On my voyage through all the Sparks albums, some of which I haven’t heard in 20 or 30 years, here is my review of ‘Exotic Creatures of the Deep’.
1. Intro
Another statement of intent beginning. Here’s an album that’s all about superficiality. I’m not going to rate it, but it’s nice.
2. Good Morning
Much as I loved the last two albums, I did sort of suspect that maybe Russel couldn’t sing anymore, at least at the top of his range. It comes to all of us eventually, and he’s been singing a long time. So I was glad to find out that wasn’t the case. Great synth sounds, and I like the way the piano is chording behind them. This is a great song for me, a wonderful vocal arrangement with very funny lyrics. Does ‘do svidaniya’ really mean good morning? 10/10
3. Strange Animal
First miss for me in quite awhile. Strange lilting vocal arrangement, and very weird lyrics. I’m glad they put the uptempo parts in here with the guitar and drums. It’s fine, but I could easily skip it. 6/10.
4. I Can’t Believe That You Would Fall for All the Crap in This Song
This seems like a Sparks throwback. I could easily hear this on one of the glam albums. I really like it; hypnotic, funny lyrics that follow the album theme. The vocals on this song are just outstanding, and I love the acapella ending. 10/10.
5. Let the Monkey Drive
Another good one. Another great arrangement, more weird lyrics that I dig quite a bit. I haven’t listened to this album in awhile; it’s sort of sandwiched between two that I listen to more. I’m not sure why, because it’s really good. Hypnotic, compelling, and the whole thing sound great. 9/10.
6. Intro Reprise
Why?
7. I’ve Never Been High
I think of the protagonist of this song as the same one in ‘Miss the Start, Miss the End.’ Another great arrangement that keeps building as the guitar/timpani, orchestration gradually comes in. Nice acoustic guitar in the middle of the song, which I can’t recall hearing for quite awhile in a Sparks song. Another super earnest vocal deliver. 9/10.
8. (She Got Me) Pregnant
A frenetic, ‘Dick Around’-like deluge of vocals from an alternate reality. I’m struggling with rating it a little bit. It’s really good. It’s not quite ‘Dick Around’ good for me though. I like the hard stop at the end. I’ll say 9/10.
9. Lighten Up, Morrissey
I think this song is hilarious. It’s another almost throwback sounding song to me; I could hear it being on an earlier album. If there’s a real world story about this song, someone tell me what it is. 10/10.
10. This is the Renaissance
I like the chorus. For some reason ‘Oh what a Renaissance’ is hilarious to me. Another fantastic vocal arrangement. I think they missed a beat by not having some lute and harp, etc. in the instrumental arrangement. 9/10.
11. The Director Never Yelled ‘Cut’
I get the tiniest sense that maybe this album was a little bit rushed. It’s super ambitious, and I bet there wasn’t very much time between the prior album and supporting it, and the start of recording this one. The song is fine, it sounds good, maybe not super inspired and interesting, and the melody is a little ‘eh’. 7/10.
12. Photoshop
Another perfect song for the theme. Total earworm that I’ll be singing all day. I really like this song. It’s urgent, driving and hypnotic at the same time, and I also find it to be very sad in a good way. I love the little syncopated part in the middle that leads back into the verse. Great layered vocals at the end. This is an easy 10/10 for me.
13. Likeable
Good album closer. It’s a great idea for a song…what does it mean to be ‘likeable’? It sounds complimentary until you think about what the word means. Is ‘likeable’ the same as ‘liked’? They touch on it in the lyrics a little bit. 10/10.
As I said, it’s been awhile since I’ve listened to this, and it was most enjoyable. They were really building some momentum at this point in their career. I’m sure the way they’re going, the next album is going to be a jaw dropper.
Album rates 9/10. Next up, ‘The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman’.