HIPPOPOTAMUS

90/100 Wow! Hippopotamus is my favorite Sparks album ever! Blindsided by Sparks' contagious catchy cabaret, Hippopotamus sideswiped me. Zee Mael brothers have outdone themselves. Decades haven't dulled the knife sharp sheen off the Mael's, instead Father Time honed, polished and focused the Mael Brother's song craft skills.

Top shelf, eclectic, humorous lyrics abound, Russell Mael waxes poetic on advantages of the ever popular go-to "Missionary Position" and his Spartan "Scandinavian" furniture collection. The sarcastic "Unaware" and "I Wish You Were Fun" poke fun at the fairer sex. You got to grin at Russell warbling, " So Tell Me Mrs. Lincoln Aside From That, How Was The Play?" Literary allusions and history lessons like Macbeth and Edith Piaf literally litter the hysterical lyrical landscape of Hippopotamus.

" Russell Mael, myself and my husband sing along and share knowing smiles listening to Sparks' wit, coupled with resplendent, gorgeous piano riffing of Ron Mael. Unlike other older rock vocalists, Russell's vocals are clean and operatic as ever. His voice is extremely unusual yet catchy. Somehow Sparks break new ground while staying seductively melodic. The Maels share a P.O. box on Memory Lane. Every song is memorable.

Ironically, I found title track Hippopotamus the weakest song, still you got to salute Ron and Russell for rhyming abacus, Hieronymus Bosch , anonymous, and Titus Andronicus with Hippopotamus instead of falling into the cliché "Rhinoceros rhyme trap"!

Hippopotamus, though an acquired taste, puts the POP back in Hippopotamus and equals or supasses Sparks 70's classics "Kimono my House" and "Propaganda". For fans of superior song craft, marvelous piano runs, operatic Germanic vocals, Beardfish and Zappa lyrical satire!

SPARKS have been releasing albums since the early seventies, and I believe they are up to 25 studio albums with the most recent coming in 2023. The band consists of two brothers from LA who play music in the style of 10CC and the like. Lots of humour and wit while the music is very catchy and poppy. It's a little ironic that I remembered while writing my last review, that I used to compare adventerous music to that home made meat and potatoes supper my mom used to make, while commercial music is more like eating at McDonalds. So step right up and get your Big Mac, or hippopotamus in this case. Yes, you will get sick of this quickly, but man is it good.

Fifteen tracks over 55 plus minutes, and it's very much a vocal/piano/beat recording. Not much else. Beyond catchy at times. I mean you can't help but move some part of your body during this album. And funny! The sophistication may not be so much in the instrumental music and arrangements, as it is in the lyrics and the delivery of them. Another 2017 release, as I clearly went bonkers that year in my purchases. And many a SPARKS fan rates "Hippopotamus" right there with their two 1974 classics "Kimono My House" and "Propoganda". And do these guys not have the best album covers?

I'm not sure about that opening number with the fragile vocals and sparse sounds. Like an intro to what is coming I suppose. But man, the next five tracks kill. "Missionary Position", "Edith Piaf(Said It Better Than Me)", "Scandanavian Design", Giddy Giddy" and "What The Hell Is It This Time?" Haha. I don't even know what to say about these five tunes. I even find "Edith Piaf(Said It Better Than me)" to be moving at times, and the chorus is so good. "Giddy Giddy" might be the ultimate novelty track. So funny! Some vocal gymnastics from the boys.

I thought of Gary Numan during "What The Hell Is It This time?". Some depth to this one as well as having these determined vocals. We then get a couple of good songs in "Unaware" and the title track. Not on the level of the five before them, but really good. "Bummer" is great as we get this uptempo tune with a down-tuned chorus(haha). "It's a... what a... bummer!" A lot of lalalalalas on the next one called "I wish You Were Fun" which is another highlight for me. Track 11 with the long title is so catchy, my head can't stop nodding.

Guest accordion on "When You're A French Director". The music sways. "The Amazing Mr. Repeat" is the last really good song in my opinion. "A Little Bit Like Fun" could have been a 10CC track. This is such an entertaining album. I just can't help myself with this one. Yes I'm going through that drive thru once again.