I always thought of Sparks as Queen's younger, crazy cousin... didn't realise they were actually around at the same time as each other. That also seems slightly derogatory to Queen as they are hardly a strait-laced, or boring act. Sparks is kind of like Queen meets Roxy Music with the humour and quirkiness turned up to 11.
Sparks had been operating in the US under the name Halfnelson but after getting some good responses in the UK, brothers Ron and Russell Mael moved across, recruited a new band and rechristened themselves as Sparks.
Ron wrote the music and the humorous, fun lyrics, Russell brought his... not entirely versatile, but definitely distinctive voice. Given that the rest of the band were essentially hired hands, this comes with cohesive 'band' sound. Either the Maels were good at communicating their musical needs or the band were all-in. The guitar sounds not a million miles from Brian May at times (the Maels had approached May about joining the band), the drums are thunderous and the music lurches between operatic rock, oompa music, art rock, touches of punk, and the power-rock to staggering anthemic lurch of "thank god it's not Christmas".
The band are slightly hit and miss (their 1980 disco album 'terminal jive' is not brilliant) but I love that they have held onto their quirkiness even through their more recent releases.
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