Returnal…
We skipped a week so now you get two. Both of these bands are coming back from some time off (one significantly longer than the other), but in doing so, reinvigorate their sound and prove just how essential they are in their musical spaces…again.
The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
Sparks
Art Pop / Synthpop
Sparks are seeing quite the boom in popularity. After an Edgar Wright-helmed documentary mysteriously and unceremoniously dropped on Netflix, the band have been rediscovered by millions.
Known for their sardonic, almost withering takes on pop culture, Sparks have consistently struck a perfect balance between art-house tendencies, mainstream songwriting, and incredibly fun, silly, even weird presentation. Heavy synths dose the first three tracks, including the title-track, introducing new listeners (and reintroducing old ones) to Sparks as a band whose musical concepts have a vast range for such a (purposefully) limited sonic palette. “Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is,” in particular, sounds like a Cars revival, while being presented from the point-of-view of an already-jaded newborn wishing to return to the womb: “I was born just 22 hours ago / But I’ve seen enough to make a wise decision / All your standards must be so very low / This is not a place that I’d want to go / How can you exist in a place like this?”
Standout “Not That Well-Defined” is in fact very well-defined, as Russell’s lyrics beautifully paint a terrifying portrait of someone who resists being known. In the first verse he pens a magical line, “can a person say that they exist / When so far they managed to resist / Any definition, any key.” This pining for clarity is perfectly matched with Ron’s gorgeous arrangement of synths, strings, and synth-strings, giving the whole affair an almost-big band sound.
The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte is funny and sad, smart and dumb, serious and silly. It’s perfectly crafted by artisans that have been honing their skill since 1968. Sparks have long been one of music’s most dumbfounding and intriguing acts, and this latest (last?) album proves that they will never not be a pleasure to listen to.
Formal Growth in the Desert
Protomartyr
Post-Punk / Art Punk
Detroit’s most meme-ified post-punk band is back after an interminable (for them anyway) three years. But now they return, having grown into the emotional maturity that was previously only hinted at by their unique brand of anti-charisma.
That maturity is particularly well-reflected by the increased complexity from bassist Scott Davidson and drummer Alex Leonard. Their almost unwieldy playing on album highlight “3800 Tigers” gives an already hefty song even more weight to throw around. The same can be said for pre-album single “Polacrilex Kid,” which also sees proto-dad singer Joe Casey in rare form, word-painting the incredibly bleak world that is quitting smoking with lines like, “consecutive king of failures, lord of losers,” and, “can you hate yourself and still deserve love,” while constantly reminding himself to keep chewing nicotine gum.
The other truly great single, “Elimination Dances” is classic Protomartyr, a plodding, syncopated travelogue of the ravages of time that slowly, but surely, turns into a loud, distorted wind-up that explodes in its conclusion: “That’s how elimination dances, through the time of time of time.”
Formal Growth in the Desert proves that this band of intelligent malcontents can still deliver addicting hooks, evocative storytelling, and beautiful noise, while maintaining their gloomy, political edge that only gives way when there’s overwhelming melody to be heard. This album will dive into your soul and, with its wonderous soundscapes, prove there is light through the dark.
NOTE: The new album from Foo Fighters, But Here We Are, is also very good, maybe the first I’ve actually liked from them since The Colour and the Shape, and objectively better than anything they’ve put out since 2011’s Wasting Light. I just…can’t really think of a lot to say about it so… this blurb is all they get. But just know it’s definitely in consideration for great albums from this year.
