Sound: Bouncy, piano-and-organ-driven pop reminiscent of The Minus 5 and Summer Teeth-era Wilco. Plus, they’ve got the gentler, more laid-back and complicated arrangements you’d expect from any Wilco album or Steely Dan. And you’ll hear some of the shimmery, communal gloriousness of the Polyphonic Spree, except Through The Sparks’ brassy and choral sounds feel much more intimate.
Heavy Rotation tracks: “Local Moon”; “Falling Out of Favor With the Neighbors”
Medium Rotation tracks: “A Natural Machine”; “Mexico (Every Last Buffalo)”; “The Final If and When”
Recommended: If you’re looking for a band that likes to keep the music colorful (instrumental credits include ukeleles, pedal steel, trumpet, flugelhorn, tuba and saxophone), while reining in their experimental tendencies with dreamy, breezy and joyous melodies.
Grade: B
Hear Through The Sparks in rotation on 3wk.com
Download/Stream “”Falling Out of Favor With the Neighbors” MP3
Download/Stream “Mexico (Every Last Buffalo)” MP3
Listen to Tracks/Buy Music:
On iTunes
On amazon.com
These are really cool tracks. How does it compare with the rest of the album?
Those are two of the better tracks on there, but there are plenty more. If you like what you hear so far, you’ll probably like the whole album…or at least you should download the rest of my suggested Heavy and Medium Rotation tracks.
Thes guys are from my Birmingham, AL where I live. I haven’t had the chance to see them live yet. But I think there brand of Indie Pop is great I hope they keep getting pub.
The whole album is very good. If you like those tracks you wont be disappointed in the album. Highly recommend it!
This Through the Sparks are on the Paste Magazine Cd sampler that came with the magazine this month. (June) I was so touched by that song that I went to Amazon and bought the album. It’s in my car cd now. I keep playing it over and over again. All the tracks are very good.. the lyrics are mystical and deep but the music is sharp and upbeat. The contrast is its appeal I think. I even like the album cover. (If it was an old LP I’d have it framed!)
Elaine, which song was on the Paste Magazine sampler? Just curious.
the first song on the album–L.Roi (Lee Roy?)