Click here to download music by Through the Sparks
:::::::: About the new album, Worm Moon Waning ::::::::
Through the Sparks of Birmingham, Ala., recently finished its second full-length recording, a follow-up to 2007's "Lazarus Beach," the band's third release with Skybucket Records.
"Worm Moon Waning" was recorded and produced by the band at its home studio—christened Alamalibu, after the car that resided in its first location.
Through the Sparks' and Alamalibu's current home is a basement in east Birmingham. a stone's toss fromthe Bottletree venue, which has been a focal point of Birmingham's pulsating and incestuous music scene.
Upon being released, "Lazarus Beach" earned critical praise from Pitchfork, Allmusic Guide, Alarm Magazine, Pop Matters, etc., and thousands downloaded it. The music was called everything from baroque-blues to psychedelic rock, to progressive-folk, noisy orchestral-pop, the ever-vague "Americana," piano-rock, guitar-rock, art-pop, lit-rock and jangle-pop - among other descriptions. The record was sprawling in its intentions and represented a lot of what the band creates, in a dense 37 minutes. "Worm Moon Waning" was pared down from nearly 20 songs, to a more focused nine.
This record has a much more live feel. In fact, for nearly half the record, engineer Lynn Bridges (Devendra Banhardt) was brought in over a snowy three-day weekend to man the controls so the band could record while playing in the same room together. The result is a much more intense dynamic in the ebb and flow of the songs.
Plans for recording another record are in the works as the band plays shows in the fall, including CMJMusic Marathon and Next Big Nashville, followed by an appearance at SXSW 2010 in March. Through the Sparks has been very fortunate to play shows with Midlake, The Great Lake Swimmers, The French Kicks, Earlimart, White Rabbits, Taylor Hollingsworth, 13ghosts, Vulture Whale, Wild Sweet Orange, etc.
:::::::: Reviews for Lazarus Beach ::::::::
"Lazarus Beach is a sophisticated sprawl of sound and songs, with
elements of power pop, 70s singer/songwriter, prog, indie guitar rock,
and even some smooth southern soul."
-Pitchfork
“The sterling indie pop of Lazarus Beach is a welcome breath of fresh air from a band that clearly loves music without pretense or posturing. Each track is finely tuned to appeal to the music geek in every listener, full of bouncy, loping piano melodies and softly-muted horns that support verbose, clever lyrics.”
-Paste Magazine Online / Band of the Week
".sure to be one of the most satisfying records all year."
-Alarm
"Hard to pigeonhole but easy to appreciate, Through the Sparks are a bright star ready to shine for the right audience."
-PopMatters
"Lazarus Beach is a huge triumph."
-Southeast Performer
"Remember the name Jody Nelson, because you'll soon be hearing it mentioned with the likes of Jeff Tweedy, Ron Sexsmith, and A.C. Newman."
-Quick Before It Melts
"This is a 2007 favorite of mine, definitely."
-Sound Machine Dream
"Brimming with indie zeal and uncanny illustrations, the 13 tracks resonate with guitar-and-piano pop that is meticulously crafted and peppered with imagery."
-Glide Magazine
"…It's enough to make you regain faith in American music. It also helps that the music itself is easy on the ears: a thinking feller's mix of guitar and piano rock that's both down-home and sophisticated."
-3hive
"When the intricate soundscapes and melancholy harmonies bring to mind Wilson's "Smile," Wilco's "Summerteeth" and the Waterboys' "This Is the Sea," it's happy slogging."
-GoodNewMusic.com
“lyrically clever and musically dense, the record always features something interesting to focus on.”
-Red Blondehead (blog)
“though the sentiments are dark and the faintly trippy production disquieting, the band still makes the music bright and even cheery, as though urging everyone to join in for one big apocalyptic sing-along.”
-Gibson Guitars.com
“[Through the Sparks] are mining that glorious territory of 70s pop/rock and adding a new level of world wariness to give their record a modern feel.”
-Upstatebeat.com
“With an other worldly musical camaraderie and tasteful sensibilities they maintain a perfect balance of grim playfulness, subtle depth and engrossing melody.”
-The Asheville Disclaimer
“They sound like they've been kicking out the jams … for years; consequently, their on-stage chemistry flows effortlessly.”
-Birmingham Weekly
"Through the Sparks offer up some eclectic mellow indie pop that leans in the direction of 70’s singer songwriters while still staying contemporary with modern instrumentation and effects. If you’re in the mood for a quirky soothing adventure you should spend some time on Lazarus Beach."-Azltron (blog)
:::::::: Reviews for Coin Toss EP ::::::::
“A delicate mélange of melodrama, suspense, and excitement. Odd visions laced with just enough grim, ironic humour … Delicious.”
-Evil Sponge
“Trippy music for smart people … Through the Sparks are a band with talent and imagination.”
-All Music Guide
“A jean jackets and painkillers record: hopeful yet pessimistic, hazy. An exceptional beginning for a band we should expect progressively greater things from.”
-Tiny Mix Tapes
“The perfect amount of grim humor.”
-Magnet
“It's a tragedy that so many folks are missing out on them.”
-Red Blondehead (blog)
“The perfect beginning that any indie label or rock outfit could boast.”
-Smother.net
“Through the Sparks can weave some complex arrangements, and the sheer variety of instrumentation crammed into this mini-recording is worth a few pats on the back.”
-Southeast Performer
“Every moment of this band’s debut 6 song E.P. seems as well thought out as a dissertation, but one that you would want to read.”
-Earfood.net
:::::::: Reviews for AudioIotas ::::::::
“Highly recommend it.”
-Berkeley Place (blog)
“A roving band of vocalists chatter and coo in front of grand pianos, behind bouncing banjos, and over squishy synth lines that sound torn from a Tron sequel. You'll hear a band working together as a cohesive entity and what sounds like a song recorded solo into a child's toy boombox.” -Tiny Mix Tapes
