Sparks - Hippopotamus
Ron and Russell return with a superb record - almost a Sparks 101 in terms of showcasing everything that was ever great about this pair of wonderful loonies. Witty, acerbic lyrics teamed with bite-sized-but-baroque chamber-pop ditties - as unique as ever. Russell's voice has held up remarkably well, and if Ron seems more chipper than in his scowling heyday, well, it's no wonder. On first listen, it seems as if the album lacks a real standout, but like all great records, successive spins see the tracks really grow on you and reveal their hidden depths. It ought to be a surprise that a pair of brothers with a combined age of 141 have released one of the best records of the year - but somehow, it seems very fitting.