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Editor: Emmi Joutsi. Photographers: Gered Mankowitz; Rocky Schenck; Richard Creamer; Jodi Wille; Dieter Eikelpoth; Larry DuPont; Aaron Rapoport; Randi Perez. If there's anything you can't accuse Sparks of, it's being understated. For over four decades, the brothers Mael have been gifting the world with a brand of quirky and intelligent pop music that seems to revel in its theatricality. Looking to distill their sprawling 22-album discography down to its most essential parts, Sparks have released New Music for Amnesiacs: The Ultimate Collection, a two-disc career retrospective featuring 40 tracks hand-selected by Ron and Russell themselves. With the band offering a guided tour of its massive back catalog (minus any selections from The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman), listeners are treated to a collection of tracks that the band feels best define who Sparks are. Along with this impressive audio biography, New Music for Amnesiacs also comes with plenty of collectible materials, including a hardcover booklet of liner notes, replica posters, backstage passes, and photos of the duo. While the extensive collection of tracks makes this set a great entryway into the wild and weird world of Sparks, the extra goodies make this collection a real treat for die-hard fans. ~ Gregory Heaney
