Edgar Wright & Sparks Talk 'The Sparks Brothers' Documentary [Deep Focus Podcast]

The Playlist Podcast Network

Who are Sparks? What are they about? That’s exactly what Edgar Wright’s new documentary "The Sparks Brothers" tries to unpack and demystify. Because Sparks is not only a band (chiefly brothers, Ron and Russel Mael) but they’re a highly eclectic, trailblazing artpop group that's fairly elusive and mysterious to a lot of people. As Beck says in the documentary, one of the many famous admirers, the highly influential Sparks are likely your favorite band's favorite band.

They’ve released 25 albums, been around for 5 decades since the early '70s, and they began as an eccentric glam rock band that was a little bit like a cross between T-Rex, Roxy Music, and Queen, with a little David Bowie thrown in too. But Sparks has covered every style under the sun, pioneered synthpop, and they're massively important, yet mostly still unknown. Edgar Wright ("Shaun of The Dead," "Hot Fuzz"), says he made the documentary, in part, in a kind of way to save time at dinner parties. Instead of a 90-minute explainer, he's created a whole thrilling, deeply compelling documentary about the band, and it's one of the best movies of the year, frankly. As a big fan of Sparks and Edgar Wright, this 40-minute-ish conversation with the trio, Edgar, Ron, and Russell, was a huge treat for me. "The Sparks Brothers" hits theaters June 18 via Focus Features, make sure to catch it.

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