Talent is an asset. But you gotta give it up for longevity and ingenuity too. Nearly half a century after Sparks’ fraternal founders Russell (the handsome singer with the operatic falsetto) and Ron Mael (the stick-insect keyboardist with the Charlie Chaplin moustache) first burst on to the scene with their witty, bombastic glam-rock, they still haven’t lost their quirky touch. Though they have continued to expand their musical horizons far and wide. A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip, their two-dozenth studio release, showcases another entertainingly clever slate of idiosyncratic, keyboard-driven indie-pop, neo-classical and electro-rock treats that play by their own compositional and instrumental rules. Not to mention their own lyrical rules: Topics up for discussion this time around include lawnmowers, iPhones, Pacific Standard Time, Igor Stravinsky and the speed of light — along with some more serious thoughts on life, love, humility, the environment and existential threats. All of which is a long way to say: In a world of cookie-cutters and copycats, Sparks continue to be true originals. And that may be their most valuable and essential asset of all.
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Brothers Ron and Russell Mael have announced the release of their 24th studio album A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip. Since storming into the charts, minds and airwaves in 1974 with This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both of Us from their third album Kimono My House, the musically vital pop pioneers have created a unique legacy both on record and in their live performances. A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip follows Sparks’ 2017 album Hippopotamus, an extraordinary record which saw them return to the Top 10 and was universally acclaimed with many critics declaring it to be one of the finest albums of the year and the pinnacle of the band’s career — until now.”
