#dean menta

A nice accidental discovery…

Which sometimes happens when I stumble on to https://www.progarchives.com. (Thanks to a happy accidental surfing in 2003.)

Good pop-rock music, some songs have much synth pop.

The band Sparks has been around since 1971.

Interesting history: Todd Rundgren took interest in them, asked them to change their name to Sparks, and they released their self-titled debut album in 1971.

They are talented musicians (as I gather from their bio). (Yes, that makes it another one of my second-hand opinions. And as long as I see respect to non-famous musicians, I am fine with it.)

This album, Hippopotamus, is a mix of humor and different genres.

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This song, Scandinavian Design, has oddly funny lyrics:

"I've got nothing, just a table and two chairs But they're beautiful, and I just stand and stare Time and space are intertwined Elegance, simple lines Scandinavian Design"

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You may also be interested in seeing another video from this album: Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me). The video not as dark as your first impression of it, seeing those wood (puppets) in it. (Not as dark as a similar Steven Wilson video - The Raven that Refused to Sing - in any case.)

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Giddy Giddy Giddy is an upbeat song :-)

As I keep typing words for this post, the songs change, and I like the next one too.

So, I strongly recommend you listen to the full album yourself too.

Album Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogn4GWHPsWE&list=OLAK5uy_ntUoHXUt38rtp3L91dpdq-n7l776TF0nE&index=1

Album Review: https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=56009

Excerpt: "It's a little ironic that I remembered while writing my last review, that I used to compare adventerous music to that home made meat and potatoes supper my mom used to make, while commercial music is more like eating at McDonalds."

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Line-up / Musicians

Russell Mael / vocals, arrangements & co-producer

Ron Mael / keyboards, arrangements & co-producer

With:

Dean Menta / guitar, bass, drums (9)

Steven Nistor / drums

Leos Carax / vocals & accordion (12)