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Hippopotamus

by Sparks

Released: September 08, 2017

Rock, art pop, chamber pop, baroque pop

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"Hippopotamus" is the 23rd studio album by American rock band Sparks, released on September 8, 2017, through BMG Rights Management and The End Records. Following their 2009 radio musical The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman and their collaboration with Franz Ferdinand in FFS, Hippopotamus signaled a return to the band's signature style of "short, literate, witty pop songs," incorporating elements from their various musical periods. The Mael brothers, having focused on musicals like The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman and Annette, shifted their attention back to a more traditional pop format for Hippopotamus.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The album was recorded over a 10-month period…

The album was recorded over a 10-month period in 2016, primarily in Russell Mael's home studio in Los Angeles.

This album marked Sparks' return to a major…

This album marked Sparks' return to a major label for the first time in decades.

Their recent work with Franz Ferdinand inspired this…

Their recent work with Franz Ferdinand inspired this change.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Sparks - Hippopotamus

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Then

Reception

The album received critical acclaim and entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 7, marking Sparks' first top-ten appearance in the UK in over 40 years.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Hippopotamus" is the 23rd studio album by American rock band Sparks, released on September 8, 2017, through BMG Rights Management and The End Records. This album marked Sparks' return to a major label for the first time in decades.

Following their 2009 radio musical The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman and their collaboration with Franz Ferdinand in FFS, Hippopotamus signaled a return to the band's signature style of "short, literate, witty pop songs," incorporating elements from their various musical periods.

The album received critical acclaim and entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 7, marking Sparks' first top-ten appearance in the UK in over 40 years.

The Mael brothers, having focused on musicals like The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman and Annette, shifted their attention back to a more traditional pop format for Hippopotamus. Their recent work with Franz Ferdinand inspired this change. The album was recorded over a 10-month period in 2016, primarily in Russell Mael's home studio in Los Angeles.