On their incomparable new album, Sparks protest predictability, obliterate the ordinary and demand utmost respect. With moments of sheer beauty, frenzy, dissonance, harmony, pure genius it rocks!! It is cinematic and bold, lyrically liberal. It may not win a Grammy rather an Academy Award. It's music for smart people. Never, NEVER, has there been an auditory assault of such magnitude presented in the realm of pop music. When Sparks' last album Lil' Beethoven hit the streets critics lauded and applauded, fans smiled smugly with overdue vindication and fellow musicians wept when faced with the reality that, once again, Sparks had raised the bar by which all other albums should be judged.
Now the Angeleno brothers Ron and Russell Mael present Hello Young Lovers, their 20th album. To achieve such enormity and expansiveness Ron and Russell Mael worked in a limitless vacuum for the best part of 18 months.
The only inspiration taken from any current music was the provocation to go as far as possible in the opposite direction. When writing and recording Lil Beethoven Sparks broke the rules, but in creating Hello Young Lovers the rule book has been thrown away.
The resulting album is an extraordinary masterpiece.
On “Hello Young Lovers” Ron and Russell are joined by Tammy Glover (drums) and Dean Menta (guitar) with guest musicians Jim Wilson (guitar) and Steve McDonald (bass).