Sparks Announce First-Ever EP Ahead of North American Tour & Release Lead Single, “Porcupine”

Following the release of Sparks’ 28th studio album MAD!, the eternally creative brothers— Ron and Russell Mael—announce the first EP of their illustrious career, MADDER!, out October 3rd via Transgressive Records. In conjunction, they present the lead single, “Porcupine.” A companion EP to MAD!, MADDER! captures the album’s pioneering spirit, which landed them raves from publications including SPIN, who hailed it as “another triumph for the Maels,” and Forbes who praised it as “a distinct amalgamation of eccentric lyrics and art rock.”

“Not wanting the Mad!ness to end and buoyed by the phenomenal reaction to MAD!, we made a hasty but intense retreat to the studio to record a Sparks first: an EP,” the band says. “MADDER!, a four-song companion piece to the album, is for everyone who isn’t yet MAD! enough. We hope these new songs will take you to an even MADDER! place.”

Today’s single, “Porcupine” is a song about a guy’s fascination with a woman who possesses a prickly personality. A highly infectious organ riff yields to heavy guitars in the chorus. “She’s a porcupine,” Russell croons, perhaps a metaphor or something more troubling.

Pre-Order MADDER! EP

MADDER! Tracklist:
1. Porcupine
2. Fantasize
3. Mess Up
4. They

MAD! Tour Dates:
Fri. Sept. 5 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
Mon. Sept. 8 – Philadelphia, PA @ Keswick Theatre
Tue. Sept. 9 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre
Thu. Sept. 11 – Boston, MA @ Berklee Performance Center
Fri. Sept. 12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre
Sun. Sept. 14 – Columbus, OH @ The Athenaeum Theatre
Mon. Sept. 15 – Cleveland, OH @ TempleLive at Cleveland Masonic
Wed. Sept. 17 – Toronto, On @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Fri. Sept. 19 – Sun. Sept. 21 – Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest
Sat. Sept. 20 – St. Paul, MN @ Fitzgerald Theater
Tue. Sept. 23 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
Wed. Sept. 24 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
Fri. Sept. 26 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
Sat. Sept. 27 – San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Theatre
Mon. Sept. 29 – El Cajon, CA @ The Magnolia
Tue. Sept. 30 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre