It is exhausting for me to grasp what a newcomer to Sparks would make of seeing brothers Ron and Russell Mael for the primary time. Ron, the mustached one behind the keys, appears like he as soon as was a silent movie star and simply fell off the silver display screen (and is a bit grumpy about it). However, Russell, along with his upbeat posture, sings a couple of lady crying in her latte. Hopefully, by the point Russell introduces us to the second tune, a couple of 22-hour-old little one seeing the world and wishing to return to whence he got here, the harmless viewer/listener will perceive the twisted humor Sparks has been shelling out for over 50 years throughout a couple of dozen albums.

When the duo’s first information got here out within the early Seventies, I managed a file retailer and performed the albums on our turntable. Generally it will drive away prospects (Sparks are an acquired style), and different instances it will kindle new friendships. I would have by no means dreamed that Sparks can be making music all these years later, not to mention taking part in at my workplace desk. And I additionally couldn’t have imagined that the band’s newest album, The Woman Is Crying In Her Latte, can be nearly as good as ever. After three new songs, Sparks takes one dip into the previous, “a Sparks golden oldie,” as Russell places it. With an ideal band behind them, Ron and Russell performed the track “This City Ain’t Huge Sufficient for Each of Us,” bringing unimaginable pleasure to me and hopefully to these simply discovering Sparks.

SET LIST

• “The Woman Is Crying In Her Latte”
• “Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is”
• “It Does not Have To Be That Approach”
• “This City Ain’t Huge Sufficient For The Each Of Us”

MUSICIANS

• Russell Mael: vocals
• Ron Mael: keyboards
• Evan Weiss: guitar, vocals
• Max Whipple: bass
• Eli Pearl: guitar, keyboards, vocals
• Stevie Nistor: drums

TINY DESK TEAM

• Producer: Bob Boilen
• Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
• Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
• Artistic Director: Bob Boilen
• Collection Producer: Bobby Carter
• Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Sofia Seidel, Alanté Serene
• Audio Assistant: Kwesi Lee 
• Manufacturing Assistant: Ashley Pointer
• Photographer: Keren Carrión
• Tiny Desk Group: Suraya Mohamed, Kara Body, Hazel Cills
• VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
• Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann