk and sing
But those cannot replace what is the real thing
It's a lot like playing the violin
You cannot start off to be Yehudi Menuhin
Anyone who decries them without listening to them needs to be wheeled outside and shot.
they influenced moz, the smiths, disco and electronica.
They also have some of the coolest album artwork ever.
You may have guessed that I am a fan.
having said that, not a great fpp
posted by ClanvidHorse at 12:49 PM on January 5, 2006
This fpp will fade out, yes this post will fade out, and this post will fade out...I Predict
posted by beelzbubba at 12:50 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by beelzbubba at 12:50 PM on January 5, 2006
I just played "Everybody's Stupid" during my last set!
In their defense, this doesn't sound like something the Maels would do. I don't recall seeing viral marketing or anything like this for Lil' Beethoven, and IIRC that was more heavily hyped than this has been.
I'm saying this as someone who's appreciated them for three decades now. I could be wrong, but please don't disappoint me.
posted by geckoinpdx at 12:55 PM on January 5, 2006
In their defense, this doesn't sound like something the Maels would do. I don't recall seeing viral marketing or anything like this for Lil' Beethoven, and IIRC that was more heavily hyped than this has been.
I'm saying this as someone who's appreciated them for three decades now. I could be wrong, but please don't disappoint me.
posted by geckoinpdx at 12:55 PM on January 5, 2006
i was wondering where i'd heard of them before. Then I remembered, about 10 years ago they had this huge farkin' hit "When Do I Get To Sing My Way" in Germany... now I can't get it out of my head. ARGH.
posted by slater at 1:01 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by slater at 1:01 PM on January 5, 2006
I'd like to say something, but I'm utterly lost in these music threads without jonmc telling me what I should like.
Hey, Faze can tell you what to like, as well as jonmc. Here goes: You can like Sparks first two albums. That's all. The rest aren't worth it. And this post is pathetic.
You'd never see the srehtorb ylreve doing this kind of thing.
posted by Faze at 1:01 PM on January 5, 2006
Hey, Faze can tell you what to like, as well as jonmc. Here goes: You can like Sparks first two albums. That's all. The rest aren't worth it. And this post is pathetic.
You'd never see the srehtorb ylreve doing this kind of thing.
posted by Faze at 1:01 PM on January 5, 2006
I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt, particularly since my first post was about the Arctic Monkeys and I got a real grilling about my musical tastes as well accusations of astroturfing... but it does look a bit dodgy.
posted by greycap at 1:01 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by greycap at 1:01 PM on January 5, 2006
This doesn't strike me as the band posting about itself. In my limited online encounters with the Mael Brothers, they don't seem like the sorts of guys who would ever invite anyone to "pity" them. Indeed, they seem to treat everything they've done as a success on some level or other and (again, based on my limited encounters with them) don't seem to have any regrets about how they've been received in the U.S.A.
Now, many of their fans, on the other hand, can be absolute fanatics who frequently lament the fact that they did not have more commercial impact. I could be wrong, but my guess is that Leam Srehtorb is most likely the person that runs Sparks-Fanatics.com.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:07 PM on January 5, 2006
Now, many of their fans, on the other hand, can be absolute fanatics who frequently lament the fact that they did not have more commercial impact. I could be wrong, but my guess is that Leam Srehtorb is most likely the person that runs Sparks-Fanatics.com.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:07 PM on January 5, 2006
Also, Sparks rocks.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:09 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:09 PM on January 5, 2006
Hey, I love the Sparks!
NUMBER ONE SONG IN HEAVEN, AMATEUR HOUR and MOUSTACHE are excellent. "One hundred hairs makes a man!"
Lil' Beethoven's Suburban Homeboy or whatever that was called was hilarious. "I bought me cornrows on amazon"
...I also was amazed at how HERE IN HEAVEN is the only song I know of to effectively change Romeo and Juliet into a better story than the actual play.
posted by Peter H at 1:09 PM on January 5, 2006
NUMBER ONE SONG IN HEAVEN, AMATEUR HOUR and MOUSTACHE are excellent. "One hundred hairs makes a man!"
Lil' Beethoven's Suburban Homeboy or whatever that was called was hilarious. "I bought me cornrows on amazon"
...I also was amazed at how HERE IN HEAVEN is the only song I know of to effectively change Romeo and Juliet into a better story than the actual play.
posted by Peter H at 1:09 PM on January 5, 2006
First: I'm a massive fan of Sparks, especially their latter records.
Secondly: If "Leam Srehtorb" is who I think they are, they run Sparks-Fanatics.com (as Joey Michaels said) and they've repeatedly emailed me about linking to their site from my own, as I have a link to allsparks.com. Poor form, all around, says I.
Thirdly: They better play near me on the next tour. The end.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 1:10 PM on January 5, 2006
Secondly: If "Leam Srehtorb" is who I think they are, they run Sparks-Fanatics.com (as Joey Michaels said) and they've repeatedly emailed me about linking to their site from my own, as I have a link to allsparks.com. Poor form, all around, says I.
Thirdly: They better play near me on the next tour. The end.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 1:10 PM on January 5, 2006
Also, browsing the seven comments made by Leam Srehtorb, there's no way he's a Mael - agreeing with Joey Michaels - those guys are much too shrewd and clever.
posted by Peter H at 1:12 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by Peter H at 1:12 PM on January 5, 2006
Sparks have a very loyal and devoted fanbase. They dont need to put up some hokey FPP on Mefi. It would be like Mark E Smith sticking a self-link up for fucks sake.
I suggest much more likely to be a zealous fan than anything sanctioned by the Maels in any way. They are way too cool for that.
As per usual, their album will be critically lauded, sell many less copies than it should and ignorant fucks on mefi will criticize without knowing very much about them. I'm just waiting on the lazy pepsi blue comm... oh fuck we've had that already.
Reads Joey Michaels comment and considers could be one of the fanatics referrred to
On preview, they play UK in February beaucoupkevin..
posted by ClanvidHorse at 1:13 PM on January 5, 2006
I suggest much more likely to be a zealous fan than anything sanctioned by the Maels in any way. They are way too cool for that.
As per usual, their album will be critically lauded, sell many less copies than it should and ignorant fucks on mefi will criticize without knowing very much about them. I'm just waiting on the lazy pepsi blue comm... oh fuck we've had that already.
Reads Joey Michaels comment and considers could be one of the fanatics referrred to
On preview, they play UK in February beaucoupkevin..
posted by ClanvidHorse at 1:13 PM on January 5, 2006
Hey, ClanvidHorse, I'm one of the fanatics, too. Had Sparks had anything that I deemed FPP worthy, I would have posted it a long time ago.
That being said, the release of their new album (which I am very excited about - and already knew about) isn't, IMO, enough of a reason for an FPP.
Now, if the Mael's suddenly revealed they could shift between all levels of reality, I would absolutely post that. Pun intended.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:21 PM on January 5, 2006
That being said, the release of their new album (which I am very excited about - and already knew about) isn't, IMO, enough of a reason for an FPP.
Now, if the Mael's suddenly revealed they could shift between all levels of reality, I would absolutely post that. Pun intended.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:21 PM on January 5, 2006
How do they say on Fark? oh yah
This post is useless with out music.
posted by daHIFI at 1:25 PM on January 5, 2006
This post is useless with out music.
posted by daHIFI at 1:25 PM on January 5, 2006
I have tickets to see them in Glasgow in Feb. I cannot wait.
I too would like any old excuse to post a FPP regarding Sparks but it will have to wait til Ron shaves his tache or something else equally earthshattering happens.
posted by ClanvidHorse at 1:28 PM on January 5, 2006
I too would like any old excuse to post a FPP regarding Sparks but it will have to wait til Ron shaves his tache or something else equally earthshattering happens.
posted by ClanvidHorse at 1:28 PM on January 5, 2006
My experience with that sparks-fanatics page lasted all of the 1.6 seconds the midi music spent blaring over my carefully balanced Mozart.
Damn you, sir - your website is not the best of the web, you are a foul self-linker of the most villanous sort.
I hope your account on Metafilter is banned and your stupid band breaks up. Stop wrecking Metafilter with your crap.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 1:34 PM on January 5, 2006
Damn you, sir - your website is not the best of the web, you are a foul self-linker of the most villanous sort.
I hope your account on Metafilter is banned and your stupid band breaks up. Stop wrecking Metafilter with your crap.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 1:34 PM on January 5, 2006
As per usual, their album will be critically lauded, sell many less copies than it should and ignorant fucks on mefi will criticize without knowing very much about them.
Yeah, because it's impossible to listen to Sparks and know their music well and not like them, right? Gimme a fuckin' break.
I stopped giving a shit if people liked my favorite music when I was 12. You might want to give it a shot. It's not as if their lack of fans (or talent) has stopped them from putting out twenty albums.
And though it's highly unlikely the Maels did this (anyone who knows even a bit about them would discount that as nonsense), it's a self-link if it's the sparks-fanatics guy.
posted by Manhasset at 1:37 PM on January 5, 2006
Yeah, because it's impossible to listen to Sparks and know their music well and not like them, right? Gimme a fuckin' break.
I stopped giving a shit if people liked my favorite music when I was 12. You might want to give it a shot. It's not as if their lack of fans (or talent) has stopped them from putting out twenty albums.
And though it's highly unlikely the Maels did this (anyone who knows even a bit about them would discount that as nonsense), it's a self-link if it's the sparks-fanatics guy.
posted by Manhasset at 1:37 PM on January 5, 2006
And what's with that asshat's ridiculous Hitler-mustache? That mustache wasn't even ok when Hitler had it. In fact, it was stupid when Charlie Chaplin had it. It's like a booger filter or something.
"Hey! Look at me! I look like Hitler!"
posted by Baby_Balrog at 1:37 PM on January 5, 2006
"Hey! Look at me! I look like Hitler!"
posted by Baby_Balrog at 1:37 PM on January 5, 2006
For someone who loves this band so much, you've really done them a disservice by posting this here. I mean, I really love my grandmother, but I'm not about to post her picture on Am I Hot or Not.
posted by gigawhat? at 1:40 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by gigawhat? at 1:40 PM on January 5, 2006
I wish Mark E Smith stuck links on MeFi.
posted by bendybendy at 1:40 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by bendybendy at 1:40 PM on January 5, 2006
I dunno. I liked the Sparks in highschool. This isn't a gaddam federal case.
posted by digaman at 1:46 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by digaman at 1:46 PM on January 5, 2006
Since when did band deserve wider recognition? Is this some new inalienable right I am unaware of?
posted by haqspan at 1:49 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by haqspan at 1:49 PM on January 5, 2006
I like Sparks too, but this is a good example of viral-marketing-gone-bad, which I've seen a lot more of lately.
Sorta like when "Serenity" came out last year, and some especially zealous "Firefly" fans pushed the movie so hard on a few boards that they ended up generating ill will for the film rather than convincing people that it was worth checking out. Even if they were completely sincere in their efforts, they did more harm than good.
It's going to be interesting to watch the next few years and see where things go with regard to selling stuff to people.
posted by First Post at 1:50 PM on January 5, 2006
Sorta like when "Serenity" came out last year, and some especially zealous "Firefly" fans pushed the movie so hard on a few boards that they ended up generating ill will for the film rather than convincing people that it was worth checking out. Even if they were completely sincere in their efforts, they did more harm than good.
It's going to be interesting to watch the next few years and see where things go with regard to selling stuff to people.
posted by First Post at 1:50 PM on January 5, 2006
yeah, I took the bait.
holds hands up
If Mark E Smith replaced MattHowie on Mefi we would all be sacked, casually re-instated and then left in a motorway services in Belgium at his imperial whim.
posted by ClanvidHorse at 1:52 PM on January 5, 2006 [1 favorite]
holds hands up
If Mark E Smith replaced MattHowie on Mefi we would all be sacked, casually re-instated and then left in a motorway services in Belgium at his imperial whim.
posted by ClanvidHorse at 1:52 PM on January 5, 2006 [1 favorite]
I mean, I really love my grandmother, but I'm not about to post her picture on Am I Hot or Not.
Idda know, you might be surprised at what kids are into these days ...
posted by R. Mutt at 1:55 PM on January 5, 2006
Idda know, you might be surprised at what kids are into these days ...
posted by R. Mutt at 1:55 PM on January 5, 2006
I am not Mayo Thompson.
In case anyone was wondering.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:58 PM on January 5, 2006 [1 favorite]
In case anyone was wondering.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:58 PM on January 5, 2006 [1 favorite]
Viral marketing implies, to me, a deliberate effort on the part of the record company - unless we are expanding the definition of marketing to include poor posting decisions made by fans. Indeed, if viral marketing includes anything that a fan would do anyways - like talking about a band they like - then viral marketing would be just another phrase for "word of mouth."
I have always assumed that viral marketing was faked "word of mouth." I think that the poster here was attempting some genuine, heartfelt word of mouth which, unfortunately, was also inappropriate for Metafilter.
Ergo, I believe that this was a bad FPP choice and a self link - and, thus, worthy of deletion - but not necessarily viral marketing.
I know, I know, po-TAY-to, po-TAH-toe, but this is the sort of thing that keeps me awake at night.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:00 PM on January 5, 2006
I have always assumed that viral marketing was faked "word of mouth." I think that the poster here was attempting some genuine, heartfelt word of mouth which, unfortunately, was also inappropriate for Metafilter.
Ergo, I believe that this was a bad FPP choice and a self link - and, thus, worthy of deletion - but not necessarily viral marketing.
I know, I know, po-TAY-to, po-TAH-toe, but this is the sort of thing that keeps me awake at night.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:00 PM on January 5, 2006
In keeping with the spirit of this post, I'd like to point out that the creator of Not My Desk has not achieved mainstream success either.
posted by notmydesk at 2:07 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by notmydesk at 2:07 PM on January 5, 2006
Hmm. This embedded midi file is really turning me on.
posted by moonbird at 2:23 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by moonbird at 2:23 PM on January 5, 2006
I'm not a huge Sparks fan by any means (that distinction would go to my former husband), but I find them strangely intriguing. Which means I would have loved a really good, insightful, chock-full-o-goodies Sparks post. This, unfortunately, was not it.
posted by scody at 2:30 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by scody at 2:30 PM on January 5, 2006
I wish Mark E Smith stuck links on MeFi.
Only if his posts could somehow capture the weird intonation of his speech(-ah)!
posted by scody at 2:32 PM on January 5, 2006
Only if his posts could somehow capture the weird intonation of his speech(-ah)!
posted by scody at 2:32 PM on January 5, 2006
"Nicotina" is one of my all time faves. If this is Russell or Roland Ronald, welcome to MeFi, fuck you for the self link.
posted by eyeballkid at 2:40 PM on January 5, 2006
posted by eyeballkid at 2:40 PM on January 5, 2006
Mark E Smith would have nothing but contempt for both Metafilter and its users - ah !
if he was running mefi - it would all be run off the back of a salford beermat.
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:40 PM on January 5, 2006
if he was running mefi - it would all be run off the back of a salford beermat.
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:40 PM on January 5, 2006
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This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
New user, first post is a post about a band that "should be more famous."
I'm smelling some sort of self-linking issue here.
posted by dios at 12:08 PM on January 5, 2006