Sparks

Imperishable Siblings SPARKS Still Do The Things Their Way – Hear Their Brand New Belter Here

Posted on by JL

Daily noise that works faster than a stream of caffeine

31 January 2025

The brothers Ron (79) and Russell Mael (76), known to the world as SPARKS
are around since 1966. Yes, that’s 59 years and no sign of retirement. Music
is the dominant element in their DNA. They can’t stop.

They canned their 28th (!) album, named it MAD!
and will soon tell us when it’ll see the day of light.

“Our mantra since 1972, amplified in 2025” the bros say.

Ahead of it comes the first preview single DO THINGS MY OWN WAY.
A booming disco-flavered belter that sticks from the start. The town is
still big enough for both of them.

Wake up people,
it’s amateur hour,
get up and sparkle.

They also revealed tour dates.


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Instagram – All Albums

Happy 78 To Weird Spark RON MAEL (The One With The Mini Moustache)

Posted on by JL

12 August 2023

The brothers Ron and Russell Mael, famously known as SPARKS are
around since 1966, yes, that’s 57 years and no sign of calling it a day.
On the contrary. They released their 25th LP. It’s titled The Girl
Is Crying In Her Latte.

And today they will definitely have a party to celebrate RON‘s
78th birthday. He was born in Culver City, California
on 12 August 1945.

Russ about Ron: “When he wrote “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us”,
Ron could only play it in that key. It was so much work to transpose the song and one
of us had to budge, so I made the adjustment to fit in. My voice ain’t a “rock” voice. It’s not soulful, in the traditional rock way; It’s not about “guts”. It’s untrained, unschooled, I never questioned why I was singing high. It just happened, dictated by the songs. Ron has always written Sparks’ lyrics and never transposed them into a rock key for me to sing. He always packed each line with words and I had to sing them as they were.”

I suppose today the town will be big enough for the both of them.

NEW ALBUM


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SPARKS: Bio – Discography – Instagram

Summer Live – Full Sparkling SPARKS Set At PRIMAVERA BARCELONA 2023

Posted on by JL

2 August 2023

The inseparable brothers Ron and Russell Mael, artistically known worldwide
for years now – since 1966 – as SPARKS are as productive, on and off stage,
as ever. Along the years they generated 3 generations of fans.

Last May they released their 25th LP, titled THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE.
Another brisk pop triumph that got lots of accolades from the press. Not bad at
all for these imperishable musical siblings.

And live they’re also as fit as a fiddle. This and next year
it’s tour/album-promo time for the familial tandem.

Last June they played at the
Primavera Sound Festival
in Barcelona.

Here’s the full spark-ling set.

New Album


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SPARKS: Facebook – Instagram – All Albums

TURN UP THE VOLUME JUKEBOX 2023 – 10 New Tracks Added Every Week

Posted on by JL

Every week 10 new rad tracks added

In order to not miss a beat Turn Up The Volume scans the musical
horizon daily (doing it for years now, actually) to stay in touch with
all new things sonically great and shares the results on a weekly
basis.

Check the 10 new rad tracks
added to this rad 2023 playlist
(total of 205 tracks so far).

1. ‘Familiar Feeling’ by JULIANA EYE (Toronto, Canada)
A high-passionate pop gem from her new EP Late Bloomer.

2. ‘A Love Story’ by SPARKS (Los Angeles)
Highlight from the brothers Mael’s brand new
top pop LP The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte.

3. ‘Foreign Land’ by TEENAGE FANCLUB (Scotland)
Veteran pop-song-smiths do what they do best, writing feel-good tunes.
First single from new, upcoming album Nothing Lasts Forever.

4. ‘Mountains At Midnight’ by ROYAL BLOOD (UK)
The blues rock duo hit hard again with the first slam dunk
of their forthcoming longplayer Back To The Water.

5. ‘You Better Run’ by DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY (Denmark)
Riff-manic missile from this frenetic trio’s forthcoming debut LP.

6. ‘Strava’ by LIFE COACH (Scotland)
Thhe musical project of singer-songwriter-poet Jamie Cameron.
Think Arab Strap you can dance to. Strava is a groovy-punky piece
from his upcoming album Scottish Cringe, out 2 June.

7. ‘Three Hours’ by JOHN PARISH and ALDOUS HARDING

Renowned British producer/musician and New Zealand‘s songstress’
cover of a 1969 song by the late great folk legend Nick Drake.

8. ‘Try Hard Blues’ by BART PAT (London UK)
The moniker for London-based singer-songwriter Hannah Maryse Robinson.
Try Hard Blues is a folky-bluesy earworm from her upcoming debut album.

9. ‘Waiting On A Sign That’s Already There’ by ALTERED BY MOM (Toronto, CA)
An instantly sweet sticking pop jingle by this Canadian indie duo.

10. ‘California’ by KEN LINTERN (UK)
Catchy sepia-colored tune, spiced with sultry saxophone play, bringing
Randy Newman to mind. From this seasoned musician’s new, upcoming
full-length.

Go to Spotify and stream/steam.

TUTV: Blog – Facebook – Instagram

Only The World Is Big Enough For Both SPARKS – New Album ‘THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE’ Is A Top Pop Triumph

Posted on by JL

Standout longplayers

26 May 2023

The brothers Ron and Russell Mael, famously known as SPARKS are
around since 1966, yes, that’s 57 years and no sign of calling it a day.
On the contrary.

Today they make all their fans – old, middle-aged
and young – yes 3 generations, very happy with their
25th LP. It’s titled THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE

The Mael bros about the new LP: “As bold and uncompromising
as anything we did back then, or for that matter, anytime throughout
our career.”

Mojo Magazine (UK): “Ron Mael’s lyrics are elegiac, witty and forensically
detailed; Russel Mael delivers them exquisitely and they specialise in ear
worms.” Score: 8/10.

TUTV: Since their massive 1974 breakthrough hit This Town Ain’t Big Enough
For The Both Of Us the Mael brothers took the world in order to have a place for
them both. Almost 50 years later they still know accurately how to write/make top pop tunes. And even after 50 years, they do it with a fresh, desiring, and masterful approach. Their music is elevating, enrapturing, and entrancing. I know it’s only pop, but I like it,
I like it, I like it. A lot of inspiration at play here for young artists.

Singles/clips: Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is / Veronica Lake /
The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte /

– NOTHING IS AS GOOD AS THEY SAY IT IS –

– THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE –

– VERONICA LAKE –

FULL ALBUM

SPARKS: Facebook – Instagram – All Albums

TURN UP THE VOLUME JUKEBOX 2023 – 10 New Tracks Added Every Week

Posted on by JL

In order to not miss a beat Turn Up The Volume scans the musical
horizon daily (doing it for years now, actually) to stay in touch with
all new things sonically great and shares the results on a weekly
basis.

Check the 10 new rad tracks
added to this rad 2023 playlist.

1. ‘Emotion Sickness’ by QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

2. ‘Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is’ by SPARKS

3. ‘Let The Sun Come In’ by PRETENDERS

4. ‘Gotta Get To Peepskill’ by DROPKICK MURPHYS

5. ‘Game Over’ by ZHAKLINA feat. Hollow Wake

6. ‘Sit and Wait’ by TADGH BILLY KING

7. ‘World On Fire’ by DOLLY PARTON

8. ‘Free’ by SAND BOX

9. ‘Greatest Love Story’ by MELODY LEE HAYDEN

10. ‘Let Go’ by BAY BRYAN


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TUTV: Blog – Facebook – Instagram

SPARKS Brothers Claim That ‘NOTHING IS AS A GOOD AS THEY SAY IT IS’

Posted on by JL

12 May 2023

No pension yet for the SPARKS bothers. On 26 May they’ll
share their 25th LP with their fans – old, middle-aged and
young. It’s titled
The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte. Pre-order info here.

The Mael bros about the new LP: “As bold and uncompromising
as anything we did back then, or for that matter, anytime throughout
our career.”

To make their fans drool the duo dropped another track – already
the 3rd – from the upcoming full length. NOTHING IS AS GOOD AS
THEY SAY IT IS, except for Sparks of course.

Listen to the swirling pop earworm here.

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SPARKS: Facebook – Instagram

TURN UP THE VOLUME JUKEBOX 2023 – 10 New Tracks Added Every Week

Posted on by JL

In order to not miss a beat Turn Up The Volume scans the musical
horizon daily (doing it for years now, actually) to stay in touch with
all new things sonically great and shares the results on a weekly
basis.

Check the 10 new rad tracks
added to this rad 2023 playlist.

1. ‘Children’ by British post-punks Opus Kink
2. ‘Jailbreak’ by post-hardcore Brits Enter Shikari
3. ‘Rescued’ by Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters
4. ‘High Life’ by London’s rockers Bloc Party
5. ‘You’re In The Show’ by Washinghton duo The Electric Grandmother
6. ‘Veronica Lake’ by SPARKS
7. ‘Council Skies’ by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
8. ‘My Illusion’ by Newcastle upon Tyne outfit Electric Circus
9. ‘Dandelion Wish’ by 60s psych pop inspired duo The Vanity Project
10. ‘Cars’ by American electro-dreamwave duo Lunar Twin

TUTV: Blog – Facebook – Instagram

SPARKS Brothers Still Surprise After All These Years – Hear New Single ‘VERONICA LAKE

Posted on by JL

Daily noise that works faster and harder than any stimulant

23 April 2023

The brothers Ron and Russell Mael, famously known as SPARKS are
around since 1966, yes, that’s 57 years and no sign of calling it a day.
On the contrary.

On 26 May they’ll make all their fans – old, middle-aged
and young – happy with their 25th album. It’s titled
THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE

The Mael bros about the new LP: “As bold and uncompromising
as anything we did back then, or for that matter, anytime throughout
our career.”

The title track was the lead single and another just arrived.
VERONICA LAKE is a nervous runner of a song about
the famous film and TV actress (1922 – 1973).

Quite whimsical.

SPARKS: Facebook – Instagram