The Mael brothers grew up in the Los Angeles area, working in their youths as models for clothing catalogs. Throughout their music career, Russell has been the prototypically handsome and dynamic lead singer, flaunting his locks and working his easy charm. Meanwhile, Ron dresses fastidiously, remains almost completely still on stage, and dons a well-trimmed moustache (toothbrush in the '70s and pencil ever since). Whatever the era, Sparks have been visually arresting.

Their theatrical sensibilities were honed while studying film and graphic arts at UCLA, where the Maels formed Halfnelson, a mid-tempo, post-Beatles rock band. After their self-titled 1971 LP didn't gain much traction, the band changed their name to Sparks. Their second album, 1972's A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing, began to reveal the Mael's odd sensibilities.

After receiving warm receptions from UK audiences, Ron and Russell left their bandmates and moved to England. They placed an ad in Melody Maker, which yielded a crack new band capable of revving up the energy and range of the Maels' material. With this new lineup of Norman "Dinkey" Diamond on drums, guitarist Adrian Fisher, and Martin Gordon on bass, Sparks released three of their best and most successful albums. From 1974, Kimono My House and Propaganda both went Top 10 in the UK, with the latter also hitting #63 on the Billboard charts. These are compelling and totally original works of avant-pop fused with glam rock, marrying the cabaret-leaning artiness of Roxy Music to the grandiosity of Queen. Sparks' tempos were faster than their contemporaries, however, predicting new wave outfits like XTC and Oingo Boingo.

Incorporating motifs from marches and show tunes, 1975's Indiscreet was more sonically adventurous, but didn't quite live up to its predecessors. Though still a very good album, the Maels were disappointed by their flagging sales, so they broke up their new band and retreated to America. This led to a significant dip in quality over their next two albums, each recorded for different labels and with rotating session musicians. They rebounded well, however, with 1979's Giorgio Moroder-produced N° 1 in Heaven. One of the first great synth pop albums, Sparks transformed themselves while maintaining their core songwriting appeal. The album got the Maels back on the charts, but proved something of a fluke

Although Sparks helped found the new wave sound, they struggled a bit during the movement's early '80s heyday. Still, by 1982's Angst in My Pants, they were back on the upswing. They'd mastered the right mixture of synths and catchy pop/rock, with Ron singing in a lower, more accessible register. Though the more cynical might be tempted to label them as sell-outs during this period, Sparks' music maintained a leftfield appeal and its extreme catchiness erodes naysaying. The next year, they had a good-sized hit with "Cool Places," a groovy, buoyant ditty featuring duet vocals from Go-Go's member Jane Wiedlin.

1984 was the year new wave's neon lights burnt out, and Sparks creative …um, spark was snuffed, as well. Over the course of three mid-'80s LPs, the Maels' output sounded more and more depleted. By the time of 1988's terrible Interior Design, Sparks had gone from respectable Atlantic artists to a has-been act without a label, without a band, and seemingly bereft of their once prodigious talents. Cue the sound of an EKG flat line, because Sparks were dead.

Or were they? In 1994, those crazy Mael boys came bursting out of the coffin with Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins. With darkly dancey beats and sophisticated synthesizer arrangements à la Pet Shop Boys, Sparks scored three Top 40 UK hits and went Top 10 on Billboard's dance music chart. This was the first in a trio of solid albums that brought about a career revival for Sparks. The group truly took off, however, with 2002's Lil' Beethoven. Having added drummer Tammy Glover and former Faith No More guitarist Dean Menta, Sparks added a rock edge to their off-kilter synth pop, which combined orchestral drama with the looping patterns of minimalism. The album was heartily embraced by critics, leading to the band's next two albums – 2006's Hello Young Lovers and 2008's Exotic Creatures of the Deep – reaching the Billboard 200 for the first time since 1983.

Sparks achieved their career revitalization with quality indie releases, forgoing the need of a major label. Having added new loyal listeners and winning back their old fans, Sparks are now a successful cult band with enough hipster cachet to appear alongside Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo on TV's the Gilmore Girls. In 2008, they played the "Sparks Spectacular," a 21-night residency at London's Carling Islington Academy, where the band performed each of their albums in chronological order. Despite many ups and downs during their nearly four decades of music making, Sparks are clearly burning bright once more.

Recommended Recordings: Kimono My House, Propaganda, N°1 in Heaven, "Cool Places," "When Do I get to Sing 'My Way'," Lil' Beethoven