Sparks have a history of recording annoying songs. As of late, "Giddy Giddy" from Hippopotamus and "Here Kitty" from Hello Young Lovers are two excellent examples of the sort of schtick that will drive you insane. But then it was that way from the start. Come to think of it, even Sparks' eponymous debut had a piece called "Biology 2" which, it seems, was recorded specifically for the purpose of annoying you (I actually enjoy "Biology 2", but that is neither here nor there). In a way, being mildly irritating is something the Mael brothers get off on.
And yet "Left Out In The Cold", the new addition to the lengthy catalogue of annoying songs by Sparks, is something I have no stomach for. I am not here to tell you that it is their lowest point (certainly not with a discography that includes albums like Interior Design and Music That You Can Dance To), but it almost single-handedly made me turn to Woods' Strange To Explain as the best album of the month. God, what utter abomination. Those tacky high-pitched 'aaaahhh's from Russell are the stuff of nightmares. Should have been left out in the cold, if you'll excuse the obvious pun.
Thankfully, the rest of the album is good. Not as good as Hippopotamus, of course, and I would have preferred some editing, but Ron Mael is such a brilliant and inventive songwriter. Biggest highlights this time include the anthemic opener "All That", the piano-based drama of "Pacific Standard Time" and the repetitive synth-pop classic "One For The Ages". Mind you, there are many annoying songs here, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. "Lawnmower" could have been on Hello Young Lovers, and "iPhone" is wonderfully entertaining. Having said that, the closing ballad "Please Don't Fuck Up My World" is no "Never Turn Your Back To Mother Earth".
A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip (not their best album title) is an engaging record, and there is so much to discover on further listens - both lyrically and musically. It is of course quite astonishing that they manage to sound so invigorating 50 (fifty!) years after their first album. The operatic "Stravinsky's Only Hit", for instance, features more ideas than most young bands would produce over a whole album. Granted, some of those ideas may be questionable - but to still see them make such playful, endlessly creative records in 2020 does bring a smile to my face. Speaking of which - please note that people with no sense of humour do not like Sparks. Something I have seen proven time and time again.
MAY ROUNDUP:
Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
The Magnetic Fields - Quickies
Mark Lanegan - Straight Songs of Sorrow
Sparks - A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
Willie Nile - New York at Night
Woods - Strange to Explain
Einstürzende Neubauten - Alles in Allem
