Hello Young Lovers

Operatic, theatrical pop music -- lots of orchestral synths and massively overdubbed vocals for a big, grand sound. Songs do tend to be highly repetitious, which can be alluringly hypnotic (e.g., #3 works for me, even though it shouldn't). Contains traces of what I'd call a classical minimalist influence (intros to 4 and 10). Definitely a "different" sound but I've squeezed it into indie-pop and even jazz sets. Give it a shot!

Sparks is a 35-year-old underground pop band that's had a few hits in Europe but is unknown in the States. They had one blip of U.S. success circa 1982-3 as a synth-pop act, but mostly they've played either glam rock (1971-78) or dance/disco (1986-1995).

This stuff is neither -- it's a new sound that started with their previous album ("Li'l Beethoven," not in our library).


***1- A kick-ass, operatic tour de force in the tradition of Bohemian Rhapsody. Lots of phases in 7 minutes, with fast choir-like vocals, dense lyrics, and some jazzy bits.... but the highlight is when the GUITAR kicks in (Dean Menta, ex of Faith No More) for some crushing, albeit simple, hard-rock moments. Lyrics are even serious, about a yuppie exec who descends into apathy when his girlfriend dumps him. A song that must be heard.

**2- Poppy single, a catchy minor-key blip listing names of women and perfume.
4- National Anthem lyrics and a chorus of : "Can I Invade Your Country?" (Meaning? You decide.) Upbeat.
6- Speak-singing about how "chicks dig metaphors." A bit of a hard-edged, jaded sound
7- Ultra sugary poppy song, with cynical lyrics about a cold-hearted bastard. Kicks into faster mode at the end.
*8- Doo-wop singing and some jazzy blue-note turns. About a fireman who rescues stranded kitties, and one day is called to save a tiger
9- Melodramatic, theatrical. Unsure what it's about but the title is funny
*10- The Experimental One. Opens with a John Adams kind of minimalist pulse -- fast repeating patter. Then a weird chromatic-scale riff that'll be the centerpiece of the rest of the song. Lots of "Hallelujahs," but it's not a religious song -- it's about the Notre Dame organ player picking up women in the congregation.