For those unfamiliar with them, Sparkadia is yet another Aussie band – this one from Sydney – and their second studio album is a euphoria of sound that continues to prove that there’s some real talent in the Land Down Under. From the subdued, almost Bono-esque vocals of lead singer Alex Burnett to the 60′s-groove-stylings peppered throughout this offering – which could perhaps be best described as being akin to Wolfmother without the hard edge and psychedelia – this 12-track album carries a very easy-going vibe to it, which I find most refreshing. That said, a few of the tracks contain explicit language, and the best example of this would be the track Hurt Me – “good souls like you don’t deserve a**holes like me”.
Sparkadia is labelled as a pop band, and it most certainly shows in their work. However, don’t let the word “pop” dissuade you from giving them a listen, because The Great Impression is full of surprises. This isn’t the cheesy-sounding mainstream pop that you would hear from periods like the late 90′s, a-la Aqua and their atrociously catchy Barbie Girl. This is alternative pop for a new decade. Frankly, I’d like to see more alternative bands take a note or two from Sparkadia’s book (assuming that’s not already the case) because their sound is an interesting and thoroughly enjoyable fusion of music and lyrics that seems to carry slight influences of U2′s early work. It may not be everybody’s slice of alt-pop heaven, but this album is sure to leave an impression.
