Track Listing

1. Dick Around
2. Perfume
3. Very Next Fight
4. Baby Baby Can I Invade Your Country
5. Rock Rock Rock
6. Metaphor
7. Waterproof
8. Here Kitty
9. There's No Such Thing As Aliens
10. As I Sit To Play The Organ At The Notre Dame Cathedral

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52188 in Music
• Released on: 2006-02-06
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
How many bands can honestly say that their 20th album is possibly their best work? Against the norm (and as contradictory as always), Sparks' latest opus Hello Young Lovers proves effortlessly that it can be done. Their previous outing (2002s Lil' Beethoven) was a wondrous sonic adventure, impossible to pigeonhole, slightly marred only by its unfamiliar musical territory and lack of traditional Sparks sound.

Here, the balance is redressed enough to appeal to fans of the dramatic orchestral advances that album made, and those who prefer the sound of the band's early classics, be it "Beat The Clock", "Wonder Girl" or "This Town…". The familiar lyrical protagonists--part down-at heel everymen, part hysterical lunatic--are still in place, augmented by a fuller band sound and catchier hooks; multi-parted operatic sweeps, infinitely tracked Russell Mael vocals and abrupt stylistic changes furnish nearly every song, creating a catalogue of mutant pop songs that take overblown suite-like construction (think "Bohemian Rhapsody" on hard drugs) as their template and re-fit it for the 21st Century. This creates an album that sounds like nothing else you'll hear, and in tracks like "Dick Around" or "Waterproof", the best moments of Sparks' career so far. Beyond essential.--Thom Allott

CD Description
'Hello Young Lovers' is yet another dose of off-beat pop madness from one of the most talented and subversive bands of all time, Sparks. Ron & Russel Mael have delighted listenersfor years with their mixture of off-beat pop and cheeky lyrics, and this album is the perfect follow up the their 2002 album 'Lil Beethoven'. Includes the single 'Perfume'

Customer Reviews

Their masterpiece? The release of 2006!
Firstly, let me make this clear, i am a massive fan of the Mael brothers. My introduction to their genius (and i do not use the words lightly) was their magnificent last album Lil' Beethoven. I was always intrigued by the Maels but an impulse buy of that album absolutely blew my mind. How could these guys be so consitent/witty/groundbreaking/inventive/(insert your own hyper-bole adjective)? What astounded me really was that Lil' Beethoven was not announced with a unanimous fan-fare in the music press. All the old hams of the 70s (Roxy/Bowie/Rundgren/Reed/Young) were getting magazine covers yet the Maels were still cult favourites only.
It dawned on me that this suits Ron and Russell, they are totally free from the commercial pressures of the Music marketplace and thrive due to this. They are now entering their finest era as recording artists, breaking new ground in the world of popular music. To briefly summarise their new sound, it is rock, it is classically based, it is dance derived, it rocks, it is experimental, in other words it's everything their fans wanted. This record was made for us fans, not the marketplace and because of that Ron and Russell have created another classic.
Some of the songs then - Firstly Dick Around - witty, catchy, homelessly inventive, with a fantasticlly heavy piece of guitar playing from Dean Menta. A cross between classic Kimono and Lil' Beethoven - it raises the bar and sets the tone for the entire album.
Perfume - Catchy, minimal, perfect. A great sound that would be played in Nightclubs and on catwalks if earth was perfect.
Metaphor - Catchy as hell showing an expansion of Lil' Beethoven. Sparks are deeloping more heart along with their marvelous wit.
Waterproof - You will again be singing along with this before the song is over. These songs are repetitive in the best way, catchy with absolutely no fat. Purest of pop with an experimental twist.
The Very Next Flight - A beautifully slow paced number, reminiciscent of 'I Married Myself' from the last album.
(Baby Baby) Can I Invade Your Country - You know this is going to be great from the title. It does not disappoint This is a song with a structure and a logic all of it's own yet so perfect that you'll not understand why we haven't heard music like it before.
Indeed Ron's nutty scientist appearnace belies a theory i have Sparks have genetically created the greatest alt-rock record of the year. Some people will hate it. Some people love James Blunt. Need I say more. Make this your next purchase and then track down the rest of their brilliant career.

Inventive
The most inventive band in art-rock has done it again. A magnificent piece of music. If you are tired and bored of listening to music in general, and want to revitalize your pleasure of listening to music, I will strongly recommend this album. It´s noisy, repetetive with exciting instrumental changes, tempo changes, catchy, lyrically hilarious and cool. A playful blend of musical genres. Love it or hate it, I´ll guarantee you will not feel indifferent. And you´ll probably also buy the last album, Li´l Beethoven, which numerously rock-critics reviewed as a "masterpiece of pop art". Challenge yourself!

Complex, classic, hypnotic. It WILL stop you sleeping...
Quite simply the best thing I've heard in a longtime. Sparks have recieved quite a bit of press about this, and their influence on current bands such as Franz Ferdinand is indisputable. Whilst most people would still consider the 74 albums (Kimono and Propaganda) to still be the Mael brothers finest work, I have to say that this glorious dose of torture trumps even those classic works in my opinion. Though seemingly original and quirky on initial impressions, I have come to realise that a lot of the influences that forged this CD are actually very familiar to me. As with Lil' Beethoven, Ron and Russell are obviously influenced, heavily, by the early works of Philip Glass - with both Einstein on The Beach and Northstar being referenced musically throughout. But other obvious echoes are of Lou Reed - "The very next time.." could be lifted straight from "Magic and Loss", Frank Zappa, Brian Eno, Devo and Laurie Anderson.
Impressive as Lil' Beethoven was, this is a huge leap forward. There is not a bad moment on the whole CD, though at a push I would vote for " As I sit to play the organ.." as my favourite track.
It is no hyperbole though to warn potential listeners that this CD will destroy any hope of a peaceful night's sleep. These tunes are designed to bore their way into your head and repeat ad infinitum. If you thought "take me out" by Franz Ferdinand was bad... this is ten times more infectious.
But it is a price worth paying. If you like something with complexity, intelligence and innovation.. get this! You will not be disappointed.... just really really tired and distracted.
A gem of a CD. Well done Ron and Russell. You are forgiven for all the TERRIBLE rubbish you've foisted on us in the past.