Beaver O'Lindy - Sparks | reaction & analysis

[@Kevvinm]

When I saw them in 2023 this song was in their set list.

[@PolferiferusII]

Sparks has some things in common with They Might Be Giants (I think), in that both bands seemed to relentlessly do what they wanted as musicians to please themselves first. Also, both bands employ extremely odd, obscurly-referencing, very clever lyrical riddles which only certain tastes really delight in (like me!). I still remember TMBG's dial-a-song, a phone number you could call in the 1980s and you would hear a brand new song, made just that day, often silly, but well-put together. Some of those songs made it onto their early albums. Imagine how many songs they must have composed, given this was active for about five years' time!! I know Sparks definitely wanted to be successful, but few bands were/are as uncomprimising to popular trends as they are/were. Now, as one of the oldest bands still around, they are still not so well known as they deserve to be, but have a decent-sized fan base by whom they are beloved. I also enjoy the Maels' predecessor band(s?)' music, though copies may be all that exist, as the songs I've heard (such as 'Arts and Crafts Spectacular') sound as though they've been degraded by second-hand artifacts.

[@CharlesKent-v8s]

What a great band, they had to come to the UK, change the band and become poppier to get success

[@burningmidnightamp]

True! We will sure cover that in future episodes.