11/19/17: Heroes of the 70s glam era the avant Los Angeles native Mael Brothers (Sparks) released Hippopotamus in 2017 after a decade away. Sparks earlier records throughout the early to mid 70s had a sound somewhere between Queen and Roxy Music with a little Kinks and bubblegum - baroque pop sprinkled on top. This record might have more in common with their late 70s early 80s records produced by the great Giorgio Moroder that were heavily influential to 80s synth-pop combos like Pet Shop Boys and Erasure.

Sparks album covers are often comical and cinematic like my number 501, 1974s Kimono My House and number 659, Indiscreet from the next year. Hippopotamus does not disappoint in the album cover department as you can see. .