Accessibility links
Sparks Sparks artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Sparks

Get To Know Sparks, Your Favorite Band's Favorite Band

Brothers Russell and Ron Mael in director Edgar Wright's film The Sparks Brothers, a Focus Features release. Anna Webber/Focus Features hide caption

toggle caption
Anna Webber/Focus Features

Music Features

Get To Know Sparks, Your Favorite Band's Favorite Band

Brothers Ron and Russell Mael have made music as Sparks for more than five decades, mostly under the radar despite superstar fans. Now, a new documentary and a buzzy musical put them in the spotlight.

Get To Know Sparks, Your Favorite Band's Favorite Band

Listen · 4:30
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1020773349/1025372269" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
New Mix: Courtney Barnett, Ben Gibbard And Tycho, Sparks, More

Clockwise from upper left: Mega Bog, Sparks, Courtney Barnett, Tycho (left) with Ben Gibbard Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Mix: Courtney Barnett, Ben Gibbard And Tycho, Sparks, More

All Songs host Bob Boilen shares his favorite songs of the week, including a long-overdue celebration of Sparks, a Ben Gibbard collaboration with Tycho, the return of Courtney Barnett and more.

New Mix: Courtney Barnett, Ben Gibbard And Tycho, Sparks, More

Listen · 37:19
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1015356094/1016050537" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
50 Years Of Sparks: The World Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Them

From left, Russell and Ron Mael, who record as Sparks, photographed in 1982 during the cover shoot for their album Angst In My Pants. Eric Blum/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Eric Blum/Getty Images

Music Lists

50 Years Of Sparks: The World Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Them

The eclectic, prolific and beloved brother-brother pop duo is marking 50 years this year – but, somehow, you've never heard their music? Let's fix that.

50 Years Of Sparks: The World Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Them

Listen · 4:16
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1007652595/1008196358" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Sparks Refuses To Go Out Of Style

Sparks Anna Webber/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Anna Webber/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Sparks Refuses To Go Out Of Style

XPN

The band's been flipping pop conventions for the past five decades; that innovation continues on its latest, A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip.

Sparks On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/857959371/858113042" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Review

All Songs Considered

The Music of Sigur Ros, Charlie Chaplin Rock and One Monster of a Guitar

In this edition of All Songs Considered, we get a preview of new music from the elvish band from Iceland, Sigur Ros. Also the music of Sparks, Dandy Warhols and Wolf Parade and more.

The Music of Sigur Ros, Charlie Chaplin Rock and One Monster of a Guitar

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91475167/91475244" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

World Cafe

Sparks: Elegantly Whimsical

XPN

With quirky melodies and a uniquely clever songwriting style, Sparks has remained one of the most innovative art-pop bands of the past three decades. While never gaining much more than a cult following, Sparks' peculiar brand of pop smarts has influenced everything from '80s synth-pop to Queen.

Sparks: Elegantly Whimsical

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5555691/5555755" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org