Edgar Wright directed a movie/documentary/thing about Sparks. It should release in about a month
It looks like it will be great.
Yeah, I’ll be looking out for it.
In 1974, when This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us was a UK hit out of nowhere (and sounded like nothing else you had ever heard) I was into Bowie and taking myself a bit too seriously. So for years I was aware of a band that produced great pop music but looked a bit gimmicky and, y’know, it was just pop after all. I suspect I speak for many people who thought the same way. They (Sparks) were always much better than I was willing to concede.
As a result there are an awful lot of gaps to fill in. Bring on the movie.
j
I’ve been a fan since they were Halfnelson but got twenty-some albums behind. I’ve got some making up to do.
The very early MTV played this video.
I’m a huge fan, been since the early 1990’s, when they were considered washed up has-beens. It was then when I learned of their legendary Island albums from the mid-70’s. Didn’t know it then, but those albums still stand among the greatest weirdo rock ever put on record, and the earlier two albums aren’t far behind.
It has been a hoot to watch the brothers rise from the doldrums over the past 30 years into celebrated innovators that still put out new and different music, some of it great. Not many such acts around, if any.
It’s playing at my local theater, which is definitely NOT an independent art house, but I’m going to wait until it comes out on DVD because it’s 2 1/2 hours long.
It IS getting good reviews so far.
I may still have those 70s albums on vinyl, that was such crazy shit. I was lucky enough to see them live once, with Marshall Crenshaw and the Go-Go’s, and they were a lot of fun.
I love that Edgar Wright was a fan, and then realized that they were following him on Twitter, and he DMed to them to make friends, and then one of his other friends said “you should make a documentary with them“, and so he did.
The film Annette, premiering in August, is based on a story by the Sparks brothers.
For amusement on 1970s rainy days, a friend would play various vinyl singles backwards while I tried to identify them.
I was surprised by how many of these backwards records sounded like Sparks forwards.
Did anyone of them ever say “oh my sweet Satan”?
I just watched this on Netflix and loved it. I’m ashamed to say I’d barely even heard of Sparks before, but you can bet I’ll be digging into their catalog now.
The film itself seems to mirror the sensibilities of the brothers. It’s fun and light, but also fascinating and substantive at the same time. Just great stuff.
The only Sparks song I know is “Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth” which Neko Case covered on her “Middle Cyclone” album. I will have to check this out!
I watched the documentary in pieces when I had time over New Year’s weekend, and finished up last night. Now I feel like I need to buy about a dozen Sparks albums.
One interesting little detail I noticed late in the film: Ron had replaced the “Roland” logo on his keyboard with “Ronald”. 
I was familiar with the band by name and reputation back in the day, but only knew a song or two. I enjoyed the movie very much. I love that they just do their own thing and seem to be content with their limited amount of fame and fortune.
mmm
I saw this a couple of weeks ago. I was kind of familiar with them from their coverage on Night Flight ages ago, but had no idea of how much work they had. I really enjoyed it, and will probably need to grab some of their records.
I put it in my Netflix queue, and I’ll probably watch it in the days to come. Thanks for bumping this thread!
It doesn’t come to Netflix in Canada until next week. I could watch it on my computer right now but I want to watch it on the couch, so I’ll wait a little longer.