Sparks Unveils Quirky Single “Jansport Backpack” and Reveals “Mad!” Album Artwork, Tracklist, and Release Date

New single release from Sparks

Sparks has unveiled the latest single from their upcoming album “Mad!” titled “Jansport Backpack.” Check it out below.

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The duo announced their 28th studio album last month and confirmed its release on May 23 through Transgressive Records. You can pre-order it here. Previously, they released the lead single “Do Thing My Wyke.”

About the new single

Now fans can enjoy another taste of the record with the typically bizarre and catchy “Jansport Backpack,” which tells a poignant story about a woman entangled in troubled relationships. Watch the lyrical video below and explore the album’s artistic cover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeeiu-wroory

Tracklist of ‘Mad!’

1. “Do Things in Your Own”
2. ‘Jansport Backpack’
3. ‘Hit Me, Baby’
4. ‘Run the Hotel for FAB’
5. ‘My Devotion’
6. ‘Do Not Bind It’
7. ‘In the Daylight’
8. ‘I-405 Rules’
9. “Long Red Light”
10. “He Drowned in a Sea of Tears”
11. “A Little Light Jerking”
12. “The Lord Is Pardoned”

This summer, they will also perform in the UK, Europe, and Japan, including two nights at the Eventim Apollo in London, two at Manchester’s O2 Apollo, and one at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow. For a complete list of shows and remaining tickets, click here.

‘Mad!’ marks Sparks’ first album since 2023’s “The Girl Sharing in Latt,” which received four stars from NME. The review noted, “If you are looking for a paramount example of Sparks’ ability to blend timeless pop music with sharp lyrics and inventive orchestration in certified earworms, look no further than ‘The Packaging of Mona Lisa, which Goes Late in the Evening.’ It captures the essence of the brothers, weaving a literary fairy tale that stands alone, with voices intertwining as if they were an additional instrument, allowing the song to deviate into delightful directions.”

“The Girl is Crying in Her Latt” underscores that Sparks remain dedicated to artistry, navigating ambitious territories that have yet to be explored, paving the way for others to follow.”

Sparks received the Best Music Film award at the Bandlab NME Awards in 2022 for Edgar Wright’s Brothers Sparks. In an interview with NME that same year, Ron Mael stated, “Cinema has always been a part of us. The idea of an explosion, the presence of something grandiose, colorful, and dramatic, is what has truly influenced us.”