Sparks Lil' Beethoven
Released: June 28, 2003 Origination Year: 2002 Time: 41:02 Tracks: 9 Produced by: Ron & Russell Mael Style: CD Format: CD Enhancement: None Website: www.allsparks.com

The history of Sparks is a vast one. With a beginning that extends into the nether periods of the early 70s, the band signed with Island Records after an experimental stint arising from a UCLA project. With initial failure due to their extreme eccentricity, they moved themselves to England and began a successful string of highly innovative approaches to music that remain as eccentric today as they were in the past.

Comprised of two brothers, Ron and Russ Mael, and whoever were a part of the band’s grouping at any one time, Sparks proceeded to create interesting and musically rich songs that fed on part rock star persona and part offbeat talent.

Their extensive collection of songs and styles weaved through several major labels eager to be on the high road of originality and within the perimeter of new styles. Sparks provided every one of their labels with more than they bargained for yielding a few interesting and important singles along the way.

Fast forward to now and just when you think that Sparks have exhausted their supply of the unconventional tunes that they are famous for, they create yet again. Entertaining a select audience that feasted on their odd brand of pop/rock, Sparks returns for a new round of tasty and, yes, offbeat, approaches to music. Folks, for your consideration… Lil’ Beethoven, the latest album from the Mael Brothers AKA Sparks.

Lil’ Beethoven is a collection of 9 delightfully strange songs filled with harmonies and borrowings from past eras of rock and roll, their own past. Russ Mael’s rock star persona has been replaced by the John Mayer visual appearance thus never falling away entirely from the look of the time while Ron Mael’s Hitler-esque/German synth star appearance is still in place.

The album’s offerings break out with “The Rhythm Thief”, a song that incorporates a harmony of voices while accentuating with orchestral fills and big beats. “How Do I Get to Carnegie Hall?” uses piano fills to highlight their song while offering a delicious chorus of high scaled voices reminiscent of past songs.

And thus is the entire album of Lil’ Beethoven, a frenetic presentation of old styles mixed with their brand of humour and new musical technique to fashion a freshly original addition to their burgeoning collection.

The thoughtful question of what drives today’s punk styled bands and hip-hop singers in “What Are All These Bands So Angry About?” asks what makes today’s music such a viable energy when anger is the underlying current of their exchange. Makes sense. And thus emerges another quality of Sparks, the humorous but important questioning of our motives as a society and what makes us desire the art that gives voice to our young. Can they really be that angry?

“Ugly Guys with Beautiful Girls” is a perfect recall of past Sparks’s glory with all the sound of the 70s perfectly preserved and sweet to eat. Finally, “Suburban Homeboy”, a playful romp with hip hop as only Sparks could craft. You’ll roar with approval as you zip along and, once you learn the lyrics, you’ll be singing right along. Yo-Yoing this and that with “Suburban Homeboy”.

If you remember and enjoyed Sparks in the past, you’ll be pleased to see Sparks in all their glory on Lil’ Beethoven. Although the times and the sounds have changed, Sparks hasn't with their ability to capture. They ask early on in the album, “Where did the groove go?” IWhy, it’s on Lil’ Beethoven.

Click on the link of each song to hear full renditions of the album graciously provided by Palm Pictures.

Track Listing: The Rhythm Thief; How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall?; What Are All These Bands So Angry About?; I Married Myself; Ride 'Em Cowboy; My Baby's Taking Me Home; Your Call's Very Important To Us. Please Hold; Ugly Guys With Beautiful Girls; Suburban Homeboy.

Sparks: Russell Mael - Vocals / Programming; Ron Mael - Keyboards / Orchestrations / Programming; Tammy Glover - Drums.