Art school, pretentious, unique….? Probably just a few words that summed up the Sprouts back in the day. I loved them, I suspect the same way that Llorde is loved nowadays. Certainly a band, from the outside, that wanted to do it their way.
With an unmistakable sound, yes with a jangly 80’s feel to it at times, think Haircut 100 (and I did hesitate at that point to the point I’m already regretting it), this lot were much cooler and classier in terms of composition and certainly lyrically. Line them up against their peers of The Waterboys and Aztec Camera, Talk Talk and they fitted perfectly into that avant garde, slightly skewy, but with a pop outlet (think of the brilliant Cars and Girls) musical platform. Intelligent music to be appreciated but perhaps challenging for the marketing record companies to sell.
There are no ‘hit singles’ on here but plenty to fully appreciate and never get tired of. Talented, at times brilliant, a real example of an art form that will always have its place for those of us who live just off the high street.
