This week sees the glorious comeback of some ‘old’ favourites, like Amanda Marshall, Queens Of The Stone Age and Tenacious D. And they don’t return with half-baked wannabe tracks. No, they provide us with some of the week’s best new music. Top of the bill, in that respect, are Sparks. Their new single has the unmistakable Sparks stamp on it. However, in 2023 – over 56(!!!) years after brothers Ron and Russell Mael made their first recordings as Urban Renewal Project – they sound as fresh as ever.

Yes, you read that well. The band ultimately known as Sparks first entered the studio in January 1967. They were soon discovered by Todd Rundgren and, sorry if this sounds lazy, ‘the rest is history’. Despite regularly changing styles, their songs are immediately recognizable. The same goes for their visual representations throughout the years. For almost six decades now, Sparks have been at the forefront of modern, artful pop music.

Their 26^th studio album The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte (out on 26 May) was already preceded by its title track and Veronica Lake. But single #3, Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is, is the most accessible track off it so far. A hi-NRG song with upbeat drums, guitars, Ron’s subtle piano and Russell’s authentic vocals, which could have been recorded when they formed FFS, with Scottish band Franz Ferdinand. Let me tell you it’s beyond good, and despite the tune’s title, you can trust me on this one.

Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is by Sparks is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.

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Hippopotamus

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In the Wildcards 2023 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.

Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.